- pictures of animals that begin with /h/ (i.e., horse, hog, hamster, hippo)
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1a: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (e.g., taking turns in talking, listening to peers, waiting to speak until another person is finished talking, asking questions and waiting for an answer, gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.2.c: Identify the initial sound of a spoken word and, with guidance and support, generate several other words that have the same initial sound.
Head Start Outcomes:
Social Emotional Development/Self-Regulation: Follows simple rules, routines, and directions.
Literacy Knowledge/Phonological Awareness: Identifies and discriminates between sounds and phonemes in language, such as attention to beginning and ending sounds of words and recognition that different words begin or end with the same sound.
Logic and Reasoning/ Reasoning and Problem Solving: Uses past knowledge to build new knowledge.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Language 1: Observe and use appropriate ways of interacting in a group (taking turns in talking; listening to peers; waiting until someone is finished; asking questions and waiting for an answer; gaining the floor in appropriate ways).
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 8: Listen to, identify, and manipulate language sounds to develop auditory discrimination and phonemic awareness.
Word Play: Guess the Animal
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Phonological Awareness
Play a guessing game with children to help them review the letter sound /h/. Give children clues to help them guess the name of the animal. Have pictures of the animals you talk about on hand for children to reference. For example, say,
- I’m thinking of an animal that begins with the /h/ sound. People ride on this big animal. It says “Neigh.” It rhymes with “coarse.” What it is? (horse)
- I’m thinking of an animal that begins with the /h/ sound. This animal is very big. It rhymes with “pippo.” Can you guess what it is? (hippo)
- I’m thinking of another animal that begins with the /h/ sound. This looks like a rabbit. It is soft and fluffy. It rhymes with “air.” Can you guess what it is? (hare)
Adaptation: Have very young children point to a picture of the animal and you name it. Then ask the child to repeat the word.
English Language Learners: If children have difficulty naming the animal in English, have them point to the picture and name it in their home language. Say the word in English and have children repeat it.
Educator Tip: Guided and independent letter, sound, and word practice continues to take place in center activities. It is helpful to set up the literacy center immediately after the direct instruction and repeat instruction before children work in the literacy center identifying letters.