Long A

Display the Long A Poster. Show the letter puppet.

Hi, I’m Apple Annie again and I want you to meet the letter A. Remember how we discussed that the letter A can make two different sounds at the beginning of words? We learned that the letter A can sound like /?/ in words like "apple" and "alligator." Today I will teach you the long A sound. The letter A can also sound like /?/ in words like "ape" and "acorn."

Ask children to brainstorm a list of additional words that begin with the long letter A and write them on the board and underline the letter a.

Long Aa: apron, age, ate

Teach children the letter chant and the ASL sign for the letter A.

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

Letter Chant:
Let’s say a chant together for the long A sound as in "ape" and "acorn."

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

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

Point to the uppercase and lowercase letter Aa on the Long 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.