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!
Want to learn more about phonemic awareness?
In this guidebook you will learn:
-What phonological and phonemic awareness are
-How to build an understanding of word
-How to help children understand syllables
-How to build rhyming skills
-How to develop phonemic awareness
© 2019, Anna G. All rights reserved.
Amanda Reynolds says
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 says
Lol! I’m glad you can use this, Amanda!
Gaye says
Thank you for making the black and white version!
Anna G says
You’re welcome, Gaye! 🙂
Neroshni says
Really good thank you
Kusum Jethwa says
Thank you so much Anna !
Cathy says
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 says
I’m glad you like this, Cathy!
Carol says
Thank you! Level 2 has a card with a larger queen and a smaller queen…is this an error?
Anna G says
Thanks for catching that, Carol! Fixed it. 🙂
Joyce Smith says
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 says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Joyce!
Lydya says
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 says
I would love this free phonemic awareness activity, but I can’t get it to work.
Kate Dowling says
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.