ESL Level: Intermediate+
Language Focus: Pronunciation of 's' sounds (plurals)
Class Time: 40 minutes (or one hour if you watch the video)
Materials: A worksheet for each student, a tongue twister for each student
Lesson Plan Download: This lesson is now on TPT
Lesson Plan Description
Firstly, you'll have to teach your students to recognize which plural verbs and nouns end with a /s/, /z/, or /iz/ sound. There's a great video on plural sounds online by Elemental English. Instead of teaching it yourself, you can just show your students the video.
Next, review the rules quickly for each plural sound.
Part 1: Grouping Plural Verbs
Then give your students the hand-out below (download the file above). For the first part, as per the instructions, the students can (individually or with a partner) put the plural word into the correct column according to the sound of its ending.
[See TPT for worksheet preview]
When finished, they can read the story to each other. You, the teacher, should take up the answers as well.
Part 2: Tongue Twisters
Beforehand, you should cut up one tongue twister (from below) for each student. There are only 4 tongue twisters; it's okay that multiple students have the same one. The tongue twisters also test the pronunciation of other sounds, but there are some plural nouns as well.
Give a tongue twister to each student. Have them practice it for a minute. Then, get them to stand up and mix around. Have them say their tongue twisters to each other. When they hear a tongue twister, they should write it down at the bottom of their worksheet (on page 1). Remind them to
- actually say the tongue twister (instead of just showing the paper to their partner)
- ask questions for repetition ("Can you say that again?") or spelling ("How do you spell 'chopstick'?")
Once the students have heard and written down the other three tongue twisters, the pronunciation lesson is complete.
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Free Worksheet Answer Key - /s/ /z/ /iz/
[See TPT for answer key]
In my experience, students always enjoy tongue twisters. Give it a shot and have fun in your ESL class.
- Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com
Thanks a lot for this work.It’s very helpful
I am confused the word “ring” when it is put in /s/ column, I thought that it is /z/. Can you explain it?
There was a mistake. Thanks for pointing it out!
thanks a lot! it’s really great.
Great ideas to practice pronunciation of plural s. Thanks!
Excellent job! Thank you. So useful and well explained by the speaker and graphics.
Great job, however, they are not plural nouns rather words that end in s, some verbs and some plural nouns
Don’t you have the answers?
Hello. The worksheet is designed for teachers. However, if you want to see if you have the answers, please type them below and I’ll give you some feedback.
What answers
Hello. I’ve added the answers.
Present simple pronunciation s z iz
Rules for3 pereson singular he she it pronunciation of s
it’s so good
Excelente información que nospermite aprender más
Hola Muy bueno es aprender esto por que nos ayuda a identificar los verbos en plural y los sustantivos..
Excellent job! Thank you. So useful and well explained by the speaker and graphics.