Week beginning 29th June

We are continuing to explore initial sounds and sound discrimination. The children have been enjoying this not only in phonics sessions but by regularly using their skills in outdoor play. 

Please remember it is important that children master the fundamentals of sound discrimination before attempting to formally teach the letter sounds therefore we advise that you use the above power point as a tool to practice listening by naming and creating sounds opposed to introducing the visual letter form.The best way to do this is to embed it through daily routines for example using alliteration or highlighting initial sounds 'lets play with the b bouncing ball'.

If children are struggling to hear the initial sound try using hidden instruments or familiar objects,  encourage children to listen to and identify the hidden sound. Why not try playing different instruments out of sight.

Please find a selection of activities below to explore this throughout the week.

Environmental sounds - Mrs Browning has a box

Turn a box on its side with the opening facing away from the children.

• One by one place between four and six familiar noisy items (e.g. a set of keys, crisp packet, squeaky toy) into the box, pausing to name them and demonstrate the sound each one makes.
• Sing to the tune of ‘Old MacDonald’ but using your own name or one of the children’s:

Mrs…has a box ee i ee i o

And in that box she has a…

• Stop. Gesture and ask the children to listen.
• Handle one of the objects in the box, out of sight, to make a noise. The children take it in turns to guess what is making the sound.
• Continue the song but imitating the sound using your voice.

With a zzz zzz here and a zzz zzz there…

• Allow the children to take a turn at making a noise from inside the box and use their names as you sing.

   

Our sound box/bag

• Make collections of objects with names beginning with the same sound.
• Create a song, such as ‘What have we got in our sound box today?’ and then show the objects one at a time. Emphasise the initial sound (e.g. s-s-s-snake, s-s-s-sock, s-s-s-sausage)

Silly soup

• Provide a selection of items with names that begin with the same sound.
• Show them how you can make some ‘silly soup’ by putting ‘ingredients’ (e.g. a banana, bumble bee and bug) into a pan in the role-play area.
• Allow them to play and concoct their own recipes. Play alongside them without influencing their choices. Commentate and congratulate the children on their silly recipes.
• Recite each  list of chosen ingredients as they play. Make the pattern clear by emphasising the initial sound.
• By observing mouth movements draw the children’s attention to the way we start each word and form sounds.

Numbers Hunt 
Hide some cut-out numbers from 1-10 around the house and see if you child can find them – ask them to shout the number out loud when they find it.

Number spotting 
Can be done anywhere! Talk about the numbers on buses, front doors, price tags or even on the back of footballers’ shirts.

Dominoes

Matching the dots on one domino to those on another domino is great for developing matching skills and really helps children to get the idea of what “four” looks like.

Estimating 

Ask your child if they can guess how many toys are in a bag, or biscuits are in a jar, then ask them to count them up to see whether they are right.

Draw a self portrait

Can you say what makes you special? What are you proud of?

Draw a picture of your friend

What makes them a good friend? How can you be a good friend?