Digital Farm Theme Beginning Sounds Activity for Preschool

I LOVE teaching beginning sounds to preschoolers! There are so many different interactive games, songs, and activities to keep them engaged they don’t even realize they’re learning. And the first time they identify that sound on their own?! MAGIC.

The Digital Farm Theme Beginning Sounds Activity for Preschool is a no-prep phonics game for beginning sounds. You can use it whole group, small group, or as an individualized sounds game for your students. The farm animal theme is an adorable way for learning letters of the alphabet and the letter sounds.

First Sound Fluency

Learning the alphabet is an important precursor to reading. Children in preschool typically work on letter recognition and discerning between lowercase and uppercase letters.

Although teaching the alphabet and alphabet activities are critical, phonological awareness is equally important. Phonological awareness refers to the sounds in words and the ability to break apart/manipulate the sounds.

It’s an important precursor to reading because it provides that auditory background required to make sense of letter/sound associations in print later.

Examples of beginning sounds activities for young children:

• Incorporate sensory play with a “feely box.” Students reach into a covered box with various items (plastic animals, blocks, faux flowers, rocks, etc.) to try to identify the object without looking. Then, they must identify its beginning sound.
• Songs are always engaging and fun activities for word play.
• Incorporate first sounds into the dramatic play area by sorting items based on sounds instead of categories. For example, the “B” bin might include: beads, boots, bandanas, etc., or the “M” bin could contain: mittens, masks, magnifying glasses, or magazines.
• Use the same alphabet games for preschool you have to teach letter recognition, but tweak them to include sound identification.
• Play matching games! When preschoolers are learning the alphabet, they often match uppercase letters with lowercase letters. Use the same idea by matching picture cards that have the same beginning consonants.

How to Use the Digital Farm Theme Beginning Sounds Activity

To Set Up:

Click on the link below. Then, choose which version you want: Google Slides, Seesaw, or self-correcting Boom cards. When you clink on the link, it will open in the appropriate app and you’re good to go.

In Google Slides, after clicking on the Slides link, click the blue button that says, “Make a Copy.” This ensures that you have your own copy of the slideshow.

In Slides, make sure you are in “Edit” mode, as opposed to “Present” mode. You will see the “Present” button in the upper right hand corner.

In Slides, just click on the number to highlight the box in blue and drag it when the cursor resembles a plus sign with an arrow on each end.

In Seesaw, use the Text tool (click on the large T) to be able to highlight each number to move it.

Finally, if you choose self-correcting Boom cards, remember you must be connected to the Internet in order for the cards to work.

To Play:

Students will click on the speaker icon to hear the picture word spoken. Then, they must choose the appropriate letter among the three choices at the bottom of the slide.

**You can also just download and print the slides to use as a hands-on beginning sounds activity.

Ideas to Extend or Adapt the Learning Activity

I love digital activities because they can really be a versatile tool for teaching to a variety of preschool themes without rigorous prep.

Students that aren’t ready to grasp beginning sounds can work on identifying the letters at the bottom of the slides.

Many students will be able to do the activity independently, while some will benefit more with an adult next to them to name the sounds listed at the bottom.

Some students will cruise through the slides with little effort, while others will struggle on each and every slide. The nice thing about the digital version is that you can shorten the activity by assigning a smaller number of slides based on student’s individual skills and knowledge.