Activity Description

Preparation:

1. Choose a sound you would like to focus on
2. Find a puppet
    a. Ideally, the name of the puppet will start with your chosen sound
3. Collect a few items that start with the sound being taught
4. Prepare picture cards with familiar objects that begin with the sound being taught

Implementation:

1. Hand out picture cards
    a. Each student should receive two or more picture cards
2. In an exciting way, introduce the puppet
    a. Explain that the puppet is picky and only likes things that start with your chosen sound
3. Ask students to help by finding pictures of things that start with the sound being taught
    a. Call on students to say the name of their picture
    b. As a class, repeat the name of the picture
    c. Decide whether or not the picture starts with the sound being taught
    d. If it does, picky puppet will be happy and will want to keep the picture
4. The picky puppet may laugh at, and make silly comments about, each picture to engage students and thereby help them learn the new sound

Adaptations For

English Language Learners/ESL:

- Use real-life pictures on picture cards for those who may have difficulty interpreting drawings or cartoons
- Isolate and exaggerate phonemes

LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:

- Remind students of instructions periodically throughout the puppet show

Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:

- Pictures on cards should be representative of classroom diversity

Differentiated Instruction:

- Peer assisted learning may be encouraged--students may quietly discuss whether or not the picture shown begins with the sound being taught

Related References

Source:
Blevins, W. (1997). Phonemic Awareness Activities for Early Reading Success. New York: Scholastic.

Evidence:
Yopp, H. K. (1992). Developing phonemic awareness in young children. The Reading Teacher, 45(9), 696-703.