In this activity, the child will use listening skills to identify words with the same beginning sounds and then say another word with the same sound.
Learning Area(s): Language and Communication; Reading and Writing
MATERIALS
12 picture flashcards (available through the Download Resources link)
LET'S PLAY
Before beginning, explain the activity to your child by saying, “We are going to find pictures of things that have the same beginning sound.” Show your child each picture and see if he can name it. Tell him the name of any pictures he cannot name (or may have called by a different name that won’t fit for the game).
Then, set up the game for your child by separating words with the same beginning sound into two piles (e.g., if you had “mitten” and “monkey,” make sure these cards are in two different piles). Lay out the cards from one pile in front of your child so that he can see all the pictures. Put the other cards in a pile facing down.
Have your child pick one card from the top of the pile facing down and say the name of the picture. Next, help your child identify the first sound in that pictured object. For example, after your child has looked at the picture of a cat and said “cat,” you can say, “Yes, it’s a cat! What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word ‘cat?’” Emphasize the /k/ sound to your child as you say the word and have him repeat, “/k/.”
Next, ask your child to look at the pictures laid out in front of him and find another picture that begins with the /k/ sound (such as a picture of a cow). When your child finds the correct picture, he can take the two cards and put them aside together as a pair.
Continue by having your child pick up the next card in the stack, name the picture, and find the picture that starts with the same sound. Continue until all the pairs have been matched.
TIPS
- Listening for the first sound in a word may be new for your child, so he may need lots of practice, which is the goal of this activity. Be patient and help your child by emphasizing the first sound, like “c-c-cow.” If he still can’t identify the sound, say the beginning sound for him and have him repeat it.
- Be sure to praise your child for his effort even if he does not get all the answers correct.
- If your child is ready for more challenge after finding the picture with the same sound, see if he can think of another word that starts with the same sound (you won’t have a picture for this word, it’s just a thinking task).
- Another way to play with these cards and work on matching same sounds is to lay out a group of three cards in front of your child. Two pictures should have the same beginning sounds and the third should be different (for example, bird, cup, and ball). Your child needs to look at the three cards and figure out which two pictures start with the same sound. After he does this, put that group of cards aside and lay out the next group of three cards. Continue until you have gone through the stack or as long as your child is interested.
AGE GROUP(S):
- 4 years old
- 5 years old
DOWNLOAD RESOURCES
ACTIVIDAD DE LENGUAJE DUAL