Phonological awareness is
the ability to recognize sounds in oral language (rhyme, alliteration,
syllables, etc.) and is a key to beginning reading. Language is made up of words that can be broken into
syllables. Those syllables can be
broken into individual sounds or phonemes. Phonological awareness is both aural (hearing) and oral (speaking)
and it takes multiple experiences daily to build those skills that will pave
the way for phonics instruction. We’ll start today with rhymes, and then move
on to compound words, syllables, alliteration, and onsets and rimes.
Rhyme Bag Homework
Give each child a paper bag
and ask them to bring in two objects that rhyme. (You could even make the back into a backpack.)Repeat this chant below as children share their items:
We’re
going on a rhyming hunt and we know what to do.
We
need to listen carefully and rhyme some words with you.
Say the words several
times. Can children think of other
words that rhyme?
*As a follow up activity ask children to draw pictures of things their friends shared that rhyme.
Rhyme Detectives
Tell the children that they
will get to be detectives and listen for words that rhyme. You say a word, and they put their
pinkies up if they hear a word that rhymes with it. Pinkies down if the words don’t rhyme.
Cat
- hat (pinkies up)
run
- dog (pinkies down)
Handy Rhymes
Have children extend their
arms as they sing a pairs of words that rhyme. Sing to the tune of “Skip to My Lou.”
Top
(hold out right hand)
Mop (hold out left hand
Those
words rhyme.
Sun
(hold out right hand)
Fun
(hold out left hand)
Those
words rhyme.
Kitten
(hold out right hand)
Mitten
(hold out left hand)
Those
words rhyme.
Now,
let’s rhyme some more…
Rhyme Ball
You will need a ball,
beanbag, or other object to toss for this game. Children sit or stand in a circle. The teacher says a word and then tosses the ball to a child. As the child catches the ball, she must
say a word that rhymes.
Name Rhymes
Children love silly nonsense
words, so make up rhymes with their names. Jason
– bason – mason – pason
Mia
– bia – ria – chia
And that’s the end - my
friends!