Useful Words We Can Map — Foundation

Useful Words We Can Map teaches Foundation learners to read and spell in, it, at, on, am, an and and by connecting spoken sounds with letters. The sequence uses counters, grapheme tiles, explicit modelling, mixed retrieval and short natural messages so learners build usable word knowledge instead of memorising visual shapes.

Across five lessons, learners move from worked maps and guided cover–write–check practice to independent retrieval, a partner message-matching game and a fresh read/write assessment. The contrast between an and and makes the final /d/ and letter d explicit. Teacher guidance includes an entry check, success criteria, equipment, support, core and extension routes, evidence recording and targeted next steps.

What's included

• 25-page Unit Plan PDF with clean table of contents
• Three teacher-preparation and lesson-sequence pages
• Editable 18-slide teaching presentation
• Editable 26-slide quiz with 12 question-and-explanation pairs
• Useful Words We Can Map colour display
• First Maps: in, it and at
• Next Maps: on, am and an
• Map and Compare: and, an/and and at/on
• Useful Words in Messages model cards
• Cover, Write, Check — Guided worksheet and answer
• Core Mixed Retrieval worksheet and answer
• Transfer and Explain worksheet and answer
• Useful-word Message Matching Game rules, worked turn and 12 challenge cards
• Fresh Message Rehearsal worksheet and answer
• Read, Spell and Repair worksheet and answer
• Fresh Phrase Read and Write Record assessment and marking page
• Learning Evidence Rubric
• Combined watermarked Preview PDF
• Clean Table of Contents JPEG

Learning focus

• Hear and segment the sounds in a short high-frequency word
• Move one counter for each sound position
• Match familiar letters to the spoken sounds
• Read and spell the same word in both directions
• Retrieve a word after its model is covered
• Distinguish an from and by hearing and recording final /d/
• Apply the word knowledge in a short natural message
• Explain one correction with specific sound-letter evidence

Classroom use

Teach the unit across five 30–40-minute lessons or use the pages in shorter literacy-practice bursts. Begin with the diagnostic prompts, model the mapping routine, use mixed retrieval rather than fixed word rows, and retain the learner's exact attempt during the assessment. Use the rubric to record observable evidence and a targeted next step.

Formats

PDF, editable PPTX, JPG

Pages/slides: 25-page unit plan PDF + 18-slide presentation + 26-slide quiz (69 pages/slides across the core files)

Answer key: Yes — six matched red-answer/marking pages and explanatory quiz answer slides

Teacher benefits

• A complete five-lesson sequence with preparation, equipment and differentiation guidance
• A fixed seven-word corpus that keeps teaching focused and age-appropriate
• Matched student and red-answer pages for efficient checking
• An assessment that retains exact learner attempts and oral explanation evidence
• Native editable PowerPoint presentation and quiz files

Digital product and licence

This is a digital product; no physical item is shipped. The purchase is for use by the purchaser in one classroom or household. It may not be resold, redistributed, posted publicly or shared outside the licensed setting. Please purchase additional licences where required.