Teacher guide · Confidence Lab · Easier · about 30 min
🔤 Phonics Party
Pupils practise confidence through "Phonics Party": Sound out words, rhyme and spell short words.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🔤 mission title and read the opening: "Which word rhymes with CAT?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Echo the Parrot's line as your prompt: "Say it clearly — I'm listening."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used confidence today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Phonics Party", and why?
- Which word rhymes with CAT — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Spell the animal: 🐶 — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Write a word that starts with B — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use confidence outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: English: reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing
- National Curriculum: English: spoken language — articulate and justify answers
- PSHE: Relationships: communicating feelings and listening to others
- PSHE: Health & wellbeing: resilience and managing setbacks
Pupil sheet
🔤 Phonics Party
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Which word rhymes with CAT?
☐ dog
☐ hat
☐ sun
2. Match the sound to the picture.
sh → ________________
ch → ________________
th → ________________
s → ________________
3. Spell the animal: 🐶
☐ dgo
☐ dog
☐ god
4. Write a word that starts with B.