Create a document with short words that include the short vowel sounds. Examples are hat, big, sun, cat, led. Type each of the words in a creative, but defined, font such as Arial or Chalkboard. Set the font size to anywhere between 18 and 24. Create another document with a variety of words, including long vowel sound words, such as pie, smoke or say.
Connect the interactive whiteboard to the computer by plugging the USB cable into the USB port at the side or back of the computer. Connect the other end of the cable to the whiteboard console. Turn on both the computer and the whiteboard. Open the document containing the short vowel sound words. The words should appear on the large interactive whiteboard screen for the entire class to see.
Say each of the words out loud to establish the short vowel sound. Ask the class to say the vowel sound at the center of each word. Underline the center vowel as the class says the word. For example, for the word "cat" underline the “a” and have the class make the short vowel sound. Circle the whole word and say the word again with the entire class. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for writing and marking documents on the whiteboard.
Play a game with the class using the worksheet with short and long vowel sound words. Underline each word and have the class say the word together. Ask students if the vowel sounds are short or long. Alternatively, have a student come to the board and circle the words which contain short vowel sounds.
Load worksheets with pictures onto the whiteboard surface, such as ones provided by Kid Zone, Super Teacher Worksheets or Phonics World. Each sheet comes with illustrations accompanied by examples of short vowel sounds in short and long words. Speak each of the words out loud, either with the class or with individual students.