Mouth It!
Have children gently place their palm under their chin and ask them repeat to words. Surprise! The mouth opens on each syllable (all syllables have vowels and the mouth opens).
Move It!
Clap, hop, walk, or nod the syllables in classroom objects.
*Disco, hula, swim, or march to syllables in rhymes and songs.
“Beep” like aliens or “Wa wa” like Charlie Brown’s teacher as you say words or read.
Instruments
Have children beat out syllables with instruments.
*You could also use cardboard rollers, straws, pencils, etc. like drum sticks to tap out rhythms and syllables.
Syllable Show
Slowly say a word. Children hold up the number of syllables they hear on their fingers.
*You could also let them show the number of syllables by placing the appropriate number of poker chips or other objects on their desk.
Clap a Name
Cut out small hands from construction paper. Glue them under children's pictures to indicate how many syllables in their names. Make a book with their pictures and clap your hands!
Hickety Pickety
Slowly clap hands to the beat as you say the chant below.
Hickety, pickety bumblebee
Who can say their name for me? Child’s name.
Clap it. (Clap out syllables as you say the name.)
Snap it. (Snap syllables in name.)
Whisper it. (Whisper name.)
No sound. (Lip sinc name.)