Can you find the hidden star?

Phonics is a key area of learning in Key Stage 1 and therefore should be made to be an enjoyable learning experience for the children. These phonics activities are tactile and sensory to give the children a new way of learning.

Learning outcomes

You will be able to:

• decode and read words with the ‘aw’ phoneme.

You will need (per class)

• 1 x shallow Gratnells Tray (F1) with a lid
• Shredded paper/tissue paper
• Selection of star words with the ‘aw’ phoneme (quantity dependable on the challenge set for the children).

Preparation:

• Type up/choose the selection words to focus on with the ‘aw’ phoneme.
• Print, laminate and cut out the star words.
• Fill the F1 tray with shredded paper and hide the words within.

What to do:

• Ensure the words are hidden.
• Explain to the children that they need to find a word and decode to read it aloud.
• After the child has read the word, they put it to one side.
• The child with the most correctly read words at the end is the winner.

Other things to try…

• How many words can the children remember?
• Add in some ‘alien’ words, for the children to sort.
• Put the words into sentences.

Share photographs of your phonics fun on social media using #WhatsInMyTray

Health & Safety

As with all Gratnells Learning Rooms What’s In My Tray activities, you should carry out your own risk assessment prior to undertaking any of the activities or demonstrations.