Red Hen's Den Lesson Plan The Red Hen's Den
Lesson Plan • Phonics Focus: Short /ĕ/
GRADE 2 30 MINS
Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify, read, and write words containing the short 'e' sound in isolation and within the context of a short story.
Why It Matters
Mastering short vowel sounds is crucial for developing strong decoding skills and building confidence in reading and writing. This lesson provides foundational practice.
Materials Needed
Whiteboard or Projector
Markers or Pens
Red Hen's Den Slides
Short E Script
Short E Warm-Up Handout
Short E Worksheet & Key
Preparation (10 mins)
• Review the Short E Slides and practice the Script.
• Print copies of the Warm-Up and Worksheet for each student.
• Test your projector or display for slide visibility.
• Familiarize yourself with the story of Meg the Hen to guide discussion.
Instructional Steps
5m
Warm-Up: 'E' is for Everywhere!
Begin with the Short E Warm-Up. Display questions and ask students to think of /ĕ/ sound words. Encourage partner sharing before a class share-out. Use the script for guiding prompts.
5m
Introduce the Short 'e' Sound
Use the Short E Slides to introduce the sound. Model the pronunciation of /ĕ/ and provide examples (egg, pen, bed). Ask students to repeat the words, focusing on mouth shape.
10m
Story Time: The Red Hen's Den
Present the story of Meg the Red Hen. Pause at /ĕ/ words for students to identify them with a silent thumbs-up. Engage with interactive slide prompts to check for auditory recognition.
7m
Guided Practice: Short 'e' Scramble
Distribute the Short E Worksheet. Complete the first few items together. Circulate to provide support as students circle, match, and fill in the blanks.
3m
Wrap-Up & Review
Collect worksheets. Recap the sound /ĕ/ and its presence in 'red' and 'hen'. Remind students to listen for this sound throughout their day.
Short E Slides The Red Hen's Den
Phonics Adventures: Short /ĕ/
Today, we're going on a sound hunt!
e
Meet Short E!
Short E says /ĕ/ like in:
Can you make the sound?
/ĕ/
The Red Hen's Den: Our Story!
Let's read about a red hen named Meg who lives in a cozy den.
Listen for words with the Short E sound!
🐓
Meg the Hen
This is Meg, a little red hen.
What short 'e' words do you hear?
Her Busy Day
Every day, Meg would get out of her bed.
Any more short 'e' words?
🐕
🪹
Fun in the Sun
Together, they would play and jest.
What were the short 'e' words?
Short E Scramble!
Now it's your turn to be a short 'e' detective! Grab your worksheet and get ready to practice.
Great Job, Detectives!
You found the short 'e' sound! Keep listening for it in all the words you read and say.
Short E Script Short E Teaching Script
Lesson: The Red Hen's Den
5 MINS
Warm-Up: 'E' is for Everywhere!
Teacher says: "Good morning, everyone! Let's get our brains warmed up for some super sound detective work today. Take a look at the screen for our warm-up questions. I want you to think about words that have the 'eh, eh, eh' sound, like in 'egg' or 'bed'."
[Display Short E Warm-Up Handout or project the slide]
Teacher says: "What words can you think of that have the short 'e' sound? Turn and talk to your partner for one minute, and see how many you can list!"
(Allow students to discuss. Circulate and listen for their ideas. After a minute, call them back.)
Teacher says: "Alright, my super sound detectives, let's hear some of your brilliant ideas! Who wants to share a word with the short 'e' sound?"
5 MINS
Introduce the Short 'e' Sound
[Display Slide 1: What's that Sound?]
"Fantastic! Today, our mission is to become experts at finding and using the short 'e' sound. It's a very common sound, and once you know it, it will help you read so many new words!"
[Display Slide 2: Meet Short E!]
"Look at this slide! The short 'e' sound says /ĕ/, like when you say 'egg' or 'pen' or 'bed'. Can you all make the /ĕ/ sound with me?"
(Lead students in making the sound multiple times. Model proper mouth placement.)
"Great job! It's a quick, clear sound. Notice how my mouth is open just a little, and my tongue is relaxed. Let's say those example words together, really stretching out that short 'e' sound: E-e-e-gg, P-e-e-n, B-e-e-d."
10 MINS
Story Time: The Red Hen's Den
[Display Slide 3 & 4]
"Now for the fun part! We're going to read a story called 'The Red Hen's Den'. As I read, I want your ears to be extra tuned in for words that have our short 'e' sound. When you hear one, give me a silent thumbs-up!"
(Read Slides 4-6 slowly. Pause after short 'e' words like Meg, red, hen, den, get, bed, fetch, Ned, jest, best, nest.)
"Excellent listening! You found so many! Let's name a few together: red, hen, nest. They all share that same /ĕ/ sound."
7 MINS
Guided Practice: Short 'e' Scramble
[Display Slide 7: Short E Scramble!]
(Hand out the Short E Worksheet)
"You've done an amazing job listening. Now, it's your turn to show what you know! On this worksheet, you'll see pictures and words. Your job is to find the short 'e' words. Let's look at the first section together. We need to circle the words that have the short 'e' sound. Remember the /ĕ/ sound. If you get stuck, think about 'egg' or 'bed'."
3 MINS
Short E Warm-Up Short E Warm-Up
"E" is for Everywhere!
Name
Date
Instructions
Think about the short 'e' sound, like in the word "bed." Follow the prompts below to warm up your brain!
1
What does the short 'e' sound like? Can you make the sound?
Practice making the sound: "Eh, eh, eh..."
2
List three words you know that have the short 'e' sound.
A.
B.
C.
3
Can you write a sentence that uses at least TWO words with the short 'e' sound? Short E Worksheet Short E Scramble!
Lesson: The Red Hen's Den
Name
Date
1
Circle the Short E Words
Instructions: Read each word. If it has the short 'e' sound (like in 'bed'), draw a circle around it!
bed
cat
hen
sit
red
pen
fan
ten
sun
leg
jet
top
wet
dog
nest
2
Match the Picture to the Word
Instructions: Draw a line from the picture to the word that matches it.
🛏️
🐓
✈️
🖊️
hen
pen
bed
jet
3
Fill in the Blank
ten pet web men
1. I have a new named Rex.
2. There are fingers on my two hands.
3. The spider spun a big .
4. Two built the fence.
4
Write a Short E Sentence
Instructions: Write one sentence using at least two words with the short 'e' sound.
Short E Answer Key Answer Key
Short E Scramble!
Teacher Resource
1
Circle the Short E Words
bed
cat
hen
sit
red
pen
fan
ten
sun
leg
jet
top
wet
dog
nest
2
Match the Picture to the Word
Correct Matches:
🛏️ Bed → word bed
🐓 Hen → word hen
✈️ Jet → word jet
🖊️ Pen → word pen
3
Fill in the Blank
1. I have a new pet named Rex.
2. There are ten fingers on my two hands.
3. The spider spun a big web.
4. Two men built the fence.
4
Write a Short E Sentence
Sample Correct Answers:
The red hen went to her den.
My pet Fred has ten legs.
I get wet when I play with the jet.
