Phonics Card Sets Key:
c = consonants
v = vowels
lv = long vowels
vv = variant vowels
bb = beginning blends
eb = ending blends
evb = ending vowel consonant blends
rc= r-controlled
dt = digraphs, trigraphs
lf = low frequency
3-Legged Race
Materials:
-buckets or containers
-bandanas (anything to tie legs with)
-phonics cards
1.) Choose 2 combinations of phonics cards (see below for some examples) and
place them in the two separate buckets or containers.
2.)Divide kids into “three legged race” pairs. When they run across, each partner
will grab a card from each bucket and then go back to the starting line.
3.) Back at the starting line, students will read off the word that they carried back.
What is the word? Is it a real word or a nonsense word? Teammates should be
prepared to help out here, or else pairs may be sent back to the basket!
4.) The race ends when every three legged pair has gone across and back. If you
have a fairly small group of kids, you can play this relay against the clock, and see
if you can beat your time.
*It’s great exercise, great teamwork…and above all, great practice enacting and
reading those crucial words.
Some phonics combinations to use: -c / evb ; c / lv ; c / rc ; bb / rc ; dt / rc ; dt /
evb
Jumping Beans
Materials:
-phonics cards set
-large phonics card set
-masking tape
-timer
1.) Start by taping each sheet from any of the combinations to the floor (leaving a
bit of room between each): vowel digraphs, r-controlled, ending blends, beginning
blends, digraphs. Review the sounds these letters make with student and ask
them to say them aloud, so you're sure he's familiar with the blends each of the
letters makes.
2.) It's time to jump! Tell your students that they are Mexican jumping bean, and
that his job is to find a partner. Then explain the rules of the game: each time they
choose a phonics card. They will try to jump onto as many word matches for it as
he can find. (You can use a timer if you'd like, to make things more challenging.)
For example, if he had the letter “m”, he could jump on "–at" to make “mat”, or
he could jump on "–an" to make “man." But if he jumped on "–it", he would lose
his turn, because "mit" is not a word (it's mitt!). The goal is to make as many
words as possible, before the timer rings, or the player makes a mistake.
*Students can also jump on as many different combinations as possible with their
card and make as many real and nonsense word combinations as possible before
the timer rings.
Some phonics combinations to use: -dt / evb ; bb / evb ; rc / c ; rc / lf ; rc /dt ; evb
/ c ; lv / c ; cc / lv/ c ; bb /v/ evb
Bean Bag Toss
Materials:
-bean bags
-phonics card sets
-large phonics cards
1. Same concept as “Jumping Beans” but students will throw a bean bag on to
the large phonics cards on the floor instead.
Seat Swap
Materials:
-phonics card sets
-chairs
-bucket
1.) Students sit in a circle with one person in the middle. Each person in a seat has
a phonics card. The middle person chooses a phonics card from the center bucket
(different phonics set from the other students).
2.) The person in the middle will say their phonics card and the students on the
outside will need to look at their card and determine if combined would they
have a real word. If they do, all students who are able to make a real world need
to get up and switch seats. The person left standing is now in the middle.
3.) Repeat drawing cards from the center and making real words.
*You can also play with nonsense words as well.
Some phonics combinations to use: -c / evb ; c / lv ; c / rc ; bb / rc ; dt / rc ; dt / evb
Say & Catch
Materials:
-phonics card sets (blends, r-controlled, digraphs, trigraphs)
-ball
1.) Have students sit in a circle and have a student (or teacher) choose from
blends, r-controlled, digraphs or trigraphs.
2.) Choose a card and call out what is on the card.
3.) Students will throw the ball to another person and the person that catches the
ball will need to make a word using what was called out. Then throw to another
person.
4.) Keep throwing the ball until someone makes a mistake.
5.) When someone makes a mistake choose another card and repeat.
Round of Sounds
Materials:
-phonics card sets (blends, r-controlled, digraphs, trigraphs)
1.) Ever play concentration? This is the same concept. You will start by sitting in a
circle. Students will say “This game (snap, snap), is concentration (snap, snap), no
mistakes (snap, snap), or hesitations (snap, snap), category is (snap, snap)...” and
choose a card and call out what is on the car.
2.) Students will go around in a circle keeping the same beat until someone makes
a mistake.
3.) Choose another card and repeat.