Clap-a-Name
Center Task Card
Congratulations on your purchase of Really Good Literacy
Center-in-a-Bag™ Clap-a-Name, a hands-on activity that
strengthens your students’ phonological awareness skills and
builds vocabulary.
Post this at the literacy center in a visible position. The student
or helper can refer to the Center Task Card for instructions.
Refer to the shaded section at the top of the Card for center
preparation, including needed materials.
Objective
Meeting State Standards
The student will count syllables in words using picture cues.
This type of practice in counting syllables helps students meet
grade-level expectations and builds a strong phonological
awareness foundation.
This Really Good Stuff® product includes:
• 2 Clap-a-Name Mats
• Center Task Card
• This Really Good Stuff® Activity Guide
Clap-a-Name Activity
One or two students
Object: Count syllables in animal names
Materials: Clap-a-Name Mat, dry erase pen
1. Student 1 points to one of the animal pictures on the mat
and says its name.
2. Student 1 repeats the word, clapping each syllable.
3. Student 2 writes an X for every syllable in the boxes under
the picture.
4. Students take turns clapping and writing.
The ability to count syllables in words is important for
phonological awareness. Listening for and recording the number
of syllables in familiar animal names provides students with fun
syllable practice.
Managing the Center-in-a-Bag
• Display the Center Task Card.
• Demonstrate how to tidy the center when the activity is
complete.
• Store the center materials in the bag and hang it
alongside other Centers-in-a-Bag.
Variation:
Use different pictures, for example photos of students.
Introducing Clap-a-Name
Related Really Good Stuff® Products:
Syllable Sort (item #304318)
Graph the Syllables (item #304319)
Introduce the activity to the group by explaining that the Clapa-Name Mats show animals whose names have one, two, three,
and four syllables. Each Mat has 16 pictures. Students will use
a dry erase pen to write an X for every syllable in the boxes
under the pictures. Clap-a-Name can be adapted as an
individual or partner activity.
Clap-a-Name Mats
Model the Activity
Begin by modeling the activity, discussing every step with
students. Look at one of the Mats together. First name all the
animals. Point to one animal and repeat its name together
slowly, clapping once for every syllable. Ask students how many
syllables they counted. Using a dry erase pen, write an X for
each syllable in the boxes. For example, dolphin gets two Xs.
When you have clapped
and recorded all the
syllables on the Mat,
review the words with
the students. Talk about
which words have the
most syllables, such as
tarantula and alligator
(four syllables each). If
you have students work
in partners, first explain
that they will take turns
as the clapper and the
recorder.
Mat 1
Mat 2
dolphin
grasshopper
worm
tarantula
alligator
fish
monkey
iguana
deer
caterpillar
kangaroo
zebra
eagle
elephant
giraffe
goat
butterfly
beetle
goose
rhinoceros
octopus
dinosaur
lion
cow
mouse
gorilla
penguin
lobster
ostrich
armadillo
horse
salamander
All activity guides can be found online:
Helping Teachers Make A Difference®
© 2010 Really Good Stuff
®
1-800-366-1920 www.reallygoodstuff.com Made in Guangzhou, China #304309