Year 1 English · AC9E1LY09

Segment words into separate phonemes (sounds) including consonant blends or clusters at the beginnings and ends of words (phonological awareness)

Words can be segmented into separate phonemes. Blends and clusters have more than one consonant sound close together

Ready to project and teach

Learning goalsSay it simply

1. Outcome Overview & Core Concepts

Words can be segmented into separate phonemes. Blends and clusters have more than one consonant sound close together.

Learning target: segment words into separate phonemes (sounds) including consonant blends or clusters at the beginnings and ends of words (phonological awareness)

Big idea: Break words into separate sounds, including blends and clusters

Learning routine: Say word → Stretch sounds → Tap phonemes → Blend back

Key conceptTeach from the board

2. Subject-Specific Content & Key Examples

Tap each sound you hear

frog: /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/best: /b/ /e/ /s/ /t/shop: /sh/ /o/ /p/

Worked example

Question: Segment “frog”. The sounds are /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/; /fr/ has two consonant sounds at the start.

Blend the sounds back to check

saytapcountblend

Sound boxes

Push one counter for each sound.

Guided practice

  1. Sound boxes — Push one counter for each sound.
    stop = /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/
  2. Blend hunt — Find words with two consonant sounds at the start.
    frog / swim
  3. Stretch and blend — Stretch sounds then say the word normally.
    /b/ /e/ /s/ /t/ → best
Clean visual examplesOne-page board

Clean one-page examples

AC9E1LY09 - Segment words into separate phonemes (sounds) including consonant blends or clusters at the beginnings and ends of words (phonological awareness)
Example 1

Tap each sound you hear frog: /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/ best: /b/ /e/ /s/ /t/ shop: /sh/ /o/ /p/

Example 2

Worked example Question: Segment “frog”. The sounds are /f/ /r/ /o/ /g/; /fr/ has two consonant sounds at the start.

Example 3

Blend the sounds back to check say tap count blend

Example 4

Sound boxes Push one counter for each sound.

Curriculum examplesCurriculum examples

Curriculum Coverage & Elaborations

The content description is the required target. The elaborations below are taught as examples and contexts, not as disconnected checklist wording.

  • E1: saying sounds in order for a given spoken word; for example, “s-p-oo-n” and “f-i-s-t”
Questions and answersWith answers

Revision Notes

  • Remember: Break words into separate sounds, including blends and clusters
  • Use the routine: Say word → Stretch sounds → Tap phonemes → Blend back
  • Before answering: point to the clue in the spoken words, written sentence, image, page layout or text purpose.
  • Self-check: change the example slightly and see whether the same reasoning still works.
Practice and reviewReady for practice

3. Common Student Misconceptions

  • Counting letters not sounds: Listen for phonemes, not letter count.
  • Blend as one sound: /fr/ has /f/ and /r/.
  • Cannot blend back: Always say the word again after segmenting.

Practice Thought & Formative Assessment

Use a fresh, code-aligned example. The student should show the exact word, sound, sentence, image feature, audience clue or text evidence that supports the answer.

Quick checks

  • Segment “ship”.
  • How many sounds in “frog”?
  • What is a consonant blend?
  • Blend /s/ /t/ /o/ /p/.

Mastery evidence

  • Hear phonemes
  • Segment words
  • Identify blends/clusters
  • Use sound boxes
Curriculum alignmentStart here

1. Outcome Overview & Core Concepts

Words can be segmented into separate phonemes. Blends and clusters have more than one consonant sound close together.

Learning target: segment words into separate phonemes (sounds) including consonant blends or clusters at the beginnings and ends of words (phonological awareness)

Big idea: Break words into separate sounds, including blends and clusters

Learning routine: Say word → Stretch sounds → Tap phonemes → Blend back

Related resourcesKeep teaching

Related Classroom Views

Continue through closely related Year 1 English concepts.

Explore all Year 1 English topics

Teach & ExplainTeaching slides and samples

Teach this topic step by step

Explore optional teaching slide packs for classroom lessons and explanations at home.

Browse Teach & Explain · Browse Print & Go

Teachers: follow SkillrHub on TPT, then email us to request a free sample before buying. Include the year, subject and topic or curriculum code.

Request a free sample

After trying the sample, honest feedback is welcome. A TPT review is optional, where available, and does not need to be positive.