CLASS NOTES: MASTERING THE SPELLING OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK
Subject: English
Class: Nursery Three (Ages 5–6)
Topic: Spelling of the Days of the Week
Curriculum: Nigerian Hybrid (Integrating National Curriculum with Montessori and British Phonics)
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Recite the seven days of the week in the correct order.
- Identify the common "D-A-Y" suffix in every word.
- Spell all seven days independently using phonetic sounds and memory tricks.
- Understand and use words like "Today," "Yesterday," and "Tomorrow."
- Connect each day to specific activities in your home and school life.
2. Introduction: The Seven Special Friends
Imagine you have seven special friends who visit you one after the other. They never change their order, and they never skip a turn! These friends are called the Days of the Week.
To get our brains ready, let’s sing a favorite Nigerian nursery rhyme:
"There are seven days, there are seven days,
There are seven days in a week.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday!"
(Clap your hands for every day you sing!)
The Secret Code:
Look closely at the names of our seven friends. Do you see a pattern? Every single one of them ends with the same three letters: D-A-Y.
- D says /d/
- A and Y work together to say the name of the letter A (the long /eɪ/ sound).
If you can spell DAY, you are already halfway to being a spelling champion!
3. Comprehensive Core Concepts
Concept 1: The School Days (The "Work" Days)
We usually go to school for five days. Let’s learn how to build their names piece by piece.
1. Monday (Mon + day):
Monday is the first day of the school week.
- How to remember: Think of the word "Moon." Long ago, Monday was named after the moon! It also starts with M for "Morning Assembly."
- Spelling: Write M-O-N, then add your secret code D-A-Y.
2. Tuesday (Tues + day):
Tuesday is the second day of school.
- How to remember: Think of the number "Two" because it is the 2nd day of the work week. It starts with the /t/ sound.
- Spelling: This one is a bit tricky! Write T-U-E-S, then add D-A-Y.
3. Wednesday (Wed + nes + day):
Wednesday is the middle of the week. We sometimes call it "Hump Day" because it’s like climbing to the top of a hill.
- How to remember: Even though we say "Wenz-day," we spell it in three parts: WED-NES-DAY. Imagine a Wedding in a bird's Nest!
- Spelling: Write W-E-D, then N-E-S, then add D-A-Y.
4. Thursday (Thurs + day):
Thursday comes after Wednesday.
- How to remember: Listen to the /th/ sound at the start. You have to put your tongue between your teeth!
- Spelling: Write T-H-U-R-S, then add D-A-Y. (Think: Thursday is "Thirsty" for the weekend!)
5. Friday (Fri + day):
The last day of the school week and a very important day for prayers in the Mosque.
- How to remember: Friday is for "Friends," "Family," and "Fun."
- Spelling: Write F-R-I, then add D-A-Y.
Concept 2: The Weekend (The "Rest" Days)
6. Saturday (Satur + day):
This is a day for chores at home and "Owanbe" (parties) in Nigeria!
- How to remember: Think of sitting down. You SAT on UR (your) chair.
- Spelling: Write S-A-T-U-R, then add D-A-Y.
7. Sunday (Sun + day):
The brightest day of the week and a day many go to Church.
- How to remember: It is named after the SUN in the sky.
- Spelling: Write S-U-N, then add D-A-Y. It is the easiest one to spell!
4. Real-World Examples
Knowing how to spell these days helps you every day in Nigeria:
- The School Timetable: If your teacher says, "We have P.E. (Sports) on Wednesday," you can look at the wall, find the word starting with W-E-D, and know that is the day to wear your sneakers!
- Television Time: If your favorite cartoon shows only on Saturday mornings, you can check the TV guide and read the word S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y so you don't miss it.
- Market Days: In many villages and towns, the big market happens on a specific day, like Tuesday. Knowing the spelling helps you read the signs in the park or market square.
5. Project-Based Learning: "The My-Week Calendar Wheel"
Let’s build a tool to help you practice your spelling every morning!
Materials Needed:
- Two paper plates (or two circles cut from a cardboard box).
- A marker or colorful crayons.
- A brass fastener (split pin) or a thick string.
- Safety scissors.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Divide the Circle: Take the first plate. Use a ruler to draw lines dividing it into 7 "pizza slices."
- Write the Names: In each slice, carefully write one day of the week. Use a Blue marker for the first part (like MON) and a Red marker for the DAY part.
- The Cover Plate: Take the second plate. Cut a small "window" (one pizza slice shape) out of it.
- Connect: Place the plate with the window on top of the plate with the names. Poke a hole through the middle of both and join them with the fastener or string.
- Label: Write "TODAY IS..." on the top plate next to the window.
- Decorate: Draw a Sun on the Sunday slice and a School Bag on the Monday slice!
6. Home Practice Activities
Activity 1: The Kitchen Calendar Hunt
- Materials: A wall calendar or a phone.
- Task: Every morning before breakfast, find the current day on the calendar. Point to it and spell it out loud to your Mommy or Daddy.
- Outcome: This builds a daily habit of recognizing the words in different fonts and sizes.
Activity 2: Spelling Hopscotch
- Materials: Chalk and a flat floor (outdoor or tiled).
- Task: Draw 7 boxes. Write one day in each box. You must hop into "Monday" and shout: "M-O-N-D-A-Y!" before hopping to the next.
- Outcome: Physical movement helps your brain remember the letters faster.
Activity 3: The Syllable Clap
- Task: Have someone say a day. You must clap for every "beat" you hear.
- Example: "Sat-ur-day" (Clap-Clap-Clap).
- Then, try to write the letters for each clap you made.
7. Life Skills Connection
- Organization: When you can spell the days, you can make your own "To-Do List." (e.g., Monday: Pack books. Saturday: Wash socks).
- Punctuality: Knowing the days helps you understand when to be ready for school and when to rest.
- Reliability: If you tell a friend, "I will play with you on Friday," and you can recognize that day on a calendar, you are learning how to keep your promises!
8. Assessment Through Application (Test Yourself!)
Can you solve these challenges?
- The Missing Day Puzzle:
- Sunday, Monday, ________, Wednesday. (Can you spell the missing day?)
- The Chore Chart:
- Fill in the blanks: "I go to the Mosque on F _ _ _ _ Y."
- "I go to Church on S _ _ _ _ Y."
- The Day Detective:
- Look at a newspaper or a food packet. Can you find and circle any word that ends in D-A-Y?
- The Logic Test:
- If today is Tuesday, what day was it yesterday? (Spell it!)
- If today is Tuesday, what day will it be tomorrow? (Spell it!)
9. Student Reflection Questions
- Which day of the week is your favorite to spell? Why?
- Why do you think all the days end with the same three letters?
- If you could create an 8th day of the week, what would you name it and how would you spell it? (Remember to end it with -day!)
DOXCOV ACADEMY