Here are some fun ways to teach rhyming in Pre-K.
Nursery Rhymes
We recite traditional nursery rhymes while doing movements that correspond with them. The movements we use come from Jack Hartmann’s CDs Rhymin’ to the Beat volumes 1 and 2. We learn to recite the rhyme with the movements before doing the song. Reciting nursery rhymes is the best way to begin teaching rhyming to preschoolers. We start the school year with nursery rhymes and continue them all year long.
Rhyming Basket
Objects are placed in a basket (one object for each child present), and the basket is passed around the circle. As each child gets the basket, I say a word (such as “fizzers”) and they pull out the object that rhymes (“scissors”). You can use any objects, because it doesn’t matter if the rhyming words are real words or nonsense words.
Erase a Rhyme
Draw a picture on a dry erase board, such as grass, sky, tree, flower, and sun. Say a word, such as tower, and have a child come up to erase what rhymes (flower); erase what rhymes with bee (tree); erase what rhymes with fun (sun). Continue until the whole picture is erased. Draw on a dry erase lap board before the children arrive, so that they don’t have to wait while you draw. Usually, after I’ve drawn a few, some of the children will volunteer to draw one for the next day.
Rhyme Time Pocket Chart
This is just another way to use and display rhyming cards. We use this pocket chart for matching games at circle time, and the children use it during center time. I purchased the set of rhyming cards in a box in the school supply section of a store (I no longer remember where). You could also print the cards from the Rhyming Match Game to use for the pocket chart.
Rhyming Bingo
You can make your own bingo cards using the printable rhyming cards, or you can buy a set already made. I have one made by Trend.
Rhyming Rings
Hook words that rhyme together on a metal ring. Include a picture with the word. Children flip through the picture cards and say them into a PVC phone. Example: bag, tag, rag, wag. You can make these using clipart, or save time and purchase Rhyming Rings at Teachers Pay Teachers.
Rhyming Fun with The Hungry Thing
An excellent book for teaching rhyming words is The Hungry Thing. I don’t know why Scholastic hasn’t republished this book. It is very hard to find for a decent price; even a used copy is expensive on Amazon. I was lucky enough to get a copy at Goodwill. Check your public and school libraries, and other resources, such as parents or coworkers to borrow a copy.
Many More Rhyming Resources
There are many more resources for teaching rhyming here at PreKinders. Be sure to check out these ideas and printables:
- Nursery Rhyme Printable Posters & Cards
- Printable Blackline Rhyming Cards
- Printable Rhyming Match Games
- Rhyming Dice Game
Don’t miss the Phonological Awareness page!
