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Vowel ChoicesYear 7 Spelling Starters
Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page
Accompanying worksheet
Flash activity. These activities are not editable.
Web addressesExtension activities
Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation
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Contents
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Long and short vowels
Long ‘a’ Sound
Long ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘o’ and ‘u’ sounds
Unstressed vowels
Doubling consonants
The soft ‘c’
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Vowel choices – Long and short vowels
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Long and short vowels
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In different situations and combinations, vowels make different sounds. Compare the sound of these short and long vowels.
Long vowels Short vowels
rate
these
kite
close
muse
rat
ten
kit
cot
bus
Note how with long vowel sounds the sound of the vowel is the same as the name of the letter.
Long and short vowels
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Vowel choices – Long A sound
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Long ‘a’ sound
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There are other ways to create a long ‘a’ sound.
Can you think of any? Click to see some examples.
break grey
Can you think of any other words with ea or ey letter combinations?
Long ‘a’ sounds
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Vowel choices – Long E, I, O and U sounds
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Long ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘o’ and ‘u’ sounds
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Look at these examples of long ‘i’ sounds. Can you find any more words to add?
i_e
time
line
y
sky
try
igh
light
sigh
ie
tie
pie
Are there any other ways to spell this sound?
Long ‘i’ sound
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Vowel choices – Unstressed vowels
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Unstressed vowels
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Some vowels are difficult to hear clearly as they are spoken quickly or quietly.
For example: generous; literature; miserable.
Which of the vowels were difficult to hear?
Did you spell them correctly?definitelyfamilylotteryWednesdaystationery
Unstressed vowels
Listen to these words then write them down.
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Decide which of the words in these sentences are missing vowels, and which vowels they are missing.
I defnitely want to study mathmatics not litrature at university.I definitely want to study mathematics not literature at university.
We have a famly busness making jewellry.We have a family business making jewellery.
The carpt factry genrally closes on Satdays.The carpet factory generally closes on Saturdays.
Unstressed vowels
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Vowel choices – Doubling consonants
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Doubling consonants
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The sound of vowels can influence other letters in a word. Look at these examples. What change takes place as an ending is added?
big bigger
dig digging
hit hitting
stop stopped
The final consonant doubles.
This happens
with single syllable words
where there is one short vowel followed by one consonant
when the ending starts with a vowel.
Doubling consonants
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Look at these examples. Why does the final consonant not double?
brush brushing
peel peeling
love loving
gut gutless
Ends with more than one consonant
More than one vowel, making a long vowel sound
The ending begins with a consonant
This word ends with a vowel
Doubling consonants
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The vowel that comes after c decides how the word sounds.
Look at the word circuit.
soft c hard c
Complete the activity on the next slide. Say the words aloud to hear how they sound. Can you spot any patterns?
The soft ‘c’
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Did you notice any rules?
Do sounds beginning with ci use a soft c or a hard c?For example: cinnamon, citizen, circle.
What other letters make a soft c sound?
ce For example: celery, centimetre, centipede.
cy For example: cycle, cylinder, mercy.
ca, co and cu make a hard sound.For example, cardigan, coat, curtain.
The soft ‘c’