Point out the concept of a trigraph (tch) in words, compared to the blends.
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Activity: Words Are Made of Sounds
Standards
Count, blend, and segment single syllable words that include consonant blends.
Reader Goals
I can spell words with final blends.
Target Words
camp, tent, best, dump, task, bend, plant, craft, sprint, pitch, stretch
Helpful Hints
Guide
- Say
We are going to practice listening for final blends in words. This will help us to read and spell more words.
Let’s listen for each sound in the word. Then we will spell each sound in a sound box. - Point to the picture and Say
It looks like they are at a camp. Say camp.
(camp) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word camp: /k/ – /ă/ – /m/ – /p/
We tapped four boxes because the word camp has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word camp.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word camp?
(/k/) - Ask
What letter makes the /k/ sound?
(letter K or letter C) - Say
The letters C and K both can make the /k/ sound, but in the word camp, it’s the letter C that makes the /k/ sound at the beginning because it comes before the vowel a. It’s the hard sound of C. - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word camp?
(/ă/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ă/ sound?
(vowel A) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /m/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ă/ in the word camp?
(/m/) - Ask
What letter makes the /m/ sound?
(letter M) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /m/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /kăm/ and Exaggerate the sound /m/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /p/: Ask
What sound do you hear or feel at the end of the word camp?
(/p/) - Ask
What letter makes the /p/ sound?
(letter P) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word camp: /k/ – /ă/ – /m/ – /p/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /k-ăăă-m-p/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /m/ and /p/ blended together at the end of the word camp? We call it a final nasal blend because one of the sounds comes out of your nose. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /kămp/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
They are pitching a tent. Say tent.
(tent) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word tent: /t/ – /ĕ/ – /n/ – /t/
We tapped four boxes because the word tent has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word tent.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word tent?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word tent?
(/ĕ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĕ/ sound?
(vowel E) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /n/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word tent?
(/n/) - Ask
What letter makes the /n/ sound?
(letter N) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /n/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /tĕn/ and Exaggerate the sound /n/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /t/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word tent?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word tent: /t/ – /ĕ/ – /n/ – /t/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /t-ĕĕĕ-n-t/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /n/ and /t/ blended together at the end of the word tent? We call it a final nasal blend because one of the sounds comes out of your nose. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /tĕnt/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see the characters putting their hands together. I think it’s the best camp ever. Say best.
(best) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word best: /b/ – /ĕ/ – /s/ – /t/
We tapped four boxes because the word best has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word best.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word best?
(/b/) - Ask
What letter makes the /b/ sound?
(letter B) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word best?
(/ĕ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĕ/ sound?
(vowel E) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Stretch out the sound /s/ in the word best: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word best?
(/s/) - Ask
What letter makes the /s/ sound?
(letter S) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound. - Say /bĕs/ and Exaggerate the sound /s/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /t/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word best?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word best: /b/ – /ĕ/ – /s/ – /t/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /b-ĕĕĕ-s-t/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /s/ and /t/ blended together at the end of the word best? We call it a final s-blend. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /bĕst/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
They are collecting trash to bring to the dump. Say dump.
(dump) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word dump: /d/ – /ŭ/ – /m/ – /p/
We tapped four boxes because the word dump has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word dump.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word dump?
(/d/) - Ask
What letter makes the /d/ sound?
(letter D) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word dump?
(/ŭ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ŭ/ sound?
(vowel U) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /m/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ŭ/ in the word dump?
(/m/) - Ask
What letter makes the /m/ sound?
(letter M) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /m/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /dŭm/ and Exaggerate the sound /m/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /p/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word dump?
(/p/) - Ask
What letter makes the /p/ sound?
(letter P) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word dump: /d/ – /ŭ/ – /m/ – /p/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /d-ŭŭŭ-m-p/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /m/ and /p/ blended together at the end of the word dump? We call it a final nasal blend. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /dŭmp/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see Kim and Nestor helping out with a task. Say task.
(task) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word task: /t/ – /ă/ – /s/ – /k/
We tapped four boxes because the word task has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word task.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word task?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word task?
(/ă/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ă/ sound?
(vowel A) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Stretch out the sound /s/ in the word task: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ă/ in the word task?
(/s/) - Ask
What letter makes the /s/ sound?
(letter S) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound. - Say /tăs/ and Exaggerate the sound /s/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /k/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word task?
(/k/) - Ask
What letter spells the /k/ sound?
(letter K or letter C) - Say
The C and K can both make the /k/ sound, but in the word task, it’s the letter K that makes the /k/ sound at the end. - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word task: /t/ – /ă/ – /s/ – /k/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /t-ăăă-s-k/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /s/ and /k/ blended together at the end of the word task? We call it a final s-blend. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /tăsk/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see them doing exercises, and they are bending now. Say bend.
(bend) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word bend: /b/ – /ĕ/ – /n/ – /d/
We tapped four boxes because the word bend has four sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word bend.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word bend?
(/b/) - Ask
What letter makes the /b/ sound?
(letter B) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word bend?
(/ĕ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĕ/ sound?
(vowel E) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /n/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word bend?
(/n/) - Ask
What letter makes the /n/ sound?
(letter N) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /n/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /bĕn/ and Exaggerate the sound /n/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /d/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word bend?
(/d/) - Ask
What letter makes the /d/ sound?
(letter D) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word bend: /b/ – /ĕ/ – /n/ – /d/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /b-ĕĕĕ-n-d/ - Say
Did you notice the consonant sounds /n/ and /d/ blended together at the end of the word bend? We call it a final nasal blend. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /bĕnd/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
What task are they helping out with? I think they are watering a plant. Say plant.
(plant) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word plant: /p/ – /l/ – /ă/ – /n/ – /t/
We tapped five boxes because the word plant has five sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word plant.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word plant?
(/p/) - Ask
What letter makes the /p/ sound?
(letter P) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear after the beginning sound /p/ in the word plant?
(/l/) - Ask
What letter makes the /l/ sound?
(letter L) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word plant?
(/ă/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ă/ sound?
(vowel A) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /n/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ă/ in the word plant?
(/n/) - Ask
What letter makes the /n/ sound?
(letter N) - Push next to show the fourth letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /n/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /plăn/ and Exaggerate the sound /n/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /t/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word plant?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word plant: /p/ – /l/ – /ă/ – /n/ – /t/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /p-l-ăăă-n-t/ - Ask
Where do you hear the blends of sounds in the word plant? At the beginning or at the end? Or both?
(both) - Say
I hear the consonant sounds /p/ and /l/ blended together at the beginning of the word plant, and also the consonant sounds /n/ and /t/ blended together at the end of the word plant. So the word plant has an l-blend at the beginning and a final nasal blend at the end. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /plănt/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
They are doing a craft. Say craft.
(craft) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word craft: /k/ – /r/ – /ă/ – /f/ – /t/
We tapped five boxes because the word craft has five sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word craft.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word craft?
(/k/) - Ask
What letter makes the /k/ sound?
(letter K or letter C) - Say
The letters C and K both can make the /k/ sound, but in the word craft, it’s the letter C that makes the /k/ sound at the beginning. It’s the hard sound of C. - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear after the beginning sound /k/ in the word craft?
(/r/) - Ask
What letter makes the /r/ sound?
(letter R) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word craft?
(/ă/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ă/ sound?
(vowel A) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Stretch out the sound /f/ in the word craft: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ă/ in the word craft?
(/f/) - Ask
What letter makes the /f/ sound?
(letter F) - Push next to show the fourth letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound. - Say /crăf/ and Exaggerate the sound /f/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /t/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word craft?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word craft: /k/ – /r/ – /ă/ – /f/ – /t/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /k-r-ăăă-f-t/ - Ask
Where do you hear the blends of sounds in the word craft? At the beginning or at the end? Or both?
(both) - Say
I hear the consonant sounds /k/ and /r/ blended together at the beginning of the word craft, and also the consonant sounds /f/ and /t/ blended together at the end of the word craft. So the word craft has an r-blend at the beginning and a final blend at the end. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /krăft/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see the characters getting ready to sprint. Say sprint.
(sprint) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word sprint: /s/ – /p/ – /r/ – /ĭ/ – /n/ – /t/
We tapped six boxes because the word sprint has six sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word sprint.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word sprint?
(/s/) - Ask
What letter makes the /s/ sound?
(letter S) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear after the beginning sound /s/ in the word sprint?
(/p/) - Ask
What letter makes the /p/ sound?
(letter P) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear right before the vowel sound /ĭ/ in the word sprint?
(/r/) - Ask
What letter makes the /r/ sound?
(letter R) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word sprint?
(/ĭ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĭ/ sound?
(vowel i) - Push next to show the fourth letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Signal the sound /n/ by Putting your finger at the side of your nose: Ask
What sound do you hear after the vowel sound /ĭ/ in the word sprint?
(/n/) - Ask
What letter makes the /n/ sound?
(letter N) - Push next to show the fifth letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound.
As I make the sound /n/ I am putting my finger on the side of my nose so I can feel the change to the last sound. - Say /sprĭn/ and Exaggerate the sound /n/ and then Say with emphasis the sound /t/: Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word sprint?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the last letter
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word sprint: /s/ – /p/ – /r/ – /ĭ/ – /n/ – /t/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /s-p-r-ĭĭĭ-n-t/ - Ask
Where do you hear the blends of sounds in the word sprint? At the beginning or at the end? Or both?
(both) - Say
I hear the consonant sounds /s/, /p/, and /r/ blended together at the beginning of the word sprint, and also the consonant sounds /n/ and /t/ blended together at the end of the word sprint. So the word sprint has a triple blend at the beginning and a final blend at the end. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /sprĭnt/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see the characters pitch a tent. Say pitch.
(pitch) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word pitch: /p/ – /ĭ/ – /ch/
We tapped three boxes because the word pitch has three sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word pitch.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word pitch?
(/p/) - Ask
What letter makes the /p/ sound?
(letter P) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the middle sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word pitch?
(/ĭ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĭ/ sound?
(vowel i) - Push next to show the middle letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the ending sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word pitch?
(/ch/) - Ask
What letters make the /ch/ sound?
(letters CH) - Say
When the sound /ch/ follows a short vowel it is spelled with the letters tch. We call it a trigraph, because three letters make one sound.
We will put them in one sound box because they represent one sound. - Push next to show the last trigraph
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word pitch: /p/ – /ĭ/ – /ch/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /p-ĭĭĭ-ch/ - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /pĭch/
Guide
- Say
Let’s do another word. - Point to the picture and Say
I see the picture of the characters exercising again. They are bending and stretching too. Say stretch.
(stretch) - Point to each box as you Say each sound in the word: Say
Let’s tap a box for each sound we hear in the word stretch: /s/ – /t/ – /r/ – /ĕ/ – /ch/
We tapped five boxes because the word stretch has five sounds. - Ask
Now let’s listen for each sound in the word stretch.
What sound do you hear at the beginning of the word stretch?
(/s/) - Ask
What letter makes the /s/ sound?
(letter S) - Push next to show the first letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear after the beginning sound /s/ in the word stretch?
(/t/) - Ask
What letter makes the /t/ sound?
(letter T) - Push next to show the second letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear right before the vowel sound /ĕ/ in the word stretch?
(/r/) - Ask
What letter makes the /r/ sound?
(letter R) - Push next to show the third letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word stretch?
(/ĕ/) - Ask
What vowel makes the /ĕ/ sound?
(vowel E) - Push next to show the fourth letter
Guide
- Say
Let’s listen for the next sound. - Ask
What sound do you hear at the end of the word stretch?
(/ch/) - Ask
What letters make the /ch/ sound?
(letters CH) - Say
When the sound /ch/ follows a short vowel it is spelled with the letters tch. We call it a trigraph, because three letters make one sound.
We will put them in one sound box because they represent one sound. - Push next to show the last trigraph
Guide
- Review each sound in the word: Say
Let’s say each sound in the word stretch: /s/ – /t/ – /r/ – /ĕ/ – /ch/ - Stretch out the vowel as you Blend all sounds in the word: Say
Now blend the sounds together and say the word slowly: /s-t-r-ĕĕĕ-ch/ - Ask
Where do you hear the blends of sounds in the word stretch?
(at the beginning of the word) - Say
I hear the consonant sounds /s/, /t/, and /r/ blended together at the beginning of the word stretch. It’s the triple blend because three different consonant sounds are blended together. The word ends with the trigraph-tch. - Say the word together: Say
Now say it fast: /strĕch/
