Pronounce words with common vowels and vowel sounds to reinforce the sounds the letters make. For example, say cop, jot and sob and explain to children the vowel sound heard in the center of each word is made by the letter o. Ask children to restate the words while enunciating the vowel sounds. Restate the words and include a new word with a different vowel sound, such as cat. Ask children if they can hear the word that doesn't belong and discuss why the word doesn't belong.
Substitute vowels in the middle of words to create different words. Supply children with a list of words that can be changed by simply substituting the vowel sounds. Give them hot, cop and mop and instruct them to say each word aloud. Have them remove the vowels in these words and replace them with the letter a to create the words hat, cat and map. Compare the sounds of the vowel sounds in the original words to the vowel sounds in the new words.
Draw pictures that illustrate the sounds that vowel sounds make. For example, print a letter A on a piece of paper and have children decorate it with apple stickers, or print a letter O on paper and have children decorate it to look like an octopus. This project helps children create a mental image in their heads they can refer to when they encounter these vowels.
Play games that help to reinforce vowel sounds. Instruct children to stand up and say a series of words that contain vowel sounds. Have them sit when they hear one vowel sound and stand when they hear another.
Reinforce vowel sounds through poems, stories and songs. Print the words to poems, stories and songs that focus on a specific vowel sound chart paper. Enunciate and point to the vowels as they are said. A song for this activity is "Apples and Bananas." Find the lyrics to the song at the KIDiddles website.