Beginning Word Sounds Letter Match Phonics Exercise

This is an activity to reinforce the letter sounds associated with the beginning sounds of familiar words. On the right you can see the upper- and lower-case form of each alphabet letter (for example: A a).   Between the letters is a picture of an object that starts with that letter-sound.  

Show the child the letters and explain that it has two different forms and point to each to identify the upper cand and lower case forms.  On the left are three pictures. One of them starts with the same sound. Ask them if they know what the picture in the middle shows and if they don’t recognize it tell them. Then emphasize the first letter sound of the word. When they understand what you mean ask them to look at the three pictures on the left and say the word for each picture. Ask then if they can tell you which pictures starts with the same sound.  This activity also helps younger children with vocabulary when you explain the pictures show. 

If you print this activity, have them circle the picture. This approach can be more reinforcing than just pointing because children learn faster when they actively circle it. Use a pencil with an eraser so they can correct mistakes. Don’t do all the letters at once when you start. Overall, If you do this whole activity 3 or 4 times, children pick up the letter sound correspondence pretty quickly — and they’ll probably learn some new words too!  

The key below identifies the picture shown on the right and the correct picture on the left that stars with the same sound. 

A-apple = ant & alligator; not locomotive

B-bear = bat & book; not frog

C-cat = clock & corn; not mouse

D-doll = dog & dinosaur; not pear

E-egg = ear & elephant; not sun

F-fish = frog & four; not box 

G-grapes = goat & gorilla; not dog

H-horse = hat & heart; not clock

I-ice cream cone = iron & igloo; not lion

J-jar = jellyfish & jacket; not orange

K-key = kangaroo & kite; not ball

L-lightening = ladder & lemon; not scissors

M-monkey = mask & motorcycle; not whistle

N-needle = nurse & nails; not hat

O-orange = octopus & owl; not spider

P-pear = pig & pumpkin; not cup

Q-quarter = queen & quilt; not ice cream cone

R-rabbit = ring & rainbow; not cup

S-sun = saw & spider; not gorilla

T-tiger = tortoise & truck; not chair

U-umbrella = unicorn; not shoe or hat

V-violin = vest 7 vacuum; not books

W-whistle = watch; not tomato or snake

X-xray = xray; not clock or seal

Y-yarn = yo-yo; not teeth

Z-zipper = zebra & zero; not leaf

Click here for printable PDF