Last sounds: what children learn
The last sound is the one a word ends with. Cat ends with t. Hearing that sound is separate from reading the whole word.
Supports part of Common Core RF.K.2.d. Children isolate the last sound in a spoken word. This focused game does not cover the entire standard.
Common Core connection: RF.K.2.d. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
How to play
Pick a card on the left, then the card on the right that matches it. Each game has 3 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 as often as needed.
- Say it slowly. Say the word, then say just the end: ca-t.
- Find the letter. Choose the letter or letters for that sound.
- Check. Say the whole word again with the last sound.
Worked examples
Example 1: Listen: cat
Working: ca-t: the last sound is t.
Answer: t
Example 2: Listen: fish
Working: fi-sh: the last sound is sh.
Answer: sh
Example 3: Listen: ring
Working: ri-ng: ng is one sound.
Answer: ng
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Choosing the first sound Say the word slowly and listen to the end.
- Splitting sh or ng These two letters make one sound.
- Mixing up d and t Say both words slowly and feel the difference.
Activities to try at home
- Say a word and ask your child for the last sound.
- Play rhyme games: hat, cat, mat all end in t.
- Write words with a gap at the end to fill.
Ideas for the classroom
- Use phoneme frames to show first, middle and last sounds.
- Clap the sounds in a word.
- Use the game after a phonics lesson as a quick check.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a color-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 only 3 pairs?
Short rounds suit younger children, and each word has a different last sound.
Is this spelling?
It helps children hear all the sounds in a word so they can write it.
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.