Learn
Sample Games included with this mat:
Wyle & Durrell (1970) listen 37 phonograms which could unlock over 500 primary grade words.
ack ank eat ill ock uck
ail ap ell in oke ug
ain ash est ine op ump
ake at ice ing ore unk
ale ate ick ink ot
ame aw ide ip
an ay ight it
The students can generate many words using these phonograms (word families). For example: bat, cat, fat, hat, mat, pat, rat, sat, vat, chat, that, flat etc.
The teacher can use this mat for assessment. Students can tap out the alphabet in order using a fly swatter or toy.find certain letters e.g., s or the letter that comes after p, or the letter that comes before r.
spell words on the word wall..
find the letters in their name.
Match cards with lower case letters with the upper case letters on the mat.
fill in the missing vowels from simple words e.g., m__ p can generate map and mop.
say the sound that a letter makes
Fill in the missing word.
Create a few sentences with a missing word. Students tap/hop out the missing word e.g., Mother asked me to buy _____ at the store. Students can spell a variety of words that would fit the context. Sentences can also have the beginning letter/letters (all consonants before the vowel) as a clue. Example: Jose put water into the b________ at the beach. (bucket)
What’s my word?
Students can work in pairs. The first students uses their hands to tap/spelll a word, S-L-I-T, and the second student says the word. ‘slit”. Students take turns. They can use word wall words or words provided by the teacher. Students take turns spelling and saying the words.
Categories
Materials needed: timer (3 minute egg timer)
One person chooses a category. These may be provided on cards, if needed. Examples may include: items in the kitchen, items we eat, clothing, animals in the zoo, things that are found on a farm etc.
Challenge: In three minutes how many items can you name in the chosen category? You must tap the first letter in the word. One partner says the words while the other partner keeps a tally and keeps track of the time. Example: Name items found in a kitchen. S-stove, m-microwave, c-clock, f- fork, g-glass etc.
Optional: Students can toss a bean bag onto their alphabet section to select a letter. Students can take turns saying words that begin with the letter.
Bang
Materials needed:
craft sticks and containers. Write one letter of the alphabet on each stick and then write the word ‘BANG” on 10 sticks. Place the sticks letter down in a container. Create each set in a different colour so that they can be identified and separated easily.
timer
Students take turns pulling out a letter, saying its name, and placing it on the corresponding letter on the mat. If a student pulls out the word ‘BANG’ they must return all of their sticks into the container and begin again. Continue playing until the time is up. The student with the most sticks is the winner.
