First sounds: what children learn
Hearing the first sound in a word helps children start to spell. They link that sound to a letter, or two letters such as sh.
Tap a Listen card to hear a word. Then choose the letter for the first sound you hear.
This topic links to an early learning goal in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England (Writing). Children at the expected level of development will: “Spell words by identifying sounds in them and representing the sounds with a letter or letters”. Reception children are usually aged 4–5.
There is no direct equivalent in the US Common Core State Standards.
How to play
Pick a card on the left, then the card on the right that matches it. Each game has 4 pairs. Wrong matches are counted as mistakes, and you get three stars for a game with no mistakes.
Step by step
- Turn the sound on. Each Listen card plays a word. Tap it again whenever you like.
- Say the word slowly. Stretch the first sound: sssun.
- Find the letter. Choose the letter or letters for that sound.
- Think of more. Say other words that start with the same sound.
Worked examples
Example 1: Listen: sun
Working: sss-un: the first sound is s.
Answer: s
Example 2: Listen: ship
Working: sh-ip: sh is one sound.
Answer: sh
Example 3: Listen: cat
Working: c-at: the first sound is c.
Answer: c
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Choosing the letter name, not the sound Say the sound the letter makes, not its name.
- Hearing s in ship Listen again: ship starts with sh.
- Choosing the last sound Say just the start of the word.
Activities to try at home
- Play I spy with sounds: "I spy something beginning with m".
- Sort toys by first sound.
- Make a sound box: fill a box with things starting with one sound.
Ideas for the classroom
- Use a sound of the day and collect objects.
- Play the game as a whole class: children say the sound before tapping.
- Use magnetic letters to show the first sound.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Why some two-letter sounds?
sh and ch are single sounds written with two letters. Children learn many of them in Reception.
Is this spelling?
It is the first step: hearing sounds and choosing letters to write them.
Does my child need to read the Listen cards?
No. Each Listen card plays a recorded word when tapped, so children can play by ear. Turn the sound up and tap a card as many times as needed.