Letter D Beginning Sound Sort

Product description

From the author

This letter D beginning-sound sort uses dinosaur picture cards and two volcano mats. Name each picture, listen for its initial sound and place it on the correct mat.

The six-page PDF contains three activity pages, plus a cover, thank-you page and credits.

Begins With D volcano mat
Does Not Begin With D volcano mat
Eight dinosaur picture cards: dog, doughnut, dolphin, duck, bat, football, rainbow and peanut

Print the three activity pages, cut out the cards and laminate if desired. Use the sort for literacy centers, small-group practice, morning work or a file-folder activity. Magnets may be added for use on a baking tray.

Related resources available separately

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Identify whether a pictured item's name begins with the letter D's beginning sound
Sort picture cards into two categories, 'Begins With D' and 'Does Not Begin With D,' based on a shared beginning sound

Teaching tips

Model one card on each mat before students begin their own sorting
Have students say each picture's name aloud before placing it, so the letter D sort checks listening for the sound rather than reading ability
Have students explain out loud why a card belongs on the 'Does Not Begin With D' mat, not just place it correctly, to confirm they are attending to the sound rather than guessing

Skills covered

Beginning-sound phonemic awareness — students listen for whether a pictured item's name starts with the letter D's sound.
Categorization — students sort picture cards onto one of the two labeled D-sound mats based on that shared sound.
Fine-motor cutting practice — students cut apart individual picture cards before sorting them onto the letter D mats.

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