10 Activities About Phonics - March Bonus Content
Find Your Free 'Phonics' Activity Pack here!
Hey PLAY People,
Normally, free subscribers receive access to one activity as part of a wider pack, but this month, you’re receiving access to ALL 10 activities in our ‘Phonics’ activity pack, just like paid subscribers receive every month!
Every month, our paid subscribers get a bank of activities that have been written by practitioners and tried and tested with real children!
They also get access to the FULL archive of ALL activities, even if they have just joined The PLAYlist. At the moment that’s 125 activities!
Below are the links to 10 activities all about phonic development.
These activities are all about supporting children with the foundations they need to support phonics teaching.
We are looking at ways to help them tune into sounds, hear rhythm and pattern, and play around with rhyme and alliteration. These are the sorts of playful experiences that build the building blocks of language and communication.
Everything here has been put together to be simple, adaptable and easy to add into your everyday provision, while still keeping the joy of play at the centre of it all.
The Accidental Rhyme - CLICK HERE
This idea explores how a simple change in practitioners’ language can impact children’s pre-phonics development.
It also allows children to see language as something that can be played with!
Redesigning Story Maps - CLICK HERE
Story maps are used in schools and pre-schools across the U.K. They are fantastic for supporting children’s memory of known stories but are they teaching a misconception of text direction to children? This idea explores that!
The Joy of a Cardboard Box - CLICK HERE
With budgets being tight in schools and childcare settings, it is always great when an idea comes along that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. This idea is cost-effective and encourages mark-making, fine motor skills and creativity, all through the joy of a cardboard box!
Music Madness - CLICK HERE
This idea explores the importance of children being able to explore beats, rhyme and physical movement to support their development in pre-phonics (even if it is a bit noisy!).
The Brilliance of Books - CLICK HERE
This idea is designed to inspire children in your setting to mark-make and record letters, words and sentences. It also allows children to see the silliness of books and how they can develop a love of reading! It is also nice and simple!
Symbolising Story Maps - CLICK HERE
Making the link between printed text, the language in childrens’ brains and recording these with symbols and objects are all essential pre phonics skills!
These story “maps” are a way for children to symbolise by showing you their thoughts and ideas sparked by a story, and then made visible in any way they choose…so you (and they) can actually see their thoughts come alive.
Totally Treasure Baskets - CLICK HERE
If you’re looking at how to develop and support your pre school children’s pre phonics skills why not try treasure baskets?
You can put them together in no time with random, interesting “stuff” you have hanging round and so it’s a way of tidying.
They’re not just for babies!
Tool School - CLICK HERE
Instructions and small children don’t really go hand in hand but add in real tools and they definitely do!
This is a great way to encourage listening and following instructions by putting them into practice creatively!
Toddler Word Painting - CLICK HERE
This idea includes paint and toddlers, so you already know it will be a hit (just not with the cleaners!).
Using paint is nothing new and original, but the focus for you is on the language, not the painting, so get messy and get talking!
Listen Here! - CLICK HERE
This idea is focusing on developing childrens’ listening skills through peer and adult modelling and support with a simple combo of mixed ages game playing, using gestures and talk to develop essential pre phonics listening skills!
Who Are Our Activity Authors?
Hello PLAYlisters! My name is James Davolls and I am an Early Years Lead and author working at Charborough Road Primary School in Bristol. I currently teach Preschool-aged children and have over a decade of Early Year’s teaching experience (I know, I don’t look that old, thanks guys!) I have two children of my own, 4 and 6, so I am very much living and breathing the Early Year’s life at home and in school. I have worked across several diverse settings across Bristol, leading in all of them.
I am passionate about outdoor and adventurous/risk play and love developing provisions that inspire and challenge children’s development.
Fun Facts....growing up, my dream job was to be a Butlin’s Redcoat (I never achieved this!) I am one of seven children, and I love pizza. My wife always says that without her, I would have the diet of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!
Hi, my name is Rachel Lloyd and I’m one of the owners of Homestead Nursery in Wrexham. I’m a Mum to 3 grown up children and qualified as an Early Years teacher back in 2010 teaching both Nursery and Reception children.
Whilst training I became super interested in the Reggio Emilia approach, particularly how to use our environment and space to support and develop children’s learning.
In 2017 I decided to buy a local nursery with my Health Visitor friend Kim so that we could put our professional knowledge and personal research into practice and develop our own approach to give our children at nursery the best day, every day!
My favourite part of my job is creating and setting environments for children to learn through their play using lots of lovely loose parts (and watching this!)
Fun facts…I used to be a Police Officer, my death row meal would be Heinz beans and sausages on toast, my favourite bird is a flamingo and I love plants!
