Have your students identify the words in sentences with jumping. Inform students that you are going to state a sentence, and that upon stating the sentence they are to jump with each word that they hear. Begin with a short sentence, one that contains only three or four words, for example, and model the activity for your students. For example, say the sentence "It is hot" and jump as you say each word in the sentence. Ask children if they understand, state another simple sentence, and instruct them to jump with each word that they hear. As students become more comfortable with segmenting sentences, increase the word count in the sentences you state.
This activity involves moving a counter to represent the words heard in a sentence. Draw a row of rectangles on a piece of paper. Place the paper on a flat surface and provide a student with a counter, such as a bingo chip, a coin, or even a small toy. Inform the student that you are going to state a sentence and explain that she is to move the counter along the rectangles with each word that she hears in the sentence. For example, after hearing the first word, she should place the counter in the first rectangle and then move the counter into the second rectangle after hearing the second word and so on, until the sentence is complete. Count the number of spaces that the counter was moved to determine the number of words that were in the sentence.
This activity helps children understand that as sentences have individual words, words have individual sounds. Explain to students that you are going to say a word and as you say the word, they are to clap for each sound that they hear. Model the activity for them. For example, say the word "December" and clap for each syllable in the word. Ask students if they understand the concept. Say simple words that have clear and easily identifiable sounds for this activity.
This activity also helps to introduce the sounds in words. Instruct children to sit in a circle and explain to them that you are going to say a word; as you say a word, children are to tap on the back of the person sitting in front of them for each sound they hear in the word. For example, if you say the word "playing," children should tap two times on the back of the person sitting in front of them.