Phonics Fortunes

This section is an extension of our Word Wall Word activities that we conduct everyday. By making learning sounds and spelling patterns an active process all children have the opportunity to learn in the way that is best for them. Don’t be afraid to get a little crazy and let loose! That is what learning is all about!!!

1.. Dear Wise Owl-

     Read the following letter to the child:

Dear Wise Owl,

When I opened the front door this morning, there was a large box on my doorstep. It was wrapped in shiny red paper and had a giant bow. Just as I was about to open the box, it moved! What do you think is in the box? What should I do with it?

Please tell me what you think!!

Jack

Have the child write the letters of the alphabet down the left side of a large piece of construction paper. Ask him or her to suggest creative ideas for what may be in the box. Invite the child to think of a word that begins with each letter or as many of the letters as he or she can, and write them on a sheet of paper. Have the child decide on one item from the list that he or she thinks is most likely in the box. Then help the child write a response to Jack, telling him what the child thinks is in the box and what he or she thinks Jack should do about it.

2. Simon Says-  

Remind players of the rules for Simon Says. Explain that you will play the game as it is normally played, with the following exception: The players should only follow the command if it begins with a w (or another letter or chunk). For example, players can walk, wave, waddle, and wiggle but never hop, clap, or sing.  

3. Sportswriters-

Invite the child to pretend to be a sportswriter. Page through the sports section of a newspaper to familiarize the child with headlines, photo captions, and stories. Then help the child collect tools for the next assignment.

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4. Phonics Salad- 

Explain to the child that there are all sorts of salads, including vegetable salad, fruit salad, and salad with meat or pasta. Begin by listing all of the ingredients you can put into a salad. Next make a real salad using only ingredients that have a short vowel sound. For example, suggest a tossed vegetable salad that could have any or all of the following short vowel ingredients; lettuce, radish, celery, mushroom, egg, asparagus, olive, ham, bell pepper, and others. Top the salad with a favorite dressing, and enjoy the finished product!

5. Long Vowel Hunt-

Fold a large piece of paper into five columns. Write these headings at the top: Long A, Long E, Long I, Long O, Long U. Review these sounds together. Next have the child walk around the house or yard in search of objects that contain one of the vowel sounds. Ask the child to find at least three objects for each long vowel. Have the child write the name of the each object found in the appropriate column on the paper.  

6. Star Mobile-

Cut apiece of sturdy paper into a large star shape, Cover it with aluminum foil, and write the word star on it. Then cut out several small star shapes, covering each with aluminum foil. Next invite the child to find other examples of words with the letter pattern ar . Have him or her write each word on a piece of masking tape, and attach it to the smaller star shapes- one word per star. Tape pieces of heavy string to the top of each small star. Complete the mobile by taping the smaller stars to the larger one to make a mobile. Other variations on this activity would be to make other mobiles with the following words; bird “ir”, horse “or”, letter “er”, and purse “ ur ”.