Short or Long

Short or Long?
Objective:
The students will distinguish between long and short e sounds and vowel patterns in words and
will sort them accordingly (including words that are exceptions).
Materials:
•  Word cards with short e and long e vowel patterns (e, ea, ee patterns; see Appendix
G for sample ea words)
Lesson:
After reading through all the word cards with the students and reviewing word meanings, as
well as reviewing the sounds of the ea and ee vowel patterns,
1.  Ask the students to sort the word cards according to the sound (short or long) of the e vowel patterns. Students must also decide how to sort any “exception” words.

2.  Monitor students as they sort the words, providing guidance when necessary.
3.  Have the students further sort the words into their pattern groups (e, ee, ea, and
exceptions) if time permits.