The Tan Can

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Objective

Read and write words that end in –an.

See Standards

Lesson Plan

Target Words:

Materials:

Can (painted tan or covered with tan paper, write the –an ending on the outside)
Graphics or objects
Word blending cards
The Tan Can target text (written on chart paper or whiteboard)
The Tan Can missing letters text
Whiteboards and markers or paper and pencils

Overview
The children will play a game with a can as they read and write words that end in –an such as man, can, ran, and fan.

Literacy Activities
In the tan can

Hold up the pictures or items and ask the children, “Can a ____ go in the tan can?”
Have the children respond, “Yes, a _an can go in the tan can,” while putting the item in the can or, “No, a ____ can’t go in the tan can,” while setting the item aside.

More Practice
Identify, blend, and manipulate sounds

With word blending cards, have the children make new words by changing either of the consonants or the vowel:
- man → pan; tan → ran; can → fan
- fan → fun; tan → ten; man → men
- man → mat; tan → tap; can → car

Read target words in a text

Display the text to The Tan Can.
Read the text together as a group.
Read again, fading support.
Allow the children to underline the –an words present in the text.

Write target words

Give each child a copy of The Tan Can with missing letters target text.
Have the children fill in the –an ending for the words in The Tan Can missing letters text.
Support the children as they write the missing letters.

The Tan Can

This is our tan can.
The tan can is empty.
What can go in the tan can?
A fan can go in the tan can.
A pan can go in the tan can.
A van can go in the tan can.
Can a man go in the tan can?

The Tan Can (with missing letters)

This is our t__ c__.
The t__ c__ is empty.
What c__ go in the t__ c__?
A f__ c__ go in the t__ c__.
A p__ c__ go in the t__ c__.
A v__ c__ go in the t__ c__.
C__ a m__ go in the t__ c__?

The Tan Can (Missing Letters)

Picture Cards

SEEL At Home

Objective

Read and write words ending with -an (e.g., can, man, pan).

Materials

Picture cards
2 pieces of tan paper
Tape, scissors, jar or cup

Activity: The Tan Can

Cover the outside of a jar or cup with tan paper and label it Tan Can.
Choose a picture and ask your child, "Can a ___ go in the tan can?"
Direct him or her to respond, "Yes, a _an can go in the tan can!" and put the item in the tan can if the item ends with -an. If the item does not end with -an, direct him or her to set the item aside and respond, "No, a ___ can't go in the tan can!"
Help your child write the title Tan Can and a list of all the -an things inside the can. Your child could also draw pictures to illustrate what's inside the tan can if desired.
Send the can paper to school with your child to share with a teacher and a friend.
The activity can be repeated several times.