ReadyKorea

K1 Lesson 01: Classroom Routine, Commands & Phonics Intro

Grade: K1 (Ages 3-4) Time: 30 minutes Look · Listen · Sit · Circle Time · /s/ Phonics · Teacher Says

Material Checklist — Full Lesson

  • Command flashcards (3): Look · Listen · Sit — large, with picture icons
  • Routine cue cards (6): Hello · Calendar · Song · Look · Listen · Sit
  • Finish basket: small basket at circle center for completed cue cards
  • Feeling puppet: one hand puppet or soft toy for feeling check
  • Phonics flashcards: Letter S + snake picture card
  • Hello Song + Goodbye Song audio: speaker or phone (30–45 sec each)
  • Calendar prop: wall calendar or printed month sheet with today highlighted
  • Circle seating: floor dots or carpet squares — one spot per child
  • Sticker sheet: 1 sticker per child for wrap-up
  • Optional: tambourine for song rhythm; small cloth to hide flashcards in "What's Missing?"

Learning Objectives

  • Students identify and physically respond to three core classroom commands: Look, Listen, Sit.
  • Students follow "Teacher Says" — perform actions only when the phrase begins with "Teacher says…"
  • Students complete the five-step Circle Time routine: Greeting → Calendar → Song → Feeling Check → Ready Signal.
  • Students hear, watch, and respond to the target sound /s/ (snake sound) with mouth shape + whole-body gesture.
  • Students practice active listening during "What's Missing?" and close with the Goodbye Song routine.

Warm-up: Core Commands & Teacher Says (10 mins)

Purpose: Establish the three non-negotiable K1 classroom commands before any Circle Time or phonics work. At ages 3–4, these one-word anchors are more reliable than long instructions.

Part A — Introduce Look, Listen, Sit (≈4 min)

Setup: Children stand behind their circle spot (not sitting yet). Hold the three command cards where everyone can see.

Teacher · Opening hook

"Welcome! Today we learn three magic words. Three words only. Are you ready?"
"Magic word number one — Look!"

Teacher · Look

"Look at me. Eyes here. Look, look, look!"
"Your turn — look at the card. Look at my eyes. Good looking!"

Teacher · Listen

"Magic word number two — Listen!"
"Hand on your ear. Shhh. Listen… listen… listen."
"I hear… nothing. Wonderful listening."

Teacher · Sit

"Magic word number three — Sit!"
"Sit on your spot. Criss-cross applesauce. Quiet hands."
"Look at me. Listen. Sit. Perfect!"
  1. Show each card one at a time. Model the gesture 3× — students copy immediately (no waiting).
  2. Quick drill: say a command without the card — students perform. Mix order: Sit → Look → Listen → Sit.
  3. Management cue: If one child stands up, point to Sit card silently before speaking. Wait 3 seconds — do not talk over movement.

Part B — Game: Teacher Says (≈6 min)

Teacher · Game rules

"New game — Teacher Says! Listen carefully."
"If I say Teacher says… you do it. If I don't say Teacher says… you freeze! Don't move!"
"Teacher says… Look!"
"Teacher says… Listen!"
"Teacher says… Sit!"

Teacher · Trap round (no "Teacher says")

"Jump!"
"Uh-oh! I didn't say Teacher says. Freeze! No jump. Good listening!"
"Teacher says… jump! Now you jump!"
  1. Round 1 (easy): only Look, Listen, Sit — always with "Teacher says."
  2. Round 2: add one trap command without "Teacher says" (jump, clap, or stand up).
  3. Round 3: faster pace — 6 commands in a row. Praise children who freeze correctly on traps.
  4. Management cue: If the class gets silly, lower your voice and say "Teacher says… Listen." Pause until quiet. Never shout over noise.
  5. Management cue: Celebrate "frozen" children: "Wow — you didn't move! Best listening!"

Teacher · Transition to Main Activity

"Teacher Says is finished. You know Look, Listen, Sit. Now we sit in our circle for Circle Time!"

Main Activity: Circle Time, /s/ Phonics & What's Missing? (15 mins)

Part A — Circle Time 5-Step Routine (≈7 min)

Setup: Routine cue cards face-up in circle center. Finish basket beside teacher. Children seated in circle.

Teacher Tip: After each step, move that cue card into the finish basket. Children learn: card in basket = step done.

Step 1 · Greeting (Hello card)

"Hello card first. Pick up… into the basket! Finished."
"Let's sing Hello Song. Wave — left, right, left, right."
"Hello, hello! How are you? Hello, hello! How are you?"
"Very well, I thank you. Very well, I thank you. Hello! Hello!"

Step 2 · Calendar (Calendar card)

"Calendar card — into the basket!"
"Today is [day]. Today is [month] [date]."
"Clap the date with me: [clap pattern]. Good job!"

Step 3 · Song (Song card)

"We sang Hello — Song card finished! Into the basket."

Step 4 · Feeling Check (Feeling puppet)

"This is [puppet name]. How do you feel today?"
"I feel happy — watch — I jump! Jump, jump!"
"[Puppet name] goes to [child's name]. Show me with your body."
"Happy? Jump! Sleepy? Head on hands. Excited? Arms up!"
"Thank you, [name]. Pass to [next name]."

Step 5 · Ready Signal (Look + Listen cards)

"Look card — eyes on me. Listen card — ears on. Both into the basket."
"Show me ready — quiet hands, listening ears. We are ready for phonics!"

Management note: Shy children may wave or nod — accept non-verbal response. Say: "[Puppet name] loves your wave!"

Part B — /s/ Snake Sound Intro (≈5 min)

Target: First phonics lesson — letters make sounds. Today: /s/ like a snake. Preview before Phonics Group 1 (Lesson 14).

Teacher · Introduce /s/

"Today we meet a special sound. Not a word — a sound. Listen…"
"This is letter S. S says… sssssss. Like a snake!"
"Watch my mouth. Teeth together. Air out. Sssssss."
"Now you — quiet snake… sssssss. Good!"
"Snake move! Arms together — slide side to side. Sssssss!"
  1. Trace letter S on the flashcard while hissing /s/ three times slowly.
  2. Show snake picture — model gesture: palms together, weave left–right, hiss "sssssss."
  3. Whole class copy × 3 rounds. Round 1: teacher leads. Round 2: group A then group B. Round 3: one volunteer.
  4. Hold up S card — class hisses + snake move without prompt.

Teacher · Praise frames

"Wow! I heard /s/!"
"Super snake sound!"
"Your mouth is perfect — sssssss!"
"High five for listening!"

Part C — Game: What's Missing? (≈3 min)

Teacher · Game setup

"Two cards: S and snake. Look… look… look."
"Close your eyes. No peeking! Shhh…"
"Open your eyes! What's missing? Point — S or snake?"
"Yes! Let's make the sound for the one that's here. Sssssss!"
  1. Place both cards on the floor. 3 seconds to look.
  2. "Close your eyes" — hide one card. Wait until all eyes are closed.
  3. "Open!" — 2–3 volunteers answer. Accept pointing + hiss if words are hard.
  4. Play 4 rounds. Alternate which card is hidden. Final round: hide both → "Surprise! Both back!"
  5. Management cue: If children peek, reset calmly: "Let's try again — eyes closed. I know you can do it."

Wrap-up: Calm Down, Compliment & Goodbye Song (5 mins)

Part A — Breathing & Compliment (≈2 min)

Teacher · Calm-down

"Phonics finished. Hands on your tummy."
"Breathe in… 1, 2, 3. Breathe out… 1, 2, 3, 4. Slow… like a sleepy snake. Sssssss."
"Again. In… 1, 2, 3. Out… 1, 2, 3, 4."

Teacher · Compliment circle

"Today you listened so well. You played Teacher Says. You made snake sounds."
"I am proud of [name] for active listening."
"I am proud of [name] for brave /s/!"
"Everyone gets a sticker. Line up — quiet feet."

Part B — Goodbye Song & Dismissal (≈3 min)

Teacher · Goodbye routine

"Stand up slowly. Stretch — big arms up!"
"Goodbye Song time. Wave your hands."
"Goodbye, goodbye, see you again. Goodbye, goodbye, see you again."
"Goodbye [name], goodbye [name], goodbye everyone — see you again!"
"Cleanup time — put one thing away. Chairs quiet. Line up at the door."
"High five at the door. Bye bye! See you next time!"

Management note: Pair goodbye with a consistent exit ritual (high-five, stamp, or line leader) so Lesson 02 starts faster.

Appendix — Master Lists

Print-ready reference for teachers and directors. Attach download URLs when assets are ready.

A. Master Material List (30-min Lesson)

  • Command flashcards: Look, Listen, Sit (×1 set, large)
  • Routine cue cards: Hello, Calendar, Song, Look, Listen, Sit (×6)
  • Finish basket or tray (×1)
  • Feeling puppet or soft toy (×1)
  • Phonics cards: S letter + snake picture (×2)
  • Hello Song audio + Goodbye Song audio
  • Calendar prop (wall or printed)
  • Circle seating markers (dots or squares)
  • Sticker sheet (1 per child)
  • Small cloth (optional — hide cards in What's Missing?)
  • Tambourine or clap sticks (optional)
📎 Master material checklist PDF — link coming soon

B. Master Word & Command Card List

  • look — eyes icon + word
  • listen — ear icon + word
  • sit — chair icon + word
  • hello — wave icon + word
  • goodbye — wave icon + word
  • S / s — uppercase + lowercase letter cards
  • snake — picture + word
  • sss — sound prompt card (mouth diagram optional)
  • teacher says — game anchor phrase card
📎 Printable flashcard pack (Lesson 01) — link coming soon

C. Key Teacher Phrases (Script Bank)

  • "Look at me. Eyes here."
  • "Hand on your ear. Listen."
  • "Sit on your spot. Criss-cross applesauce."
  • "Teacher says… [command]!"
  • "Uh-oh! I didn't say Teacher says. Freeze!"
  • "Into the basket — finished!"
  • "How do you feel today?"
  • "Close your eyes. No peeking!"
  • "S says… sssssss. Like a snake!"
  • "What's missing?"
  • "Goodbye, goodbye, see you again!"
📎 Routine poster (A3) + song lyric sheet — link coming soon

D. Timing Guide & Home Connection

  • 0:00–10:00 Warm-up — Look/Listen/Sit + Teacher Says
  • 10:00–17:00 Main A — Circle Time 5 steps
  • 17:00–22:00 Main B — /s/ phonics
  • 22:00–25:00 Main C — What's Missing?
  • 25:00–30:00 Wrap-up — Breathing, compliment, Goodbye Song
  • Home: "Show Mom/Dad the snake sound /s/!"
  • Home: "Practice Hello and Goodbye with a wave."