I am always thinking about new ways to work on the same skills because novelty is a powerful motivator but so is familiarity. That is why I like to make games with the same basic rules, like roll & cover games with different themes. This is another variation of a roll & cover game, although it’s a roll & rhyme game. Students roll the dice and then move to the next image on that board that rhymes with the object they just rolled. Simple right? This printable rhyming game is simple, but I have a few tips to make it easier to use for your literacy centers and small group lessons.
Rhyming Game for PreK
Before we get into the tips and how I used these printables to create this game, let me share a little bit about rhyming. Often in PreK, teachers are laser-focused on letter identification and maybe even letter sounds. Before you get too busy with those, children need to be able to play with sounds. They need to be exposed to opportunities to rhyme, identify alliterations, and explore sentence and syllable segmentation. These are the first steps in phonological awareness, so make sure you have carved out plenty of time for activities like this printable rhyming game.
Gather your materials. You will need the printable game board, cards for the oversized die, an oversized die, painter’s tape, scissors, and markers for each kiddo. I’m using a little duck eraser I found on my daughter’s floor. Aren’t tweens the best at sharing?
Back to the activity. First, cut out the die pictures and tape them on the die. I’m using these dice ( use my affiliate link here to buy your own, or pop over to Walmart; they usually have them in the back-to-school section).
Now it’s time to play. Oh, wait. Don’t play yet. Go over all the pictures with your students. They need to know it’s a dog, not a puppy, a can, a jar, a log, not a branch, etc… If they don’t know what the images are called, they can’t match up the rhymes.
OK, now it’s time to roll the die and move your marker to the first image that rhymes with the picture you rolled.
Keep going!
You have to roll a bear to get to the finish! Yay, bear/ pear!
Want to add a little subitizing to your rhyming game?
If your students can come up with rhymes independently, try using a regular die instead of the large one with pictures. This is a great way to reuse this printable rhyming game. It’s just a little different, and after the children have used it with the pictures a few times, they may be ready for the challenge of thinking up their own rhymes.
Roll, advance that many spaces, and now you have to rhyme with the picture. Fan…ran!
Always accept made-up words for rhyming. If it rhymes, it counts! Pear…are. Remember, it’s all about manipulating sounds to be a nonsense words and still build the skills we are aiming to build.
Get your printable rhyming game here for just $1.50 !
Shannon says
When I purchase one of the printables does it come to my email? The first page made it look like it was shipping to my house? Sorry I’m new to this:)
Allison McDonald says
It’s digital, after you buy it you will get an email with a link to download 🙂