Children love imagery and relate best to audio and visual images when they are interactive. The Circus Clap Worksheet Method uses circus imagery through a worksheet and involves active clapping participation from the students. The teacher says the names of the images out loud and proceeds to clap each part of the word. After she finishes one word, she asks the class to identify that number of claps. For example, the children have to say the number of claps in the word "zebra."
Write each student's name on a sheet of construction paper. One one side of the sheet, write the name as it is. For example, "Dylan." Ask the students to identify where the break should be in the name by clapping as it is said out loud. Turn the sheet over and show the answer: "Dy-lan." After going through all of the names, go around the classroom and have the students individually say their names and clap for the syllables.
To develop their ability to follow instructions, teachers can use The Listening Game, in which the teacher asks the students to identify syllables through actions. Before reading a list of words that range from one to four syllables, the teacher gives the children a list of commands. Snap your fingers once if you hear a word with one syllable. Clap twice if you hear a word with two syllables. Stomp your feet three times if you hear a word with three syllables. Jump four times if your hear a word with four syllables. For example, the teacher says the word "conversation" so the children must jump four times. After the game commences, the teacher can observe which students have grasped the concept, as well as the ones who need more assistance.
To incorporate literature into teaching the syllables, teachers can read a story or a poem that has many interesting and catchy names. For example, recite the Peter Piper riddle and ask students to identify the syllables in each letter that begins with letter "P." Ask the student to stomp their feet to represent breaks in the words. After completing the riddle once, repeat until the stomping becomes rhythmic and all the children understand where the syllables are located.
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