Are you always on the lookout for fun hands-on activities for your preschool or kindergarten classroom?
Here’s an exciting Valentine’s Day game to help your kids learn letter sounds!
They’ll have a blast matching heart-shaped gems to the pictures in this fun Valentine beginning sounds game.
What Is A Beginning Sounds Game?
The sounds that occur in the beginning of words are those young children often learn to recognize first.
Learning how to isolate a sound, or phoneme, is an important part of the emergent literacy process.
When children can hear, isolate, and identify letter sounds they will be well prepared to start on the path towards reading success.
Check out this research-based, playful learning unit in our curriculum shop!
The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Lesson Plan Bundle
20 of our most popular Valentine's Day resources, including math, literacy, and fine motor activities! Make learning hands-on and fun!
Supplies Needed For The Valentine Beginning Sounds Game
To prepare the Valentine Beginning Sounds game you will need the following supplies:
- Heart Shaped Gems (Dollar Store)
- Permanent Marker
- cardstock
- laminator and laminating film
- scissors
How to Prepare the Valentine Beginning Sounds Game
First, write the letters of the alphabet on your gems with the permanent marker. Most dollar stores will usually stock these plastic gems around Valentine’s Day.
Next, print the Valentine beginning sounds mats on cardstock and laminate for durability, then cut the mats apart.
Then, give one game mat to each child in your small group and place a container of Valentine heart gems in the middle of the table.
How to Play the Valentine Beginning Sounds Game
First, review the pictures on the game mats with your small group to support vocabulary development.
Next, model how to select a Valentine heart shaped gem with a letter written on top and match it to the correct picture on the game mat. You may need to model this process several times to ensure success.
Then, invite the children to practice playing the game independently while you observe.
Click here to download the Valentine Beginning Sound Game.
More Beginning Sounds Games
Valentine’s Day is not the only holiday you can play a beginning sounds game in your classroom. They can be used throughout the year. Here are a few more beginning sounds game you might like:
- Leaf Man Beginning Sounds Activity
- Spring Beginning Sounds Activity
- Holiday I Spy Beginning Sounds Activity
- Harvest I Spy Beginning Sounds Activity
More Valentine’s Day Ideas
Valentine’s Cookie Decorating Sequencing
This cookie decorating activity is perfect for helping young children learn how to sequence. You can use this Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating activity at home or in your preschool classroom for a Valentine’s Day party.
To have the printable cookie sequence sheet emailed to you, simply fill out the form below.
Hi, I LOVED seeing the new Brach’s valentines with just one letter on each of them but I have looked everywhere for them!!! Any suggestions on where I might find them? Thanks so much!
Thanks so much, Vanessa, for the cute gameboards. I will be on the hunt for the Alphabet Conversation Hearts.
Best regards,
Denise
This is such a great idea! I know that my children will love this activity… although, I have an inkling that they’ll love eating the candy most of all! 😉
This looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop! We hope you join us again next week!