Use these snow globe phoneme segmentation cards to build phonemic awareness this winter. They provide tons of fun while practicing segmenting and blending skills in the classroom.
About Segmenting and Blending Sounds
One of the first foundational skills of learning to read is to segment and blend sounds in words. This involves putting together and taking apart individual sounds in a word. These snow globe segmentation cards are a fun and interactive way to practice these important skills. They are great for kindergarten and first grade.
Add them to your literacy centers or phonics centers to give kids a new way to practice segmenting words with 3 and 4 individual sounds. Afterward, students can slide their fingers under each dot or snowflake and blend the sounds back together.
You can also add the optional recording sheet for practice with word mapping as well.
This blend and segment activity is a great way to build phonemic awareness during centers or small group instruction this winter.
A Simple Winter Phonemic Awareness Activity
This simple, no-prep activity will quickly become a go-to in the classroom. Just print the mats, cut them out, and laminate them or place them in write and wipe pockets. The print, cut and laminate the word cards so you can use them again and again.
Store them easily in the pockets or a mesh zipper pouch to grab them quickly when you need them. They also fit into plastic photo boxes if you have those.
How to Set Up the Phoneme Segmentation Cards
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Supplies Needed:
- Snow Globe Phoneme Segmentation Mats (button at bottom of the post to get them)
That is all! There are no added materials needed for this activity.
Instructions:
- Print the winter mats and word cards.
- Cut the mats and word cards apart.
- Store the mats and word cards in a mesh bag or another task card storage option.
Laminate for durability, if you wish.
How to Use the Phoneme Segmentation Cards
Once you have prepped the materials, students will place a word card in the box on their card. Then they will determine what the word is.
Next, they will segment the sounds in the word by touching a dot or snowflake on the snow globe. As they do this, they will say the corresponding sound. Afterward, they can run their finger below each dot to blend the sounds back together to make the word.
As students repeat this activity, they will get more comfortable with touching the dots as they segment and blend.
The cards have words pictured that are either 3 or 4 sounds. Many of the words with 3 sounds are CVC words, CVCe words, or words with digraphs and many of the words with 4 sounds are words with beginning or ending blends.
For example, the card with a fan on it is placed on the mat with 3 dots. The student touches the first dot and says the beginning sound in the word, then they touch the second dot and say the middle sound, and finally, they touch the third dot and say the third and final sound in the word.
Here’s how that looks:
- Touch the first dot and say the /f/ sound.
- Touch the second dot and say the /a/ sound.
- Touch the third dot and say the /n/ sound.
For mats with 4 sounds, here is an example using the word spill :
- Touch the first dot and say the /s/ sound.
- Touch the second dot and say the /p/ sound.
- Touch the third dot and say the /i/ sound.
- Touch the fourth dot and say the /l/ sound.
Differentiation Ideas
You can choose whether to have your students work on words with 3 sounds, 4 sounds, or both.
If they are just beginning to learn phoneme segmentation, you can assign fewer word cards to complete until they are more confident in their skills. Students rocking their phonemic awareness skills can do more word cards at a time.
The mats can be used in small groups with teacher guidance or independently in centers.
You can also add the recording sheet for practice with word mapping as well.
There are lots of ways to use these snow globe phoneme segmentation cards, so you can change them up and use them in a way that works best for your students.
I hope this phonemic awareness activity is a big help to you and engages the kids in lots of hands-on practice with segmenting sounds this winter.
Click the button below to get the Snow Globe Phoneme Segmentation Mats and add them to your plans this winter!
Here are some more winter activities for the classroom:
Snow Globe Roll and Cover Math Game Printable
Snow Globe Find and Cover the Letters Mats
Snowman Alphabet Letter Tracing Task Cards
Snowflake CVC Word Building Strips for Kindergarten
Gingerbread Phoneme Segmentation Mats
Snow Globe Comparing Sets Clip Cards
