Activities to Teach Students Which Consonant Blend the Word Starts With
Consonant blends are two or more consonant sounds that are pronounced together in words. Blends form the beginnings or endings of many words in the English language. Teaching students to identify consonant blends at the beginning of words is a crucial step in building their decoding skills. Here are some activities that teachers can use to teach students which consonant blend the word starts with.
Word Sorting:
Create a chart with the four most common consonant blends (bl, cl, gr, and sm) written at the top of each column. Then, have students brainstorm as many words as they can think of that start with one of these blends. Students can then cut out each word and place it under the appropriate column according to which blend it starts with.
Picture Sorting:
Similar to word sorting, create cards with pictures of objects that start with different consonant blends. Have students sort the cards into piles according to the blend the word starts with. To make it more challenging, add more blends to the mix.
Anchor Charts:
Create an anchor chart for each consonant blend. The chart should include an example word and some pictures that start with the same blend. Display these charts in the classroom and refer to them often during phonics instruction.
Blending Station:
Create a blending station in the classroom where students can practice blending words starting with different consonant blends. Provide them with a set of picture cards and ask them to blend the sounds together to create the word. To make it more challenging, have students write the word on a whiteboard or piece of paper.
Word Building:
Provide students with individual letter cards representing different consonant blends. Ask them to build words by placing the correct blend at the beginning of the word. Students can then read the word aloud to practice their fluency.
Read and Match:
Create a set of cards with words starting with different consonant blends. Next, create another set of cards with pictures that match the word. Students should read the word on the card and then find the picture card that matches.
Bingo:
Create bingo cards with words starting with different consonant blends. Call out the blend and students should cover the word on their bingo card that starts with that blend. This activity can be done in small groups or as a whole class.
By using these activities, teachers can help students master identifying the consonant blend at the beginning of words. This skill will ultimately help students improve their reading and decoding abilities, leading to more successful and confident readers.