Send children on a scavenger hunt to find objects that contain specific letter sounds. For example, while working on the letter "M," children may locate a marker or a map. Have children share the items that they collect to review the letter sounds.
Encourage children to jump when they hear a specific letter sound. For example, children jump when they hear the /t/ sound in the word "cat," or they jump when they hear the /ch/ sound in the word "chair."
Sort through items based on the letter sounds that they contain. Set out several different objects or pictures of items. Encourage students to sort the items into piles based on the sounds that they begin or end with. For instance, students may place a picture of a dog, a duck and dirt in one pile and a picture of an apple, an alligator and an ape in another pile.
Sing songs to review and reinforce letter sounds. Write the lyrics to the songs on a piece of chart paper and highlight each word that begins with the focus letter. Sing the songs aloud, pointing to the focus letter and enunciating the sound of the letter. For a list of sample phonics songs, see the resource section.
Play a matching game that reinforces letter sounds. On one set of index cards, draw pictures of items that contain a specific phonics sound, either in the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the word. On another set of index cards, print the letters that correspond to the pictures. To play, spread the picture cards face-up on the ground and place the letter cards in a face-down pile. Instruct one child at a time to flip over a letter card.The child must try to find the picture that contains the sound the letter on her card makes. For example, if a child flips over an "a" card, she may find a picture of a "cat," since the /a/ sound is heard in the middle of the word. The child who makes the most matches wins.