Phonics

Main purpose :

To develop children’s listening skills and awareness of sounds in the environment.

Listening walk

This is a listening activity that can take place indoors or outdoors.

Remind the children about the things that good listeners do (e.g. keep quiet, have ears and eyes ready). Invite the children to show you how good they are at listening and talk about why listening carefully is important.

Encourage the children to listen attentively to the sounds around them. Talk about the different sounds they can hear. The children could use ‘cupped ears’ or make big ears on headbands to wear as they go on the listening walk. You can record the sounds or take pictures of the source. After the children have enjoyed a listening walk indoors or outdoors, make a list of all the sounds they can remember.

The list can be in words or pictures and prompted by replaying sounds recorded on the walk.

Listening Game - Phase 1 Phonics - Listening and Attention Skills

Here is a guessing game to play with your child to help them master their listening skills. Talk about each of the sounds and what they could be before revealing what it is.

Here are some useful links to phonics games you can play online.

Phonics Play

Letters and Sounds

Phonics Bloom