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Topic “Sounds in Words”  

Consonant + Vowel (CV) Sound Specific Games

This page contains games to work on consonant + vowel (CV) words. 

Short Sounds


- c/k at the beginning of CV words matching pairs game

 

Long sounds

Using a target sound in a single word - activities/games set 4

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sound dice
  1. Make up the dice and use as a substitute for a typical number dice in any board/dice games you own.
  2. When you roll the dice say the word that you throw and then move the number.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Build a picture dice game

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Sound Dice Race

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Find it! game

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Speech Sound Board Game

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Using a target sound in a single word - activities/games set 3

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Fishing

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

- Paper clips

- Stick

- String

- Magnet

- Paper fish. Optional printable fish template available by clicking here.

  1. Make the fishing rod by tying the string to one of the stick and attaching a magnet to the other end of the string. Place the paper clips on the paper fish.
  2. Attach a word card to each fish.
  3. Lay the fish on the playing surface.
  4. Encourage your chaild to catch a fish and name the word with the target sound.
  5. Keep fishing until you have caught them all.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Skittles

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

- A set of skittles - you could also use empty plastic bottles.

- Ball

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Matching Pairs

Words containing your child's target sound x 2 copies - click here for printable word cards.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Lotto/Bingo

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Hide and Seek

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Using a target sound in a single word - activities/games set 1

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sound Dominoes
  1. Cut out the domino pictures.
  2. Share them out between the players.
  3. The first player places down one of their domino cards on the table and says the words on the card using the target sound.
  4. The next player needs to choose one of their cards with a matching picture and place the macthing pictures next to each other. This player then says the word on their card using the target sound.
  5. The game continues with each player taking a turn. If a player is unable to match a picture on their turn, the play moves to the next player.
  6. The game is won by a player using all their cards, or if no player is able to take a turn, the player who has the least cards. domino game

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

4 in a Row!

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Washing Line

- Strong string or rope

- pegs

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

- small bag to put picture cards in

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

 

What's in the bag? Guessing Game

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

- bag

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Kim's Game

Words containing your child's target sound - click here for printable word cards.

- A blanket or tea towel

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Using a target sound in a single word - activities/games set 2

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
'Jenga'

'Jenga' or similar stacking game using wooden blocks.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

Play Jenga by the normal rules, but as you pull a block out of the stack, say the name of the picture that's on it.

You take turns with the child/children - when it's your turn you say the word, when it is the child's turn, they have a go at saying it.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Building play

'Jenga' or other wooden blocks.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

Build towers, walls and structures with the blocks, saying the name of the picture on the block as you add it.

You take turns with the child/children - when it's your turn you say the word, when it is the child's turn, they have a go at saying it.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Domino line

'Jenga' or similar stacking game using wooden blocks.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

What's in the bag

'Jenga' or similar stacking game using wooden blocks.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Post the blocks

'Jenga' or similar stacking game using wooden blocks.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

Posting box with a wide slot.

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Skittles

'Jenga' or similar stacking game using wooden blocks.

Small ball or marble.

Pictures of words containing the target sound at the appropriate place in the word: these pictures should be stuck on the blocks.

Speech sound pictures can be found by clicking this link

 

If your child is able to do this activity you might like to try moving on to: saying a small phrase with the target word in, e.g target word = 'car', your phrase could be, 'a red car'.

Some phrase level activities can be found by clicking here.

 

If your child is finding this activity challenging, try the following steps:

- If your child finds it challenging to say the sound, praise them for trying and say the word back with the sound used correctly for them to hear. 

- Talk about the sound the word starts with, e.g. 'cat' starts with a 'c' sound.

- Have a go at breaking the word up for the child to copy, e.g. 'let's try and say this together, 'c'  'at'. 

Identifying and saying the correct sound blend at the beginning of words

Activity/strategy name and materials required How to do the activity Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Stick it

- A piece of paper for each of the blend sounds you are working on, e.g. for 's' blends you would have 'sc/sk' 'sl' 'sm' 'sn' 'sp' 'st' 'sw'

- Glue/Blu-tac

- Pen/pencil

- Feely-bag/ other container

- A selection of picture cards with words starting with your target blends/clusters - this will either be 's' blends, 'l' blends or 'r' blends - click here for printable picture cards.

1. Help the child to write a different sound blend in the centre of each sheet of paper. 

2. Put all the pictures in the feely-bag or container. Shake it to mix them up.

3. Ask the child to pull one picture out of the feely-bag.

4. Ask them to say the name of the picture. Give them a clue if they are not sure what the picture shows. Model the correct pronunciation if the child says it wrong.

5. Ask the child to stick the picture on the correct piece of paper according to the blend at the start of the word. (Use Blu-tac if you want to be able to re-use the pictures).

6. Repeat until all the pictures have been used up.

If the child finds it hard to hear the cluster at the start of the word when they say it themselves, you could say it to them. If they still find it hard, say the word with a short break after the cluster, e.g. "sk...irt".

If the child mispronounces the word say the word both correctly and the way the child says it, and ask them which is the correct one e.g. "is it 'stooter' or 'scooter'?"

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