The Royal Treasure Chest
Practicing Syllables Using Movements
Stage of Literacy Development:
Stage 0: Foundation for LiteracyAges:
3-7
Grade Range:
PreK K 1stFood Groups:
Primary:
Phonemic Awareness
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Find or create a treasure chest
- You can also use a box or bag
-
Gather toys or small objects to put in treasure chest
- Choose words with different numbers of syllables, for example: ball, pencil
- Buy or make a crown with construction paper
Implementation:
-
Explain to students that they will be taking turns as kings and queens and will be exploring objects in the royal treasure chest
- Their job will be to find the number of syllables in their object
- Review what syllables are and how to figure out how many syllables there are in a word
-
Choose a student to go into the middle of the circle and play the role of the king/queen
- Put the crown on the student
-
Ask the student to pull an object from the treasure chest
- As a class, say the name of the object
-
Invite the king/queen to divide the word into syllables and provide an action for each syllable
- For multisyllabic words, actions can be repeated or unique actions (for example, a hop and a skip or 2 salutes)
- Allow students to clap syllables rather than doing actions if this is easier
- Have students copy the king/queen, saying each syllable along with the actions
- Repeat the activity with other students as the king or queen
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- During modeling, use basic language and emphasize the number of syllables
- Use objects that students are familiar with and review their names before students break the name into syllables
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Clap out the word first before incorporating a dance move so students understand the number of syllables
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Include objects that are representative of the various cultural backgrounds of the students
Differentiated Instruction:
- Allow students to be grouped in pairs if assistance is needed
- Allow the king/queen to repeat the action so students in the circle can catch on and have more practice
Related References
Source:
Adams, M., Foorman, B., Lundberg, I., Beeler, T. (1998). Phonemic Awareness in Young Children. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing.
Evidence:
Phillips, B. M., Clancy-Menchetti, J. & Lonigan, C. J. (2008) Successful phonological awareness instruction with preschool children: Lessons from the Classroom. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 28, 3-17.
Activity Objective
The goal of The Royal Treasure Chest: Practicing Syllables Using Movements is to develop syllable awareness by associating individual syllables to unique movements.
What You Need
Prep Time:
5 minutes
- Find or create a treasure chest
- Gather objects
- Make a paper crown
Task Time:
5-10 minutes
- Teacher models the activity
- Students take turns generating movements to represent various syllables in words
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Treasure chest
- A crown
- A variety of objects to go into the chest
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Modeling:
- when demonstrating the activity
Facilitator:
- while students complete the activity
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- during activity demonstration and implementation
Assessment Ideas:
- Make anecdotal notes on whether or not students are able to identify the number of syllables in each word
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Allow students to choose and add objects to the chest
- Add another layer to the activity by having students come up with a verb or adjective to describe the object
a.Then have the king or queen identify the number of syllables in the descriptive word
- Integrate this activity with "medieval times" theme by including objects or pictures of items that have to do with medieval times
a. Explicitly teach the new vocabulary words and later have students break the names into syllables
Additional Comments:
- Focus on the degree to which students understand the concept of a syllable and emphasize that the number of dance moves corresponds with the number of syllables.
