Feed the Elephant Peanuts – Fun Phoneme Segmentation Activity

This super cute phoneme segmentation activity is an engaging way for young students to practise their phonemic awareness skills. Using picture cards with a variety of simple, familiar objects, students will work out the phonemes in each word and then feed the elephant by placing peanuts into the cutout mouth of the elephant’s head.

The resource includes three sets of cards to allow for differentiation. The cards include the following:

• 12 task cards with 2 phonemes
• 12 task cards with 3 phonemes
• 12 task cards with 4 phonemes

How to Play

Materials:

• Picture cards
• A box with the elephant’s mouth cut out
• Peanut cards

Instructions:

1. Start by introducing the activity to the students and explaining that they will be working on their phoneme segmentation skills.
2. Show the students the picture cards and review the names of the objects with them.
3. Model the activity by choosing a card and working out the phonemes in the word (e.g., ‘cat’ has three phonemes: /k/ /a/ /t/).
4. Explain that this word has three phonemes, so we are going to feed the elephant three peanuts.
5. Have the students take turns choosing the card, working out the phonemes, and feeding the elephant the correct number of peanuts. 
6. Encourage the students to say the phonemes out loud as they work on each word.
7. Repeat the activity with different picture cards as time allows.

Download & Print — It’s Child’s Play! 

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or the editable Google Slides version of this resource. It is recommended you print this resource on thick white card to ensure durability of the activity so that it can be used again and again. 

This resource was created by Samantha Rose, a Teach Starter collaborator.