61 Sound Bags
Catherine Moen
Strategy Overview:
- Sound bags are fun ways to get students to build phonological awareness. Teachers can prepare these bags or boxes with items that have the same first letter. For added engagement, have students make their own sound bags for a specific letter by going on a classroom scavenger hunt.
- It is important because it can help students better understand how to identify letters and letter sounds by looking at items that start with the same letter in a fun way. Sound bags can make for a fun in class activity or even homework assignment. It also allows for the understanding of alliteration and students can make up stories to go along with the items in their bag.
- “In the early days, it is more about hearing that alliteration is happening, rather than making up your own words. Fun games that help play with words and sounds really help, such as having alliterative names for children and characters” (“Phase One Phonics Alliteration Games- 10 Terrific Ideas”)
Strategy in Action:
For this activity, the teacher would lead the students first in exploring what a sound bag is. The teacher will prepare a bag or box with items that all start with the same letter. For example, a bag filled with items that begin with “s”. Some items that could be included could be scissors, stamps, stickers, staples, etc. The teacher would then go through the bag taking each item out and saying what it is. The teacher can either tell the students what the letter is or have the students guess what the letter is depending on grade level and ability. Once the students know what is in the bag and what the letter is, the students can then say the letter sound to the teacher and to one another to make sure they know what it is. After this, the students and the teacher can make up a story based on the items in the bag as well as adding other words if needed. The students are also practicing alliteration by repeating the same letter sound in their story.
Student Exmaple
