It is very important to emphasize that a closed or open syllable has just ONE vowel.
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Activity: Open VS Closed
Standards
Distinguish long and short vowels when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.
Reader Goals
I can recognize open and closed syllable types.
Target Words
• Open: we, Jo, she, he, no, go
• Closed: tap, get, wet, Tom, run, and, fun, hop, not, stop
• Pattern breakers: what, to, do, all
Helpful Hints
Guide
- Say
Let’s learn about the syllable types. When there is only one vowel in a word or syllable, it can be an open syllable or a closed syllable type. - Point to the picture on the left and Say
We call it an open syllable when a syllable ends with a single vowel. Do you see the letter V representing the vowel is free? So it is free to go a “long way.” It makes a long vowel sound that is the same as the name of the vowel. - Point to the picture on the right and Say
We call it a closed syllable when one vowel is followed by a consonant sound. Do you see the letter V representing the vowel is locked inside? So it is not free to go a long way and say its long sound. So in a closed syllable word where the vowel is followed by a consonant sound, the vowel makes its short vowel sound. - Say
Now let’s sort the one-syllable words by their syllable types. This will help you pronounce the vowel to read unfamiliar words.
Guide
- Say
Now we’re going to read a poem that has lots of open and closed syllable type words. Let’s find them and sort them by their syllable types, so we can read the poem together. - Point to the headers as you Say
Let’s name our headers first. We have two headers: open syllables and closed syllables.
When a word looks like an open syllable or a closed syllable but has an unexpected pronunciation, we’ll put it in the gray area: It means it’s a pattern breaker. - Say
Now let’s look at each line in the poem and find words with only one vowel to sort them. - Read and Ask
Tap, tap. We get wet.
Which words have only one vowel?
(tap, we, get, wet) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words tap, we, get, and wet have only one vowel. So they can be open or closed syllables. Let’s look at each of them more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word tap. - Point to the word tap and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel A)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant P)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /tăp/.
(/tăp/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ă/ in the word tap?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. So the word tap will go under the header VC. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word we. - Point to the word we and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel E)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /wē/.
(/wē/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ē/ in the word we?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound, the same as the vowel’s name. We identify this as an open syllable. So the word we will go under the header V. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word get. - Point to the word get and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel E)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant T)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /gĕt/.
(/gĕt/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word get?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word get?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word wet. - Point to the word wet and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel E)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant T)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /wĕt/.
(/wĕt/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word wet?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word wet?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
What does Jo like to do?
Which words have only one vowel?
(what, Jo, to, do) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words what, Jo, to, and do have only one vowel. So they can be open or closed syllables. Let’s look at each of them more closely to sort them. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word what. - Point to the word what and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel A)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant T)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /wət/.
(/wət/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ă/ in the word what?
(no) - Say
I hear the schwa sound /ə/ in the word what, so it has an unexpected pronunciation and we will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word Jo. - Point to the word Jo and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /jō/.
(/jō/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word Jo?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound. We identify this as an open syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word Jo?
(It will go under the header V.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word to. - Point to the word to and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /to͞o/.
(/to͞o/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word to?
(no) - Say
I hear the /o͞o/ sound in the word to, so it has an unexpected pronunciation and we will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word do. - Point to the word do and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /do͞o/.
(/do͞o/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word do?
(no) - Say
I hear the /o͞o/ sound in the word do, so it has an unexpected pronunciation and we will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
What does Tom like to do?
Which words have only one vowel?
(what, Tom, to, do) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words what, Tom, to, and do have only one vowel. We already sorted the words what, to, and do, and they have an unexpected pronunciation. So let’s look at the word Tom and figure out if it is an open syllable or a closed syllable. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the word Tom and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant M)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant sound after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /tŏm/.
(/tŏm/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŏ/ in the word Tom?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word Tom?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
We like to play all day.
Which words have only one vowel?
(we, to, all) - If readers pick play and day as well, Explain that the letter Y functions as a vowel when it is at the end of the word so in effect these words have two vowels: Say
When y is at the end of a word, it functions as a vowel. So the words play and day each has two vowels in them, a and y. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words we, to, and all have only one vowel. We already sorted the open syllable word we and the pattern-breaker word to. So let’s look at the word all and figure out if it is an open syllable or a closed syllable. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the word all and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel A)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant digraph LL)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant sound after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /ôl/.
(/ôl/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ă/ in the word all?
(no) - Say
I hear the /ô/(au) sound in the word all, so it has an unexpected pronunciation and we will put it in the pattern breaker box. - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
She likes to run and have fun.
Which words have only one vowel?
(she, to, run, and, fun) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words she, to, run, and, and fun have only one vowel. We already know the word to has an unexpected pronunciation, so let’s sort the other words. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word she. - Point to the word she and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel E)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /shē/.
(/shē/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ē/ in the word she?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound. We identify this as an open syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word she?
(It will go under the header V.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word run. - Point to the word run and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel U)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant N)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /rŭn/.
(/rŭn/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŭ/ in the word run?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word run?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word and. - Point to the word and and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel A)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant N)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /ănd/.
(/ănd/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ă/ in the word and?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word and?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word fun. - Point to the word fun and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel U)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant N)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /fŭn/.
(/fŭn/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŭ/ in the word fun?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word fun?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
He likes to hop and not stop.
Which words have only one vowel?
(he, to, hop, not, stop) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words he, to, hop, not, and, stop have only one vowel. We already know the word to has an unexpected pronunciation and the word and is a closed syllable. Let’s sort the other words. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word he. - Point to the word he and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel E)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /hē/.
(/hē/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ē/ in the word he?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound. We identify this as an open syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word he?
(It will go under the header V.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word hop. - Point to the word hop and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant P)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /hŏp/.
(/hŏp/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŏ/ in the word hop?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word hop?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word not. - Point to the word not and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant T)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /nŏt/.
(/nŏt/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŏ/ in the word not?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word not?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word stop. - Point to the word stop and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(consonant P)
So this could be a closed syllable because there is one vowel and it has a consonant after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /stŏp/.
(/stŏp/)
Did you hear the short vowel sound /ŏ/ in the word stop?
(yes) - Say
When a consonant sound follows one vowel in a word or syllable, it makes a short vowel sound. We identify this as a closed syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word stop?
(It will go under the header VC.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another line. - Read and Ask
Oh, no! We have to go.
Which words have only one vowel?
(no, we, to, go) - Push next to continue
Guide
- Point to the words as you Say
The words no, we, to, and go have only one vowel. We already know the word we is an open syllable type and the word to has an unexpected pronunciation. Let’s sort the other words. - Push next to continue
Guide
- Say
Let’s sort the word no. - Point to the word no and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /nō/.
(/nō/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word no?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound. We identify this as an open syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word no?
(It will go under the header V.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Now let’s sort the word go. - Point to the word go and Ask
How many vowels do you see in this word?
(1)
What is the vowel in this word?
(vowel O)
What comes after the vowel?
(nothing)
So this could be an open syllable because there is one vowel and it has nothing after it. Let’s check the pronunciation. Say /ɡō/.
(/ɡō/)
Did you hear the long vowel sound /ō/ in the word go?
(yes) - Say
When one vowel stands alone and there is no consonant after the vowel, it makes a long vowel sound. We identify this as an open syllable. - Ask
Under which header should we sort the word go?
(It will go under the header V.) - Push next to show where it belongs
Guide
- Say
Let’s review the one-syllable words from the poem we just sorted. - Point to and Read the words in the open syllable column with readers: Say
The open syllable words have the long vowel sound: we, Jo, she, he, no, go. - Point to and Read the words in the closed syllable column with readers: Say
The closed syllable words have the short vowel sound: tap, get, wet, Tom, run, and, fun, hop, not, stop. - Point to and Read the pattern breakers with readers: Say
The pattern-breaker words do not follow the syllable type rule when it comes to pronunciation: what, to, do, all.
Guide
- Say
Now that we know how to pronounce open syllables, closed syllables, and pattern-breaker words with an unexpected pronunciation in the poem, we can read it together! - Read together, have readers repeat after you read each line (my turn, your turn), or have them read on their own. Practice reading until they can read it fluently.
