Jolly Phonics Lesson Plan: Structure, Timings and a Sample Lesson
A Jolly Phonics lesson follows the same shape every time: revise known sounds, teach the new sound, practise letter formation, blend words for reading, dictate words for spelling, and read a sentence. The structure lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and covers all five skills in every session. Consistency is what makes it work: children know what's coming, so the time goes into learning rather than instructions.
The Lesson Structure
| Part | Minutes | What happens | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Revision | 3 | Flashcards of known sounds, children say the sound and do the action | Letter sounds |
| 2. New sound | 5 | Story, action, song; children practise saying it purely | Letter sounds |
| 3. Formation | 4 | Air-write, trace, then write the letter | Letter formation |
| 4. Blending | 6 | Read words using the new and known sounds; each child reads aloud | Blending |
| 5. Dictation | 5 | Teacher says 2–3 words; children write them | Segmenting |
| 6. Tricky word / sentence | 4 | Introduce or revise a tricky word; read a short sentence | Tricky words |
| 7. Close | 3 | Quick game and home practice instructions | Revision |
Sample Lesson: Teaching /h/
Prior knowledge: s, a, t, i, p, n, c, k, e
1. Revision (3 min). Flash the nine known sounds twice. Children say the sound with the action. Note any that come slowly.
2. New sound: /h/ (5 min). Tell the sound's story, show the action, and practise: pure /h/, a breath out, not "huh". Each child says it individually while you listen.
3. Formation (4 min). Air-write h, saying the formation aloud. Trace, then write five times in the notebook, saying /h/ each time.
4. Blending (6 min). Words: hat, hit, hen, hip, ham, has. Each child reads two words aloud. Stretch the sounds: "hhhaaat". Correct any "huh" immediately.
5. Dictation (5 min). Dictate hat, hen, hip. Children tap the sounds on their fingers, then write. Check each child's work on screen or on paper.
6. Tricky word and sentence (4 min). Revise the. Read: The hen is in the hat. Each child reads it once.
7. Close (3 min). Quick game: "I spy something that is /h/ /a/ /t/." Home practice: revise today's sound, read the six words, write three.
Weekly Plan
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | New sound + blending |
| Tue | New sound + dictation |
| Wed | New sound + sentence reading |
| Thu | New sound + revision of the week |
| Fri | No new sound: revision, assessment and reading |
Most schools introduce one sound per day. Home tutors and small batches meeting twice a week usually teach two to three sounds per session, with more revision.
Adapting the Plan
| Situation | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Age 4 | Shorten to 20 minutes; replace dictation with writing single letters |
| Online class | Add "show me" checks after formation and dictation. See how to teach phonics online |
| Child can't blend | Cut the new sound; spend the session on oral blending and two-sound words |
| Older catch-up | Three or four sounds per session, plus syllable work from advanced phonics |
| Large class | Choral responses plus individual turns for two or three children each session |
What to Record
Keep one line per child per lesson:
- Sounds known and sounds still slow
- Blending: independent, needs help, or can't yet
- Dictation: all sounds present, or which are missing
- Tricky words secure
Five minutes of record keeping a week tells you exactly what to reteach, and gives you something concrete to share with parents.
Common Planning Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Too much new content | One new sound, with the rest of the time on practice |
| Skipping dictation | Spelling is half of phonics; keep it in every lesson |
| Blending only as a group | Individual turns; choral responses hide problems |
| No revision | Start every lesson with known sounds |
| Teaching sounds for weeks before words | Blend from the first week |
Where This Fits
This structure teaches the 5 skills of Jolly Phonics in every session. Teachers learn to deliver it, with live practice and feedback, in our Jolly Phonics teacher training course. Parents teaching at home can use the shorter version in our daily phonics routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Jolly Phonics lesson look like? +
Revision of known sounds, a new sound with story and action, letter formation, blending words, dictation, a tricky word or sentence, and a closing game.
How long should a Jolly Phonics lesson be? +
About 20 to 30 minutes for young children, covering all five skills.
How many sounds should be taught per lesson? +
One per lesson in a school setting. Tutors meeting twice a week often teach two or three, with extra revision.
Should every lesson include writing? +
Yes. Letter formation and dictation belong in every session, because spelling and reading develop together.
What if children can't blend the words in the plan? +
Pause the new sounds and spend whole sessions on oral blending and two-sound words until blending is secure.
How do I adapt the plan for older children? +
Move faster through the sounds and add syllables, prefixes, suffixes and spelling patterns from advanced phonics.
What records should I keep? +
One line per child per lesson: sounds known, blending level, dictation accuracy and tricky words secure.