Welcome Winter with Syllables!

These little penguins are freezing! They’ve spent too much time in the water and are desperate to get onto dry land and cuddle to warm up.

This flock of chilly syllable penguins is waiting for your students to help them out!

To return the penguins to the dry land, your students must clap each word’s syllables and match them to the correct ice floe. One-, two- and three-syllable words are included in the resource.

Get More out of Our Counting Syllables Activity 

There’s more than one way to use this syllable sorting activity in your classroom! Check out a few ideas for taking this game to the next level.

Syllables Memory Game

You can use this resource as a phonics game for two players. Students shuffle the picture cards and lay them all face down. Each player takes their turn by flipping two cards at a time. If they choose two words with the same number of syllables, they keep the pair!

See It, Say It, Spell It

Use the cards to show students how breaking words down into their syllables can help them as they learn to spell. Choose three cards, one for each number of syllables, and project them on your smartboard. Working together as a class, sound out the words one syllable at a time. Encourage students to identify the vowel sound in each syllable. (Remember, every syllable must contain a vowel sound!)

Tips for Extension and Support

Fast finishers can take this activity further by sorting the picture cards and putting them in alphabetical order. You can also ask them to think of more words they know with 1, 2, or 3 syllables. Ask them to draw pictures of those words and write the number of syllables each has below the drawing.

If your students have trouble identifying each word’s syllables, show them how to clap it out. This makes sounding out words fun (they love to make noise!). Plus, students engage multiple senses while working on their phonological awareness.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print the sorting mats and word cards on thick card for added durability and longevity. Place all game parts in a folder or large envelope for easy access.

Before You Download

Use the drop-down icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. The resource is available in both black and white and colour.

An answer key is also included with this download.

This resource was created by Lisamarie Del Valle, a Teach Starter collaborator.