Grab these free printable Pumpkin Find and Cover the Beginning Sound Mats for practice with letters and isolating beginning letter sounds.
Pumpkin Find and Cover Beginning Sounds
As kids learn more about letter recognition with lowercase and uppercase letters, they will also learn the sounds associated with them. This pumpkin letter sound activity is perfect for working on letter sound recognition and beginning sound isolation.
They will develop critical phonemic awareness and phonics skills by matching the correct letter to the pictures that start with that beginning sound.
These beginning sounds mats can be used in a variety of instructional settings. They can be used for independent work, small groups, literacy centers, early finishers, morning work, or as a form of assessment.
This letter-matching pumpkin activity is excellent for kindergarten and first-grade students. Keep reading for more ideas on differentiating and meeting your students’ various learning needs! Kids love pumpkins in the fall; you will love these educational letter sound mats!
Super Easy Prep for Teachers
These fall-themed beginning sound mats do not require complicated or time-consuming prep! The steps are quick and easy.
There are two different beginning sound mats that you can slip into page protectors or laminate. Each has fifteen pictures and all 26 letters of the alphabet are present between the 2 mats.
There are also candy corn letter cards that will need to printed, laminated and cut apart, if you would like to use them. If not, you can simply use letter tiles or letter magnets for a no-prep, print and play option.
Students can use mini erasers to cover each beginning sound picture on the mat. Other options for this are mini craft pom poms or small pieces of play dough.
For easy storage, put the beginning sound mats in a large baggie, file folder, or storage tray for easy grab-and-go access. When you finish the mats for the season, store them with your seasonal activities. Now, you can use them every fall.
Setting Up the Pumpkin Beginning Sounds Mats
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Supplies needed:
- Pumpkin beginning sounds matching mats (button to access them at the bottom of the post)
- Letter tiles or another letter manipulative
- Write and wipe pockets (optional)
Instructions:
- Print the pumpkin beginning sound mats (and candy corn letter cards, if you are using them).
- Laminate the mats or slide into write and wipe pockets.
- Laminate and cut apart the cards, if you would like. Or just use letter tiles or letter magnets instead.
- Gather mini erasers or mini pom poms to cover spots on the mat.
- Store the activity in a large baggie, file folder, or storage tray.
Using the Jack-O-Lantern Beginning Sound Alphabet Mats
Students will draw a letter card for this activity and place it on their mat. They will then find a picture on their mat that starts with the letter they pulled.
Next, they will take a mini eraser and cover the picture with the manipulative.
Students can take this pumpkin letter sounds a step further by saying the word aloud and isolating the beginning sound by saying the sound aloud.
For students ready for a challenge, have them say a sentence using that word. They can take turns telling each other if they are working as partners.
Teachers could use the fall letter mats as a mini bingo game. Students could play in partners with different types of manipulatives and try get a whole row across first or four in a row first.
Other Options for This Beginning Sounds Alphabet Activity
Since there are two different mats, you can start by having your students complete only one mat. As their skills progress, they can work their way up to completing two mats!
Students could also use these matching mats with partners. They could take turns matching letters and pictures or work together to complete the mat. This would help them work cooperatively and allow them to encourage and coach each other along the way.
I hope these pumpkin alphabet activity mats are just what you need to engage your students and help them master their beginning sounds.
These fall alphabet mats are going to be super helpful for developing phonics and phonemic awareness skills this fall!
Click the button below to get the Pumpkin Beginning Sounds Matching Mats! Happy Fall!
Here are some more pumpkin activities to use this fall!
Pumpkin Alphabet Board Game Task Cards
Pumpkin Find and Cover the Letter
Pumpkin Letter Sounds Write the Room
