Focus: Phonics

Activity: Bonk!
Pre-Task:
Get all Ts to stand. Show teachers word cards with phonics sounds on them. First to raise their hand gets a
chance to describe what it is. If the answer is correct, they can sit down.
Game:
Ts stand in a circle. Distribute one sound card for each teacher. Tell teachers to hold their cards so
everyone can see. Teachers say their sounds.
Stage 1:
Tell teachers that if their card is called, they must say someone elses card (but not the person next to
them). Give an example. If I say R, x must call another sound, e.g. P

Demonstrate Mentor says R. Mentor tells x to say another activity. Continue until it has passed around to
all other teachers. (Correct teachers and reinforce that they cannot read the card directly next to them.)

Stage 2:
Step into the middle of the circle. Tell teachers that they will continue the game. However, they must say
someone elses card quickly before I hit them on the head.

Do not worry if they dont fully understand at the beginning of the game the rules and objectives become
clear once it gets going.

Stage 3:
If Ts are bouncing back and forth between two players (e.g. R P R etc.), stop the game. Introduce
another rule: You may not call on the person who called on you.

Benefits:
This game is useful for practicing fluency, as students must think and respond quickly to avoid being in the
middle. It familiarises students with saying each sound.
It can be

Alternatives:
It can be used to practice vocabulary (using picture cards), reading (using word cards), tenses (e.g. Ss hold
present tense words, but must say past tense), etc.
Activity: Bang!
Pre-Task:
Divide students into groups of 3-4.
Game:
Students race to make a 3 letter word. If students draw an explosion (Bang), the team must put all their
letters back in the hat and start over.
Stage 1:
Students in teams take turns picking out letters from a hat.
Stage 2:
They have to rearrange their letters to form a word.
Stage 3:
If they pull out the explosion its BANG! And they have to put their letters back in and start again.

Benefits:
This interactive activity, involving all students, helps students associate sounds to graphemes and to blend
them into words. The bang tile brings tension and suspense into the competitive game.
It is a fun and off the paper way of doing word scrambles. Finally, the group activity fosters team-work
and cooperative skills.

Alternatives:
Blank bottle caps that act as wild cards and can be used for any letter.
Depending on students level, digraphs (e.g. sh, ch, ee, ea, igh, etc.) can be included and students can
make 3-4 phoneme words. Longer words can be used to increase difficulty.