Looking for something to help learners distinguish beginning sounds? Try this free phonemic awareness activity!
A reader asked for a set of clip cards to help her students distinguish beginning sounds.
She asked for a set of pictures – three of which start with the same sound, and one that doesn’t.
In answer to her request, I created this phonemic awareness activity.
The clip cards come in two different levels.
- Level 1 – Three pictures begin with the same sound – and the fourth picture has a beginning sound that is quite different.
- Level 2 – Three pictures begin with the same sound – and the fourth picture has a beginning sound that is quite similar to the first one.
In the above level 1 example, you have the words horse, ax, astronaut, apple.
The /h/ sound is easily distinguishable from the sound /ă/.
This is a level 2 card. Astronaut, alligator, egg, apple.
The short vowel sounds /ă/ and /ĕ/ are made in the same part of the mouth, making this card more difficult.
This is a level 2 card because the /t/ and /d/ sounds are made in the same part of the mouth. (The fancy phrase for that is “point of articulation.”)
My daughter (age 5) is strong with beginning sounds, so I started right away with the level 2 cards.
She named each picture and then clipped the picture whose beginning sound was different.
She had no problems at all until she got to this one. Since she struggles to properly articulate the /r/ and /l/ sounds, she couldn’t hear the difference.
Since my daughter knows all her letters and sounds, these cards were simple review/reinforcement.
They’re best for children who are still learning to match sounds to their corresponding letters.
I hope your learners enjoy these!
Get your free phonemic awareness cards!
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Free Reading Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade
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Amanda Reynolds
These are perfect! So many of my kids struggle with identifying the one that doesn’t belong. They apparently never watched Seseame Street.
Anna G
Lol! I’m glad you can use this, Amanda!
Gaye
Thank you for making the black and white version!
Anna G
You’re welcome, Gaye! 🙂
Neroshni
Really good thank you
Kusum Jethwa
Thank you so much Anna !
Cathy
These are perfect! This is one of the skills tested by the program my district uses. I find students need to have mental pictures to help them with this activity. Then we can move them into words only. I will definitely use these cards to scaffold this skill and then move them into words only. Thank you!
Anna G
I’m glad you like this, Cathy!
Carol
Thank you! Level 2 has a card with a larger queen and a smaller queen…is this an error?
Anna G
Thanks for catching that, Carol! Fixed it. 🙂
Joyce Smith
Anna, thank you so much for sharing so many of your activities for free . I have never been disappointed and you have filled my reading stations and math stations with fun activities for my title one students. Your generous spirit is appreciated!
Anna G
Thank you so much for your kind words, Joyce!
Lydya
Thank you so much Anna for sharing your activities with us. It has helped me in so many ways and most importantly are my little angles whom have gained more daily through fun activities. Your kind and warm heart is appreciated.
Melissa
I would love this free phonemic awareness activity, but I can’t get it to work.
Kate Dowling
Hi Melissa!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. What happens when you click the green download box that says, “CLICK HERE TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE”? When I clicked it, it took about 5-10 seconds to load. Please give it another try! Thanks.
Lois
Yes you are right . Please can you also add how to use all the activities to the downloads. I know you add it but if it could part 8f the download, I will be happy.
Anna G
At this point I don’t have plans to do that for the main site, but with the newer printables I try to link to the related blog post in the download. 🙂
Fatimah Sayed Ally
Hi,
Thank you for this awesome activity. I am able to download the document but for some reason I cannot print it. I have checked my printer and computer connection and all that is fine as I am able to print other documents. Please can you allow the printing option.
Fatimah Sayed Ally
Hi.
I have resolved the issue. I opened the website and document in a different browser and was able to download and print.
Thank you once again for this awesome activity.
Anna G
Great!! 🙂
Claudia
These are great! Thank you for sharing!
Chiqui
Your ideas and activities help me a lot in teaching kids… great job ?✨?
Evette Armstrong
Hi ,
I tried downloading your phonic cards but when i press the download button it opens the board games.
I would relly love the phonic letter cards.
Anna G
Thank you – this is fixed now!