Try this free ending sounds activity to build phonemic awareness!
My four-year-old has come a long way in her pre-reading ability. She’s learned to rhyme, clap syllables, and isolate beginning sounds (using this set of 25 free games).
But ending sounds are tougher. So I knew I needed to create an activity that would help her compare ending sounds in words.
I printed the cards and grabbed some poker chips. To begin she named the picture at the top of the card. I then said the word slowly and emphasized its ending sound. “Baaallllllll.” I asked her what sound she heard at the end of ball.
“Llll.”
“That’s right! Now let’s look at these other pictures. We’re going to cover any pictures whose names also end with llllll.“
NOTICE. I was not emphasizing that the words ended with the letter l. This was a phonemic awareness activity; we were focusing on listening for the sound itself.
(Watch my free training video: 5 things you need to know about phonological and phonemic awareness)
I helped her name the pictures. Together, we emphasized the final sound in each word.
This was a little tough for my Four, but she did much better than I’d anticipated. In the past, when I’ve tried to work on ending sounds with her, she’s given up right away. “It’s too hard!”
But she was willing to do 4-5 cards with me each time we did the activity.
The set includes 13 cards. They feature pictures whose names are one-syllable words that end with these letters:
f, b, m, g, l, d, r, p, t, x, s, n, and k.
Get your free match the ending sound activity!
Free Reading Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade
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Shaon
Hi Anna,
I just started using your website. And I really like it. Thank you so much for providing all of great resources.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
We’re so glad that our resources are helpful for you and your learners, Shaon!
Amanda
I have your wonderful phonemic awareness pack with 12 weeks and f activities. My 5 year old has mastered beginning sounds. When I saw how challenging ending sounds were when I first introduced them orally, I was afraid tic-tac-toe and chutes and ladders would be too much for him. These cards were the perfect starting point! Thank you for all of your fantastic resources.
Anna Geiger
Yay! This is wonderful to hear, Amanda – I’m so glad you found these useful! I used them recently in our little at home preschool, and you’re right … they’re a great first step!
terry bumgarner
Would I be allowed to make some pages into a pdf for us to share with just the pre-k in our county for at home packages?? It’s about 100 kids. We’re having to save as a pdf into our folders for printing.
Thank you!!
Kate Dowling
Hi Terry!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. Please check your inbox for an email from Anna. 🙂
Cheryl Felt
As a teacher on a very tight budget, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the free and wonderful downloads. Whenever I need something, I always come to you first to see if you have something available for my lesson. Thank you doesn’t seem enough, but that is all I can afford. LOL Thank you so much for sharing!! I truly appreciate you and what you offer! Thank you!
Cheryl Felt
Kindergarten Teacher
Anna G
Thank you so much for your kind words, Cheryl!
HS
This was a great help, my daughter is getting the hang of it finally. Thanks for sharing these amazing activities.
Anna G
I’m glad this helps you!
Pratima Hira
Hi Anna,
Your resources are really amazing and it’s free. Thank you so much
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Pratima!
Lisa Noble
Anna, Thank You so VERY much for all of your terrific phonics activities that cover the entire spectrum of teaching young children how to read. I use MANY of your resources with students that I tutor privately and have used them when I was in the classroom. You are most definitely a sanity saver, from my perspective, and I will always be very grateful for the many, many, early childhood education resources that you have and will continue to create! Thank You so, so very much.
Anna G
I’m so glad you can use my resources, Lisa!
HEather
Awesome! I love these! I will be looking for a beginning sound equivalent!
Anna G
Thanks for the suggestion, Heather! They’re in the subscriber library now. 🙂
Bernadette Bolger
I love all the resources you so generously share. Looking forward to using them in my classroom.
Keep up the great work you do.
Anna G
Thank you for your kind words, Bernadette!
Lynn Bradford
I love these! They are perfect for our phonemic awareness components. I’m going to use clothespins on the correct answers so it’s easy for me to check their answers. Thanks for creating and sharing such wonderful activities!!
Anna G
I’m glad you like them, Lynn!
Megs
Thank You! for these awesome resources. Just what I was looking for.Thanks you for sharing them with us.
Anna G
You’re welcome!
kerry lewis
Thank you so much for all the wonderful resources you are so willingly sharing with us. They are absolutely awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you !!
Anna G
You’re very welcome!
Sudha Manghnani
Dear Anna,
Thanks a lot for your freebies…they are indeed very helpful.
Anna G
You’re welcome, Sudha!
Laila
The cards are fab but i have a problem with the covering technique as when u review all the answers are hidden. I prefer if they cover them with these transparent chips or the key ring type to be able to see what they chose.
Anna G
What do you mean by “the key ring” type?
saroj
Dear Anna
Thank you for always being so generous and sharing such wonderful freebies. Much appreciated. I use many of the activities with learners who are struggling with reading.
Anna G
You’re welcome, Saroj!