Learning beginning blends can be a lot of fun if you connect the learning to the real world. On today’s post I am going to share a game with you that will make your kids grasp those beginning blends very quickly. If your child loves scavenger hunts then this is the perfect game for you!
Getting Started
Materials Needed:
- Black Marker
- Basket
- Index Cards
- Timer
How to Make It
Write one consonant blend per index card. Some suggestions that I use for beginning blends are: bl, cl, fl, pl, sl, sc, sm, sn, sp, st, sw, tr, gr, dr, cr, br.
How to Play It
Step 1:
First, give your child one of the index cards that you made. Help your child sound out the blend. Together with your child, come up with some suggestions of words that the blend makes. Here are some suggestions if you get stumped:
Br: brown, broccoli, brush, bread, broom, bridge, brother, bracelet, branch, brass, bran
Cr: cream, crumb, crate, crib, crab, crystal, crunch, craft, crocodile, crack, crown, crane
Dr: drum, drink, dragon, dress, drive, dry, draw, drill, droop, drown, drip, drowsy, dream
Gr: grapes, grass, grub, bravy, grocery, grab, ground, group, granite, green, great, grade
Tr: triangle, trap, treasure, tree, truck, train, tray, trolley, trot, trout, trailer, trampoline
Sw: sweet, swim, swan, sway, swift, swing, sweep, swan, swallow, swarm, swamp
St: star, stamp, storm, sting, steak, stair, sticker, story, stake, student, stop, stack, store
Sp: speak, spark, sponge, sport, spoon, spun, spinach, spine, spend, speech, special
Sn: snip, snail, sneeze, snug, snack, snorkel, snowflake, sniff, snap, snow, snake
Sm: smug, smart, smudge, smoke, small, smear, smooth, smell, smile, smash, smirk
Sc: scarf, score, scary, scarecrow, sculpture, scarlet, scab, scale, scoop, scamper
Sl: sleep, slippers, slim, sloth, sleigh, slender, sleek, slippery, slow, slug, slime, slice
Pl: planet, plane, plant, plum, plug, plate, plural, pluck, play, plain, place, pleasant
Fl: flame, flap, flash, fly, flood, flower, floss, flag, flip, flop, flute, flu, flour, float, flake
Cl: clay, clue, clean, clever, click, clarinet, class, clump, close, cluck, climb, clock, cloud
Bl: blanket, blouse, black, blob, blazer, blueberries, blossom, blender, blocks, blonde
Step 2:
Next, give your child the basket. Tell your child that he has 5 minutes to find as many objects as possible with the blend that you just gave him. He can put the objects in the basket.
Step 3:
Finally, when the 5 minutes are up, you and your child can go through the objects in the basket. Play another round if you like, or you can play one round a day. To make the game more challenging, give your child a few blends to use on the scavenger hunt. You can also make this game work for any other skills you might currently be working on.
Other Activities
If you enjoyed reading my post today, you might also enjoy reading:
Multisensory Reading Activity: Beach Ball Toss
Please don’t leave without checking out the PRIDE Reading Program. The PRIDE Reading Program is an Orton-Gillingham curriculum that is used by teachers, tutors, and homeschooling parents worldwide with great success.
