Multisensory Monday- Vowel Team ee Tree

Sometimes I find myself getting stuck in a rut when it comes time to create vibrant and fun multisensory activities for my students. I like having ideas that I can use year after year with students of differing ages. I also like having multisensory activities that store easily and are inexpensive to create. As it turns out, it can be difficult to develop an activity that is reusable, works with students of varying ages, stores away easily, and does not cost a lot of money to make while still being fun and engaging for the student, emphasizing the point of the lesson, and being quick to implemented and clean up!

To teach the EE vowel team, I developed a lesson that has stood the test of time and meets all of my criteria. All you need to make it is some construction paper, a marker, and a pair of scissors.

Materials

• Construction Paper
• Scissors
• Marker

Directions

• To begin, cut a green sheet of construction paper into the shape of a pine tree. Next, cut some small circles from another color construction paper. Finally cut out a star shape from some construction paper.
• On the star, write an “ee”. On the small circles, write some consonants that will allow your student to create various words when combined the “ee” (such as “b”, “s”, “t”, etc.). As the teacher, you can make this ahead of time and store it in a zip-top baggie or large envelope, or you can have the students each make their own.

• Once the pieces are cut out and labeled, place the circles on the tree and the star at the top of the tree. Students can place the circles next to the “ee” star to create various words.

Ideas

• Younger students may benefit from the teacher giving them a word to make (for example, “can you make the word ‘see’?”). Students may pound and fingertap the words, if needed. Older students may prefer to make their own words. The teacher can challenge them by asking for a four- or five-letter word.
• This activity may also be used as a game. Each player takes turns trying to create real words. Each letter is worth one point and whoever reaches ten points first is the winner.

This multisensory activity has worked well for my younger and older students alike. I store it with my Phonics First® Curriculum Guide and use it when first introducing the lesson for “ee”. Whenever my students need a review, I simply pull this activity out and we play the game as a skill review. I hope your students enjoy this simple, cost-effective, inexpensive, engaging activity as much as my students have.

Tammi Brandon is a Master Instructor and Education Consultant with Brainspring Educator Academy.

Brainspring’s Educator Academy helps teachers bring Orton-Gillingham based multisensory instruction to the classroom. Our nationally accredited Phonics First® curriculum helps transform struggling readers into skilled learners with an effective, fun, multisensory approach.

For more information please visit brainspring.com or call 1-8007323211