BEGIN GAMES
LOOK BELOW FOR THE GAMES:

Digraph Sit/Blend Shout

The student must point to the letters referred to. Digraphs and blends are called out by sound and mixed up. The student repeats the sound heard while standing or sitting according to the classification of digraphs (sit) or blends (stand).

Fill the Wagon

A box is put on a table and it is referred to as the wagon. Digraphs, blends, and vowel combinations are copied from the charts and the copied letters are cut out. The student hears the supervisor, or the tape cassette say, "Fill the wagon with____!" The student responds by repeating the sound and finding the letter combination which spells the sound heard. he or she then places the combination in the wagon. When all the letters are in the wagon the process is repeated with one exception. This time the letter combinations heard, and repeated, are taken out of the wagon and placed upon the chart which has the matching letters.

Pick a Flower

The letters, same as above, are cut out and pasted upon construction paper flowers. This is prepared beforehand. When the sounds are heard, and repeated, the flowers are placed around a large paper vase. When all the flowers are arranged, they are glued in place.

Pick a Leaf

Digraphs, blends, and vowel combinations are copied. They are then placed on green paper that has been cut out in the shape of leaves and glued. Occasionally, genuine leaves may be preferred. The supervisor, or cassette tape, says the sounds in mixed up order and the student picks the proper leaf and puts it on a tree that has been cut out earlier. When all the leaves are arranged in correct order, they are glued to the tree.

Blind Man's Touch

The letters named above are cut out and pasted on cardboard. The student is blindfolded and the the letter combinations are in mixed order. The student reaches for a set, feels all around the cut outs, and guesses the sound and classification. (Digraphs, blends, or vowel combinations!)

Cheers

The supervisor, or cassette tape, shouts out, "Give me______!" (Letter sounds only!) The student shouts out, "Here is_____!" (Names the letters!) At the same time, the student either reaches for a cut out combination to hold up or points to the chart.

Pin the Tail on the Digraph dog

Digraphs found in the chart are copied, cut out, and glued to a strip of paper referred to as a tail. A dog secured to the wall has no tail. The dog can be made from the following outline: Trace around a plate for its head and make two pointed ears. A rectangle can be its body with four lines drawn out from it for the legs. The student looks over the tails and calls out the sound for each.

The student is blindfolded and a digraph tail is given to him or her for the purpose of pinning it on the dog. The digraphs are reviewed once the dog has received his many tails.

Pin the Ears on the Blend Cat

This game is the same as Pin the tail on the Digraph Cat as described on the preceding page. The ears have blends glued on them and the cat can be outlined in the same way as the dog. Just make some whiskers!

Game Variations

The student will not be expected to read the words used in the following activities. he or she will only be expected to recognize digraphs, blends, and vowel combinations as found in the words.

The student may wish to make a list of digraphs, blends, and vowel combinations as found in words located in the newspaper, phone book, catalogues, etc. The purpose for this activity is to familiarize the student with the number of words that are formed with these combinations. he or she should not attempt to pronounce these words as some combinations will be an exception to the norm. The student may enjoy locating these letters on signs and billboards, or menus, and he or she may want to listen for them in conversations..

Copyright © 1997 by Bill and Janae Cooksey, All rights reserved. No part of this material may be published in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.