Segmenting CVC Words
To develop oral blending and segmenting with simple CVC words as phonics foundation.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Literacy
- Learning area: Literacy
- Level: EYFS 3-4
Objectives
- Blends orally segmented words
- Segments simple CVC words orally
- Counts sounds in words
- Plays blending games independently
Materials
- CVC word picture cards
- Sound buttons on cards
- Robot puppet or toy
- Bead strings for counting sounds
Instructions
Introduce 'Robot Talk' — a robot who can only speak in separate sounds. 'My robot friend speaks like this: d-o-g. Can you work out what he said? D... O... G... DOG! You blended it!' Use a puppet or toy robot to embody this.
Practice oral segmenting first. 'Let's talk like a robot: CAT. What sounds are in cat? C... A... T... three sounds!' Touch one finger for each sound. Bead strings work brilliantly — slide one bead along for each sound.
Use picture cards to support the activity. Show a picture of a cat: 'What's this? Cat. Let's put it in Robot Talk: C-A-T.' Move between the picture and the sounds, making the link between spoken word and segmented sounds.
Play 'What am I thinking of?' in Robot Talk: 'I'm thinking of something in this room. Here's the clue: p-e-n. What's a p-e-n? It's on the table!' Children search for the pen, then generate their own robot clues.
Focus entirely on oral work — no letters yet for most children. The skill being developed is hearing and manipulating sounds, which is purely phonological and verbal.
For children who are showing strong phonological awareness, begin linking sounds to letters: 'Dog: d-o-g. D says d. Look, here's the letter d!' But keep this for children who are genuinely ready.