Alliteration Action Games
To develop phonological awareness through playful alliteration and initial sound games.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 2-3
Objectives
- Notices same initial sounds
- Produces alliterative phrases
- Identifies objects by initial sound
- Enjoys sound play
Materials
- Alliteration cards
- Props beginning with target letters
- Movement space
- Silly sentence prompt cards
Instructions
Introduce alliteration through silly sentences: 'Silly Sally saw seven sunflowers! Silly Sally saw seven sunflowers!' Repeat rhythmically. Then: 'What sound did you keep hearing? Sssss! Silly, Sally, saw, seven, sunflowers — they all start with sss!'
Create 'alliteration actions': for 's' week, every time children hear an 's' word they make a snake shape with their arms. Read a simple text and watch them wriggle at every 's' sound.
Play 'I went shopping and I bought...' with alliterative shopping lists: 'I went shopping and I bought a banana, a biscuit, a ball, and a bucket!' Children add alliterative items of their own.
Introduce each child's alliterative name game: 'Magical Mia! Bouncing Ben! Super Sophie!' Children love the sound of their own name with an alliterative adjective and it makes the concept memorable.
Take alliteration outdoors: 'Can you find five things that start with 'b' in the garden? A brick, a bucket, a branch...' This active hunt makes alliteration real and meaningful.
Keep it playful — alliteration is pure fun. Celebrate absurd alliterative sentences: 'Purple penguins pick pretty pansies!' Laughter is an excellent memory aid.