Short A
Activity

Short A

Display the Short A Poster. Show the letter puppet.

Hi, I’m Apple Annie and I want you to meet the letter A. The letter A can make different sounds at the beginning of words. Today I will teach you the short A sound. The letter A can sound like /?/ in words like "apple" and "alligator."

Display the pictures. The word “apple” begins with the /?/ sound. Watch my mouth as I say /?/. Now let’s say it together: /?/. The words "apple" and "alligator" begin with the same sound: /?/. Let's repeat the sound together: /?/.

Ask children to brainstorm a list of additional words that begin with the short A sound. Repeat the words by emphasizing the beginning sound and write the words on the board while underlining the letter a.

Short Aa: astronaut, acrobat, add, after, animal, ask, as, at, etc.

Teach children the letter chant and the ASL sign for the letter A.
Note: We integrate the American Sign Language as a visual and kinesthetic support to teach letter recognition.

Letter Chant:
Let’s say a chant together for the short A sound as in "apple" and "alligator."

"Apple" begins with the letter A. (Make the letter A sign language sign.)
“A” sounds like /?/ in "apple."
Can you hear it /?/, can you hear it /?/?
(Use hand to cup ear to pantomime listening.)
/?/, /?/, /?/

"Alligator" begins with the letter A. (Make the letter A sign language sign.)
“A” sounds like /?/ in "alligator."
Can you hear it /?/, can you hear it /?/?
(Use hand to cup ear to pantomime listening.)
/?/, /?/, /?/

Repeat with other short A words.

Point to the uppercase and lowercase letter A on the Short A Poster.

This is the uppercase letter A
Let children describe the letter's shape and write the letter in the air.

This is the lowercase letter a
Let children describe the letter's shape and write the letter in the air.