Super Sound Finders at Play: A Phoneme Activity for Young Learners
Super Sound Finders is a playful listening game that helps children begin to hear individual sounds in words — a powerful skill called phoneme isolation. It’s easy to set up, fun to play, and sneakily supports one of the most important early reading skills: hearing the sounds that words are made of.
Did you know that the ability to hear and recognize the very first sound in a word is like having a superpower for learning to read? This skill is called phoneme isolation, which means being able to pick out individual sounds in words.
This easy, hands-on activity invites your child to become a sound finder, looking for pictures that start with the same sound you say. It’s a fun and confidence-building way to explore language together — no fancy tools needed, just some pictures and your child’s ears ready to listen closely!
OOLiteracy Insight Hub
ACTIVITY AGE CATEGORY: Kindergarteners & first graders
This activity encourages your little learner(s) to be a…
Sound Explorer
Super Sound Finders: A Listening Game
Can your child become a super sound finder? In this fun game, they’ll listen carefully and spot pictures that start with the sound you say. It’s a playful way to build strong listening skills and get ready for reading!
Materials Needed:
- Picture cards or printed pictures of familiar objects (like fox, fig, phone, socks, and string)
- A flat surface like a table or the floor
Instructions in 3 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Choose Familiar Words:
Pick picture cards that show objects your child knows well. This helps them focus on sounds without struggling to remember the word.
Step 2: Lay Out the Cards:
Line up several picture cards in a row on a table or floor. As you place each card down, say the name of the object clearly. For example: “fox, swing, fig, phone, snail, socks, string.”
Step 3: Introduce the Sound:
Say, “Can you find the pictures that start with the sound /f/?”
Encourage your child to find all the cards beginning with that sound. Remember, some sounds might be spelled with different letters—like f in fox and ph in phone—so finding both is great!
Level Up the Challenge:
Once your child is a pro at spotting starting sounds, switch it up! Try spotting pictures that end with the same sound.
For example, with pen, bear, fan, boat, and can, ask, “Which pictures end with the sound /n/?”
Tips for this Super Sound Finders Activity:
- Start with words children know. Afterward, when laying out words each time, go over the words a couple of times to ensure your child or student is familiar with the words before being asked to find the sounds.
- Avoid vowel pairs and digraphs – where the combination of two letters sounds like one sound, such as /ea/ in the word eat or /sh/ in the word shoe.
Keep in mind that short bursts of structured learning more often are best for younger kiddos. Avoid making early learning activities laborious.
Keep it fun. Keep it short.
WordPlay Zone
Sing a Counting Song About Ants
Why not sing The Ants Go Marching with your little learner(s)? This is a classic song that helps teach numbers and rhyme.
Get the lyrics for the song The Ants Go Marching and other classic nursery rhymes and songs!
Guess the Compound Riddle
Where ants go marching ten by ten,
You’ll find me gleefully following them.
A tasty snack, a delicious treat,
Ants are what I love to eat.
What Am I?
Nurturing Little Minds, Sparking Big Dreams
I’m happy you’re here!
Hi, I’m Julie, the passionate creator of Ox & Owl Literacy. I enjoy empowering families and educators with wonderful resources to inspire fun, imaginative, and joyful learning opportunities for young kiddos. You’ll find lots of recommended books, reading resources, and creative learning activities on this site aiming to help children fall in love with language, books, reading, and the transformational power of stories.
