Phonics

LESSON 61 Variant Vowel /ô/, Part 1 (ball, walk, saw)

• The variant vowel /ô/ category of phonetic elements focused on in this lesson includes
the most common patterns, a and aw, as in the words ball, walk, and saw.
This lesson is divided into two sections. Section 1 is the core lesson, which can be used with most students
in a whole-class or small-group setting. The core lesson is designed to introduce, model, and practice the
phonetic element taught. Section 2 consists of optional activities designed to reinforce the element taught
in the core lesson. These optional activities work well for small-group and individual instruction.

TEACHER MATERIALS WORKSHEETS

Variant vowel /ô/ picture cards Workmats
Word cards
Variant vowel /ô/ cards
Word-family cards
Letter cards
Paper
Bingo cards and place markers
Index cards

SECTION 1
Student Objectives
• Introduce variant vowel /ô/ • Blend onset and rime
• Blend variant vowel /ô/ words • Sort words

Introduce Variant Vowel /ô/

Materials: Variant vowel /ô/ picture cards

NOTE: The most common variant vowel /ô/ letter combinations are taught first to
allow students to become familiar with these patterns of sound. However, lessons 61
and 62 may be combined, based on the needs of students.

• Show students the variant vowel /ô/ picture card for ball. Have them name the picture
and tell you the sound they hear in the middle of the word. Point to the letter a on the
card and tell them that in this word the letter a stands for the vowel sound they hear
in the word ball.
• Explain that the letter a is one of the spellings that can stand for a group of sounds called
variant vowels. The other variant vowel /ô/ spelling is aw. Cite examples of words that use
these spellings to make the /ô/ sound (hall, straw, yawn).
• Say the words fawn and fan aloud. Ask students which word contains the same vowel
sound as in ball. Make sure students can differentiate between the two medial sounds.
• Show students the variant vowel /ô/ picture cards one by one. Have them name each
picture, point to the variant vowel spelling, and say the variant vowel sound.
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LESSON 61 Variant Vowel /ô/ (ball, walk, saw) continued

Blend Variant Vowel /ô/ Words

Materials: Workmats, variant vowel /ô/ cards, letter cards

NOTE: If students have mastered individual sound/symbol relationships, you may

want to skip this section and go directly to Blend Onset and Rime.

• Write the word jaw on the board. Point out that the letters stand for the variant vowel
sound and ask students to blend the letters a and w together to make the same vowel
sound as in ball. Next, run your finger under the letters as you blend the two sounds in
jaw: j/aw. Point out that even though there are three letters, there are two sounds blended
together to form the word. Then have students blend the word aloud with you
as you run your finger under the letters.
• Repeat the blending activity with the words claw, tall, and talk. Take one word at a time,
pointing out the letter combinations that stand for the variant vowel /ô/ sound. When
blending the word wall, remmind students that the double l consonant at the end of the
word stands for the /l/ sound. Invite students to discuss other word endings they may
know that contain a double consonant (-ell, -ill). When blending the word talk, point out
that the letters l and k together stand for the /k/ sound, as the letter l is silent.
• When students have blended the words, ask volunteers to come up and circle the variant
vowel spelling in each word. Have a student point to each variant vowel spelling as the
rest of the group says the sound.
• If students need more work with blending words, have them use the letter/vowel
workmat, one of each variant vowel /ô/ card, and the letter cards to blend the words
above. Have students line up the card for each sound in each word under the boxes on
their workmat. Group the words according to each variant vowel spelling so that students
know which variant vowel /ô/ card to use for each word. Model how to push up the
variant vowel /ô/ card into the box on the workmat and indicate the sound the variant
vowel spelling makes. Have students push up and sound out the remaining letters of
each word in order on their workmat.

Blend Onset and Rime

Materials: Letter cards, word-family cards
• Tell students they are going to practice reading words with the variant vowel /ô/ spelling.
Model using the letter and word-family cards.
1 Place the aw word-family card in a pocket chart or along the ledge of a chalkboard.
Remind students that this is the aw word family. Then place the s letter card in front
of aw. Have students listen while you model sounding out the word by blending the
sound in the onset with the sound in the rime: s/aw. Have students repeat.
2 Replace the s card with the r card. Repeat the process with the new word.
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LESSON 61 Variant Vowel /ô/ (ball, walk, saw) continued

3 Replace the r card with the l card. Repeat the process with the new word.
4 Take out the cards and replace the aw card with the awn card. Have students name
the new word family. Place the l card in front of awn. Model sounding out the word
by blending the sound in the onset with the sounds in the rime: l/awn. Have
students repeat.
5 Replace the l card with the f card. Repeat the process with the new word.
6 Take out the cards and replace the awn card with the all card. Have students name
the new word family. Place the f card in front of all. Have students listen while you
model sounding out the word by blending the sound in the onset with the sounds
in the rime: f/all. Have students repeat.
7 Replace the f card with the w card. Repeat the process with the new word.
8 Take out the cards and replace the all card with the alk card. Have students name
the new word family. Place the w card in front of alk. Have students listen while you
model sounding out the word by blending the sound in the onset with the sounds in
the rime: w/alk. Have students repeat.
9 Replace the w card with the ch card. Remind students that the letters c and h together
stand for the /ch/ sound. Repeat the process with the new word.

Sort Words
Materials: Word-family cards, word cards
• Place one of each word-family card on the top row of a pocket chart or along the ledge
of a chalkboard. Ask students to come up one at a time, select a word card, say the
word, and place it under the correct word family. Continue until all the word cards are
placed correctly. Once all the words have been sorted, have students read aloud the
words under each word family, pointing to the variant vowel spelling in each word.

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LESSON 61 Variant Vowel /ô/ (ball, walk, saw) continued

SECTION 2 Optional Lesson Activities (for students who need additional practice)

Student Objectives
• Blend variant vowel /ô/ words
• Blend onset and rime
• Spell and write variant vowel /ô/ words
• Complete learning center activities

Blend Variant Vowel /ô/ Words

Materials: Workmats, variant vowel /ô/ cards, letter cards
• Give students the letter/vowel workmat, one of each variant vowel /ô/ card, and the letter
cards. Say the word paw and have students listen for the sounds in the word. Have them
select the aw variant vowel /ô/ card and the letter card they need to spell paw. Provide
help as needed. Have students line up the card for each sound on their workmat. Have
them blend the sounds as they push up the letters into the boxes. Then have them say
the word paw aloud.
• Repeat the process with the words pawn, bawl, and call. Make sure to tell students which
variant vowel /ô/ card to use.

Blend Onset and Rime

Materials: Workmats, letter cards, word-family cards
• Give students the onset/rime workmat, the letter cards, and one of each word-family
card. Say the word fall. Ask students what rime they hear at the end of the word. Have
them place the all word-family card in the box on the right of their workmat. Have them
identify the onset they need to put at the beginning of all to make the word fall. Have
them place the f card in the box on the left. Write the word on the board. Have students
check their spelling of the word on their workmat with the word on the board. Then have
students blend the sound in the onset with the sounds in the rime.
• Say the words wall, chalk, walk, law, raw, saw, fawn, and lawn one at a time, and have
students use the letter and word-family cards to spell the words on their workmat. Have
them blend the onset and rime as they make each word. Write each word on the board
as students finish making the word on their workmat. Have students check their spelling
of each word on their workmat with the word on the board.
• Once all of the words have been made, have students read the words on the board.
You can extend the activity by having students make their own words on their workmat.

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LESSON 61 Variant Vowel /ô/ (ball, walk, saw) continued

Spell and Write Variant Vowel /ô/ Words

• Dictate a variant vowel /ô/ words and have students write or spell them (ball, hall, talk).
• Dictate simple sentences for students to write.
You cannot talk in the hall.
He hit the ball with the bat.
• Repeat the process with aw variant vowel /ô/ words (draw, lawn).
• Dictate simple sentences for students to write.
I like to draw.
My lawn is green.

Learning Center Activities

Materials: Paper, word cards, Bingo cards, place markers, index cards
• Have students choose four to six variant vowel /ô/ words and use them to create a story
of their choice.
• Give each student a blank Bingo card. Have them write variant vowel /ô/ words from
the word cards on their Bingo card. Place the word cards face down. Have students take
turns drawing a word and saying it aloud. Have them put a place marker on their card if
they find a word that matches the one read. Continue playing until a student has marked
three words in a row on his/her card.
• Have students choose 8 to 10 variant vowel /ô/ words other than those on the variant
vowel /ô/ picture cards. Have students create a flashcard for each of the words chosen.
Have them write the word at the bottom of an index card, underlining the variant vowel
spelling. Then have them draw a picture of the word above it.

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PICTURE CARDS Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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draw ball

crawl hawk

fawn small
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WORD CARDS Set 1 Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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fall wall

walk chalk

fawn lawn

saw raw
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WORD CARDS Set 2 Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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law tall

talk claw

jaw

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VARIANT VOWEL /ô/ CARDS Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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a a a a

a a a a

aw aw aw aw

aw aw aw aw
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WORD-FAMILY CARDS Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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all all

alk alk

awn awn

aw aw
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LETTER CARDS Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/
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t c f n

p ll l w

s lk j ch

r b
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BINGO CARD Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/

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WORKMATS Phonics Lesson 61: Variant Vowel /ô/

Rime
Letter/Vowel Workmat

Onset/Rime Workmat

Onset

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