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English · Kindergarten

Hear, Blend and Segment Sounds

An all-listening course in the smallest sounds of speech (phonemes). Children blend sounds into words (/m/ /a/ /p/ makes map), break words into sounds and count them, find the first, middle and last sound, and swap one sound to make a new word. These oral skills prepare children to read and spell with letters in the next courses.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 55 minutes
  • Sound play check: 6 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, match pairs, type a number and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Blend two or three spoken sounds into a word (/m/ /a/ /p/ makes map).
  • Break a spoken one-syllable word into its sounds and count them (up to three).
  • Hear the first, middle and last sound in a spoken CVC word.
  • Change one sound in a spoken word to make a new word (pig to wig, bag to bug).

Lessons

  1. Blend the sounds 4 steps2 practiceabout 14 min
  2. Break it into sounds 5 steps2 practiceabout 14 min
  3. First, middle, last 5 steps3 practiceabout 14 min
  4. Swap a sound 4 steps2 practiceabout 13 min
  5. Sound play check 6 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Memory LanternsFlip glowing lanterns to find pairs that belong together.
  • Sound GardenListen closely and grow the garden: find the word that starts, rhymes or claps just right.
  • Word WorkshopBuild the word for each picture, one sound at a time.

More kindergarten reading

Guides for grown-ups