Articles: "A" versus "An;" Trax Farms

Many children struggle with when to use "a" and when to use "an."  A good rule of thumb is that "a" precedes words that begin with consonant; "an" precedes words that begin with vowels.*  With springtime right around the corner, a fun place to practice language is Trax Farms.

 

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-places-to-get-christmas-trees-in-pittsburgh/; credit traxfarms.com.

There will be many sights to behold.  Cue your child to tell you what she sees.  An easy sentence structure is, "I see a(n) _____."  (Subject/pronoun-verb-article-noun.)  Or, make this into a game: have a scavenger hunt with a list of objects to find at Trax Farms; in order to get 'credit' for spying the object, your child must use the correct article (e.g. "an apple" or "a pear.").

"A" words may include: berry, deli, greenhouse, plant, nursery, market, tractor, field, pie.

"An" words may include: antique, apple, orange, apricot, ear of corn, egg, eclair, ice pop, Idaho potato, onion, olive.

*"An" is used before a consonant in the case of "h" words when the "h" sound is 'unvoiced' as in "an honorable discharge.  "A" is used before a vowel when the vowel makes a consonant sound as in "a unicorn."  If your child is practicing advanced language/grammar then apply these specifics; if not, then the rule of thumb with "a" coming before words starting with consonants and "an" coming before words starting with vowels should be sufficient.