Activity type: this is a differentiation activity in which students have to decide which words have a long vowel sound and which words have a short vowel sound.

Level: Elementary and above

Teacher's Notes:

1. Say two words which each contain a long and short vowel sound e.g. live and leave.
   
2. Ask the students to tell you what the difference between the two is i.e. that one has a longer vowel and the other doesn't.
   
3. Tell them that you are going to focus on these sounds /i:/ and /I/
   
4. Write the two phonemes on the board and then either dictate words to the students containing these sounds which they then they have to note under the correct phoneme or write the words on the board and ask the students to note them under the correct sound.
   
5. Once you have done this, ask the students to compare their lists in pairs. Read out the words and as you are doing so check to see where the students have placed them.
   
   

Words:

/i:/	/I/
Leave	Live
Lean	Light
Lee	Fit
See	Sin
Pea	Pin
Tea	Tip
Coffee	Trip

Note: make sure that you say the words at random. You can also decide on another group of long and short sounds e.g.

/u:/	/u/
Blue	Foot
Flew	Took