Classroom Vocabulary- First Letters Games

Classroom vocabulary first letters games

Instructions for teachers

First letters in the classroom run and touch

Perhaps after changing the words to match the things in your classroom and/ or choosing which kind of pack of the two below to use, cut up one pack of cards per class or per group. Fold the cards so the example words are behind the first letters.

The teacher or a student reads out, writes up and/ or shows one of the first letters and:

• gives a point to anyone who touches something suitable starting with that letter
• gives a point to anyone who touches the thing or one of the things starting with that letter that is written on the other side of the card
• gives a point to anyone who touches something suitable starting with that letter and bonus points for anyone touching something written on the card

If no one gets the right thing(s), they should say and/ or show the back of the card by unfolding it. If that thing is not in your classroom, you could give a point to the first person to notice that it is not present. 

 

First letters in the classroom drawing games

The same games can be played with students drawing the things in the classroom and/ or the other words with the same first letter instead of moving around the classroom.

 

First letters in the classroom memory game

Perhaps after getting students to guess which word you have for each letter, show the other first letter phonics cards and get students to say the words (perhaps as “A, a, apple” etc). Ask them where each card can be put in the classroom to be touching something beginning with the same letter, and put it or get them to put it in that position. This can be combined with prepositions like in phrases like “on the floor” and “under the door” if you like.

Then see if they can remember:

• the position of something beginning with each letter (using the fact that it has the same first letter to help)
• the other first letters card that is in each classroom position
• both the classroom object and other first letter card for each letter of the alphabet that you are using

 

Version 1 – just one word cards

Cut into cards and fold along the line after the first letter

a	rm
b	ook
c	arpet
d	oor
e	raser
f	inger
g	irl
h	ead
i	n the pocket
j	acket
k	ey
l	eg
m	ap
n	otebook
o	range
p	en
q	uick play
r	uler
s	ticker
t	able
u	mbrella
v	olume button
w	hiteboard
x	box
y	ellow
z	ero bananas
ch	air
sh	oe
th	ree books

 

Version 2 – different options version

a	rm/ a student
b	ag/ ball/ bin/ book
c	lock/ cup/ carpet
d	oor
e	ar/ eraser
f	loor/ folder/ finger
g	irl/ good student/ green
h	and/ handle/ head
i	n the pocket/ in front of the teacher
j	eans/ jacket
k	ey/ kicking leg
l	ight/ leg/ left sock
m	agnet/ map
n	ose/ notebook/ next to the window
o	range/ open door/ open book
p	oster/ pencil/ pen/ pencil sharpener
q	uiet button/ quick play button/ quiz
r	ubber band/ ruler/ right foot
s	ock/ stapler/ sticker
t	eacher/ table
u	mbrella
v	ideo/ volume up button
w	indow/ whiteboard/ water/ watch
x	box
y	ellow
z	ero monsters/ zebra’s colours
ch	air
sh	oulder/ shirt/ shoe/ shelf
th	ree students

 

Other first letter phonics cards

apple	banana
cat	dog
egg	fish
guitar	hat
in the box	jump
key	lion
monkey	nuts
octopus	piano
queen	rabbit
snake	tree
umbrella	violin
window	xylophone
yoyo	zigzag