Mister Spencers Guide Plan Garden Detective: Small Group
30-Minute Intensive Phonics & Reading
LSS ELA 1st
Louisiana Standardized Objectives
RF.1.3: Students will know and apply grade-level phonics skills to decode words with the tricky spelling 'c' (/k/ vs. /s/) and variant /s/ spellings ('ce', 'se').RF.1.3g: Students will recognize and read the irregularly spelled tricky word "here" with automaticity.RL.1.1: Students will ask and answer questions about key details in the story "Mister Spencer and the Rabbits" to demonstrate understanding.L.1.2d: Students will use conventional spelling for one-syllable words with common /s/ spelling patterns during the word sort and exit ticket.
Grouping Tips
Focus on students needing reinforcement of the 'c' rule. Use the C-Saw Cards for tactile sorting before reading.
Focus Standard
RF.1.3.b: Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words.
Quick-Fire Sequence (30 Min)
3 MIN
Sound Check (Phonics Analysis)
Show Slide 2 (The Two Faces of 'c'). Quickly call out words (cat, cent, cup, cell) and have students "thumbs up" for /s/ or "make a C" for /k/.
7 MIN
Tactile Word Analysis
Use 4-6 C-Saw Spelling Cards . Have students sort them into /k/ and /s/ piles. Focus on "ce" and "se" endings. Ask: "What vowel comes after the 'c'?"
15 MIN
Echo Reading & Comprehension
Use the Rabbit Raid Worksheet .
Teacher reads: Modeling phrasing and soft 'c' words.Students echo: Focus on Spencer, price, twice, fence .Check (RL.1.1): "Why did he build a fence?" or "How much did the plants cost?"
5 MIN
Assessment Check
Quickly complete Task 1 and 2 on the Carrot Patch Exit Ticket . Collect to inform tomorrow's group placement.
6 C-Saw Cards (mixed)
Rabbit Raid Worksheets
Exit Tickets (Pre-cut)
Laptop/Tablet for Slides
Garden Detective Slides Garden Detective
Phonics Lesson 6
Tricky Spelling Review: 'c' & /s/
The Two Faces of 'c'
/k/
Hard Sound
cat • cup • clock
/s/
Soft Sound
cent • cell • rice
The Secret Code
When c is followed by
It says /s/!
The /s/ Squad
'c'
cent
cell
city
'ce'
fence
rice
once
'se'
horse
mouse
rinse
Mister Spencer
& the Rabbits
"Mister Spencer has a big garden. He has lots of plants. But he also has a problem..."
Detective Keywords
Spencer
fence
twice
price
Read to find out!
New Tricky Word
here
"Come here, Rabbit!"
Sprout and Sort Worksheet Sprout & Sort Worksheet
Name:
Date:
The Word Bank
cat
cent
fence
horse
clock
twice
rinse
cup
cell
price
mouse
crop
Part 1: The Two Sounds of 'c'
Look at the word bank. Sort the words with the letter c by their sound.
/k/ as in 'cat'
/s/ as in 'cent'
Part 2: The /s/ Squad
Sort these /s/ sound words by their spelling pattern.
Spelled 'c'
Spelled 'ce'
Spelled 'se'
Tricky Word Bonus!
Write a sentence using our new tricky word here.
Rabbit Raid Reading Worksheet Rabbit Raid!
Name:
Date:
Mister Spencer and the Rabbits
Mister Spencer has a big garden. He has lots of plants. He spent a big price to buy them.
But there is a problem. The rabbits like to eat his plants! They come twice a day.
Mister Spencer said, "I must stop the rabbits! I will build a fence."
Mister Spencer put a fence up here and there. He hoped the rabbits would stay away.
1. What is the main problem in the story?
Mister Spencer has too many plants.
The rabbits are eating the plants.
The fence is too big.
2. How many times a day do the rabbits come?
3. What does Mister Spencer build to stop the rabbits?
Detective Sketch:
Draw Mister Spencer's garden with the rabbits and the fence.
C-Saw Spelling Cards C-Saw Spelling Cards
Lesson 6: /k/ vs /s/ Sorting Activity
/k/
/s/
cat
cup
clock
crop
cent
c
cell
c
city
c
race
ce
fence
ce
price
ce
twice
ce
once
ce
horse
se
mouse
se
rinse
se
goose
se
Cut along the lines to create flashcards or sorting games.
Carrot Patch Exit Ticket Carrot Patch Exit Ticket
Detective Name:
1. Circle the word that has the /s/ sound:
clock
cell
2. Use the tricky word "here":
Come __________, rabbit!
3. Spell a word that rhymes with "mice":
Carrot Patch Exit Ticket
Detective Name:
1. Circle the word that has the /s/ sound:
clock
cell
2. Use the tricky word "here":
Come __________, rabbit!
3. Spell a word that rhymes with "mice": Tricky C Script Guide Detective Script: The Tricky 'C'
Lesson 6 • Complete Instructional Dialogue
1. Cracking the 'C' Code (5 Mins)
Teacher Dialogue:
"Gather 'round, Garden Detectives! Today, the letter 'c' is trying to trick us. Usually, it's a tough /k/ sound, like in cat . But sometimes, it wears a disguise and whispers /s/ , just like the letter 's'!"
"Here is the secret: Look at the letter right after 'c'. If you see an e , i , or y , that 'c' is going to say /s/ ! Let's practice. In the word cent , what's after the 'c'? (Wait for 'e'). So does it say /k/ or /s/? (Wait for /s/). Spot on!"
2. Meeting the /s/ Squad (7 Mins)
Teacher Dialogue:
"But wait! 'c' isn't the only one in the /s/ squad. We also have 'ce' and 'se' . They usually show up at the end of words to keep that /s/ sound nice and crisp."
"Look at fence . It has 'ce'. Look at horse . It has 'se'. Even though they look different, they all make that same snakey /s/ sound. Let's hiss like a snake together: /sssssss/!"
3. The New Tricky Word (3 Mins)
Teacher Dialogue:
"One more thing for our mission! We have a new Tricky Word: here . It's tricky because that 'e' at the end and the 'e' in the middle are working together in a funny way. We just have to remember it by heart. 'Come here , Rabbit!'"
Scaffolding & Feedback
If a student says /k/ for 'cent':
"Good try! Let's be detectives. Look at the letter next to 'c'. It's an 'e'. Remember our code? When 'e' is the neighbor, 'c' says /s/. Try it again: /s/--ent."
To challenge advanced learners:
"You cracked the 'ce' code! Can you think of another word that ends in 'ce' like rice or mice ? How would we spell dance ?"
Now, let's open our books to Mister Spencer!
Garden Glossary Handout Garden Glossary
Detective Words for 1st Grade
Tricky Word
here
"Right where I am." or "This spot."
"Come here, rabbit!"
Soft 'ce'
price
"How much money you pay for a toy or plant."
"The price of the seeds was $1."
Soft 'ce'
twice
"Two times. Like clapping twice!"
"The rabbits visit twice a day."
Soft 'ce'
fence
"A wall made of wood to keep animals out."
"The fence keeps the rabbits out."
Detective Matching
twice
Two times.
price
Money you pay.
Garden Detective Reference Sheet Name: ____________________
