Beginning Sounds

This language lesson is designed for 3 to 6-year-old children. It aims to guide them about the beginning letter sound of the English alphabet.

In our previous video lesson, beginning sound – Set 1, we learned about beginning sounds for the alphabets a, o, m, t, p, s, f, and c. In this video, we will learn the sounds of 6 more consonant letters r, j, d, g, h, and b, and 2 vowels i and u. This video lesson is the second in the series that introduces the beginning sounds of letters.

Learning the alphabet serves as the building block of language. Sound discrimination is the ability to distinguish between similar and dissimilar sounds. One component of sound discrimination is hearing the first sound in words, which is a crucial phonemic awareness and phonics skill. It encourages children to pay attention to the sounds they hear and supports their future acquisition of letter sounds.

 Materials Required for Introducing Beginning Letter Sound

  • Sandpaper alphabets
  • Small moveable alphabets
  • Pictures or objects of the words that begin with the sound of the letters.

How to Introduce Beginning Letter Sound Set 2 Box to the Child?

In this video lesson, the child learns about the beginning sounds of the consonants r, j, d, b,g, h and b, and vowels i and u. The activity uses small objects which start with these alphabets like a jacket, hat, banana, infant, etc. This helps the child learn about the different sounds the alphabets make when placed at the beginning of words. 

  1. Invite the child to the table with the beginning sound set 2 box.
  2. Part 1: Sandpaper letters: Take out sandpaper letters one by one out of the box and introduce them to the child by pronouncing their beginning sound. Also, slide your fingers on the letter while introducing them.
  3. Place all the letters on the desk starting from the left. Please note: it’s always good to say the sound of the letter multiple times while introducing each letter.
  4. Once the child is introduced to all the letters, encourage them to recognize and say the sound of the letter. 
  5. Part 2: Moveable alphabet: Now, take out lowercase moveable alphabet one by one and repeat step 2. Let’s say if the letter ‘j’ is taken out say /j/ and move your hands on the letter formation.
  6. Place the letter on the respective sandpaper. Again, keep repeating the letter sound while introducing each letter.
  7. Part 3: Related objects: In part 3, take out an object from the box that begins with the sound /j/. Show it to the child and say its sound as done in steps 2 and 5. For example, a jacket. 
  8. As they recognize the sound, place it on the sandpaper alphabet card that says j.
  9. Repeat the same steps for the other letters, too.
  10. Invite the child to repeat the same.

Other Activities to Teach Sound of Letters

Consider using engaging alphabet resources to help give visual assistance and add some fun to learning letters and sounds.

  • BINGO

Prepare a BINGO card sheet with pictures beginning from the letters planned for the day. At least 5 pictures of each letter. Arrange the 5 in either vertical or horizontal or diagonal lines. Now say the sound and let the children find out the one word at a time that begins with that sound. Let them mark a cross on that picture. Continue the game until any child crosses 5 in sequence of either vertical or horizontal or diagonal lines.

  • I Spy with my Little Eye

Arrange the picture cards or objects on a table. Now, produce a sound of any letters chosen for the day. Let the child find the picture card or object that begins with that letter. Next, the child should pick the 3 more objects or cards with a picture that begins with the same letter.

Tips to Make the Beginning Sound Concept Fun and Easier to Learn

  • Talk, sing, and read with the children every day, even if it is for a few minutes. Add alphabet songs along with the pictures.
  • Ask the child to point to or touch a letter instead of trying to tell the letter’s name. Once the child can show the letter easily, ask them to tell the letter’s name.
  • When at home or at play, encourage them to find varied objects with a sound or they can produce the beginning sound of the objects they see.

Encourage the child to practice this concept with different English words and learn the beginning sounds of the English alphabets. Encourage the child to practice and understand the beginning sounds of the English alphabet and help them learn and recognize different words starting with it.

Related Video Lessons

To watch more Montessori language resources, click here.

Video Created by: Joanne Shango

Tags

  • english language
  • language development
  • primary level