← All lessons

Lesson 33

v /v/

The grapheme V spells /v/

In English, words do not end with the letter V. Words that end with the /v/ sound will always end in E (e.g., carve, groove). This is why the words 'have' and 'give' end in a silent E but still make a short vowel sound. Students will see words with final -VE as part of the silent E pattern for long vowels starting in Lesson 54.

Today's plan

about 15 min
  1. Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
  2. Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
  3. Step 4Blending drill3 min
  4. Step 5New concept + read/spell6 min
Step 1

Warm Up Our Ears

Say the sounds; students blend them into a word. Then say a word; students break it apart.

Blend it (teacher says sounds → you say word)

/v/ · /ĕ/ · /t/vet
/v/ · /ĕ/ · /n/ · /d/vend
/v/ · /ĕ/ · /s/ · /t/vest
/k/ · /r/ · /ā/ · /v/crave

Break it (I say word → you say sounds)

Steps 2 & 3

Flashcard Drills

Full-screen cards for the class. Tap a card to check the answer, or press Hear the words to hear the example words read aloud.

Step 4

Blending Drill

Change one part at a time and read the new word.

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn the letter V and the sound /v/ like at the beginning of volcano.

Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.

This is the letter V. V is a consonant. V spells /v/ like in the beginning of the word . The letter V can come at the beginning of a word, such as the words and .

Letter formation: V

Review V: Start at the top. Slant line down to the bottom. Slant line up to the top.

Letter formation: v

Introduce v: Begin at the middle line. Start at the top. Slant line down. Slant up to the top.

How our mouth moves

To make the /v/ sound, touch your top teeth to your bottom lip like this...(model /vvv/). You may have students use mirrors to help them see what they are doing. Hold your lip there and blow. Be sure your voice is on. The /v/ sound is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Watch me /vvv/. You try /vvv/. Students may need to use a finger to keep their lip in the right place. If a child is struggling with this, try having them hum a tune while biting their bottom lip with their top teeth.

Sound wall

Add grapheme card 'v' to the consonant grid under the /v/ picture card.

Open the digital sound wall →