This is a game I came up with for children who can already identify letters and need a “next step” activity. So far, I have made games for letters A through E, and there are more to come. I will make a complete set A-Z.
To prepare this game, first print out the word cards on card stock (laminate if you choose). The third page could be copied onto regular copy paper for each child if you choose to send it home. Or, if you want to make reusable mats, copy it on card stock and laminate to use with dry erase markers or crayons. This is an activity for a small group, where the teacher is working with the children, reading the word cards to them.
To play this game, give each child a letter mat, with either a bingo dot marker or a rubber stamp and ink pad. Shuffle all of the word cards. Go through the stack of cards, calling out each word. Children listen for the beginning sound of each word. If the word begins with the letter, they stamp over one of the letters on their mat. If the word does not begin with the letter, they do not mark anything on their mat. When all of the word cards have been read, everyone should have stamped all of the letters on the mat. (This is similar to a bingo game.)
Links to the other sets:
- Letter Sound Listening Games Set #2
- Letter Sound Listening Games Set #3
- Letter Sound Listening Games Set #4
- Letter Sound Listening Games Set #5
Click these thumbnail images to download the printables.
This is such a simple, yet fun way to get children to work with the alphabet! I bet their brains are just going to work trying to figure out what letter the called out word begins with! Definitely a creative idea.
Thanks Melissa!
What age would you recommend this for? My boys are 3 1/2 and they recognize most letters regularly and know a lot of the sounds. Is it too early?
Hi Becky, I think it would depend on the child. I teach 4-5 year olds, but I have some who can do this activity and some who cannot yet. If your boys are able to listen to a word and pick out the beginning sound they hear, then they could do this.
Sorry, I meant to say thanks for sharing this. I love the idea.
Thank you for the great activity for phonemic awareness. I’m always looking for literacy activities that are age appropriate for my preschoolers. Brain research shows 4-5 year olds are prime for learning letter sounds and this activity will certainly help to build those pathways for my kids!!
Thanks so much, Judy! So true!
I love this idea-thanks for the printable materials!! š
When you do this activity in a small group, do you have kids who will watch the others and stamp the letter if they see the others doing the same?
I am little confused on how you use this in a small group setting. For example if you were working with a small group of children, would each child have the same letter mat (F) or would you have each child working with a differnt letter mat. How would I keep other children from just not copying what they see their neighbors doing?
Becky & LaQuetha: Each child has the same letter mat. Sorry if that was confusing. I only do this activity with children who are ready for it. Typically, if a child is depending on another child to provide the answers (looking & copying), it is because they are unsure of themselves. In that case, I would probably determine that child is not ready for this particular activity. A child who knows letter sounds will not need to copy & are usually so intent on stamping that bingo marker that they are happily listening for the sounds. Also, in my classroom, small group is a social time, and I let children talk to each other as we work. I believe they learn more as they discuss what they are doing, so if they get an answer from someone else, I don’t see it as a problem. I see it as instant reinforcement, and they can learn from each other that way. Obviously, I would not do the same if I was assessing, but the learning process is social.
I was wondering where the rest of the letter bingo cards are in the site? I got up to “Q”
Thank you,
Pamella
This is great! I have a similar idea called ‘Trash or Treasure’ Print out a treasure chest picture, and a trash can picture. The have word cards, leter sounds, whatever you are working on and what level you teach. e.g. letter B, if the word beings with B put it in the treasure box, if it does not then put it in the trash can!
Thanks for sharing your idea, Candice!
Hi, I was wondering what word cards you used. Could you explain exactly if you repeat the words or what words you say and do you provide a picture with the word or do you just say the word. Thank you!
The word cards are included in the game download.
love your website!!! tons of great ideas. used this but changed the bottom letters to lowercase, and some of the words to uppercase. doubled duty because it helped with sound and identification
Where do I find the Word Cards for this game? Thank you
I mean what section are the word cards /game, located for download?
The game with the word cards are right here on this page. You just need to click the thumbnail image to download them.
Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful work and ideas! I love your site and your classroom.
Thank you for the listening game, looking forward to using it in class.
I so love everything here. It’s very informative and my kids will love it.
Thank you for your awesome learning games. I am using your Rhyming Bingo and your Letter Sound Game this week. I know my kids will love it!