Make This Game: Word Detectives

Got a kid who’s learning to read? Looking for a new game to add to the bunch? No need going to the store. With a little help from your child, you can make a game of your own!

Young children love to play guessing games, plus they love trivia. This game delivers, and gives them practice with the alphabet, and the sounds each of the letters makes.

What You Need:

• 52 index cards
• crayons
• markers
• a shoebox
• construction paper
• tape

What You Do:
Using the list below, ask your child to draw pictures on index cards for each letter of the alphabet. This will include beginning, middle, and ending sounds. While middle and ending sounds can be difficult for new readers to hear at first, this game is a fun, and low-pressure way to practice.

Beginning sounds list:
apple
banana
cat
dog
egg
fire
goose
queen
van
yellow
zipper

Middle sounds list:
grapes
feet
bug
hit
rope

Ending sounds list:
clap
stick
hill
ham
pan
jar
grass
hat
wig
box

While your child is drawing the picture cards, take the other 26 cards and write “clues” on them, using the activity sheet (below). If you’d like, write the answers on the back of each card.

Once all 52 cards are finished (the picture cards and the clue cards), put the clue cards in a single pile. Ask your child to mix up the picture cards and lay them in rows on the table. Pick the first clue card off the pile. As you read it, your child should find the matching picture. For example, the first clue is “ Which letter comes at the beginning of a red fruit?” The answer is letter A, for apple. Each time she gets a correct match, have your child put the set aside, until all of the clues have been solved. If she gets stuck, be sure to remind her that some letters make more than one sound when spoken (for example, c and k, or short and long vowels).

When play is over, put everything in your handy dandy shoebox, and put it on the game shelf for next time. If your child's feeling crafty, she can decorate the box and give her game a fancy title. If not, a plain old shoe box works just fine.

Happy gaming!

"Word Detectives" Activity Sheet:

print page 1

print page 2

1. Which letter comes at the beginning of a red fruit & sounds like "a?" (A-apple)

2. Which letter sounds like "c-" and comes at the beginning of a pet's name? (C-cat)

3. Which letters sound like "ee" and you hear in the middle of the word which

is something you use to run on? (EE- feet)

4. Which letter do you hear at the end of this word for putting your hands together

to make a noise? (P-clap)

5. At the end of the word for something you cook with, you hear the sound "n"-

what is it? (N-pan)

6. Which letter sounds like "f' and begins the word "fire?" (F-fire)

7. Which letter sounds like "b" and begins the word for a yellow fruit? (B-banana)

8. Which letter sounds like "g", and begins an animal's name? (G-goose)

9. Which letter sounds like "d" and begins a pet's name? (D-dog)

10. This is something you can drive, and it's name begins with the "v" sound. (V-van)

11. This is something you pull up to close a coat or jacket, and it begins with the

"z" sound. (Z-zipper)

12. This is the color of the sun, and begins with the "y-" sound. (Y-yellow)

13. This is a purple fruit, which sounds like "AA" in the middle of it's name. (A-grapes)

14. Some people like these with bacon, and it's name begins with the "e-" sound. (e-egg)

15. This is a member of royalty who sits beside a king, and her name begins

with the "q-" sound. (q-queen)

16. This is something you must climb to reach the top, and it's name ends with

the "-ll" sound. (L-hill)

17. This can be found at the bottom of a tree if a branch is broken, and it's name

ends with the sound "-ck." (K-stick)

18. My name sounds like "-u" in the middle, and I can fly in the air. (U-bug)

19. My name sounds like "-i" in the middle, and you do this to a ball. (I-hit)

20. My name sounds like "-x" at the end, and you can put lots of stuff in me! (X-box)

21. My name sounds like "-o" in the middle, and you can play a jumping game

with me. (O-rope)

22. I am something you get jelly out of, and my name ends in the "-r" sound. (R-jar)

23. I am something you eat on a sandwich, and my name ends in the "-m" sound. (M-ham)

24. You can see my green color, and I end in the "-ss" sound. (S-grass)

25. I am something you wear on your head, and my name ends with the "-t" sound. (T-hat)

26. I am something that ends in the "-g" sound, and I cover up a bare head! (G-wig)



You can extend this activity by having your child make up their own clues and matching picture cards! Or involve an older sibling and have him read and write clues! This is a great way for your child to practice her letters and sounds. Plus, it's just plain fun!