Cut Shop Teacher Guide
Cut Shop Guide
1st Grade Sight Word & Phonics Lesson
45 MINS
Learning Objectives
- • Read and write the sight word cut.
- • Build complete sentences with correct syntax.
- • Distinguish cut from other short 'u' words (nut, hut).
Materials Needed
- "Sentence Scramble" Worksheet
- "Word Snippets" Cutouts
- Scissors & Glue Sticks
- Crayons/Markers
Lesson Flow
5 MIN
Warm-up: The "UT" Family
Gather students on the rug. Write -ut on the board. Ask students to brainstorm words that rhyme with "cut".
Examples: nut, hut, but, shut, rut. Circle the "ut" ending in each word to show the pattern.
5 MIN
Visual: Sight Word Song
Play the "Cut Song" video.
Discussion Prompt: "What four things did Lexy cut in the song? (Paper, Cake, Pie, Pizza). What tool do we use for each of those?"
25 MIN
Action: Sentence Scramble
Distribute the "Word Snippets" and "Sentence Scramble" sheets.
- Students cut out the word boxes.
- Students arrange the words to match the sentences from the song (e.g., "I cut the pizza").
- Students glue the words into the correct boxes on the worksheet.
- Students illustrate each sentence in the space provided.
5 MIN
Closure: Gallery Walk
Invite students to share their favorite illustration and read their sentence aloud to a partner or the class. Review the spelling C-U-T one last time.
Teaching Tips
Spelling Chant (0:34)
When the video sings "C-U-T", have students "air write" the letters with their fingers or clap for each letter to build muscle memory.
Phonics Focus: Short 'u'
To help students distinguish "cut" from "cot" or "cat", emphasize the /u/ sound (like an umbrella opening). Have them touch their chin; it should drop slightly for the /u/ sound.
Scissor Safety Note
Since the lesson is about "cutting", use this as a teachable moment for scissor safety: "Scissors stay down," "Walk with them closed," and "Only cut paper."
Differentiation
Support
Provide a "cheat sheet" with the 4 full sentences written out so students can match their cut-outs to the visual model.
Challenge
Ask students to write a brand new sentence using the word "cut" (e.g., "I cut the ribbon") and draw it on the back of their worksheet.
Exit Check
Before heading to the next activity, hold up a card with "cut", "nut", and "cat". Ask students to point to the word "cut".
CUT NUT CAT
Cut It Slides
Snipping
Sight Words
Today's Word: CUT
Warm Up: Rhyme Time!
Look at the word ending: -ut
nut
hut
Can you think of any more?
Watch & Listen
Song: "Cut"
Embedded media
What did we cut?
1
Paper
2
Cake
3
Pie
4
Pizza
"What else can we cut safely?"
Activity Time
1. SNIP
Cut out all the words from the snippet sheet.
2. SORT
Put the words in order to make sentences.
3. SHOW
Glue them down and draw your picture!
