How to Teach Words That are Alike

Children enjoy rhyming, and finding pictures in books or magazines that another child has found. This activity allows at least two children to work together and do just that. Can be more children if desired.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• books, magazines, pictures or words can be found that match
• (extension activity for older children in Step 4.
• scissors
• manila folder
• washable marker
• laminator or clear contact paper

How to Teach Words That are Alike

1. Using rhyming words is an option but is one of the easiest ways to teach words that are alike. An example is a picture of a lock and the word to match is clock. Other words which do not rhyme can be used for the older children.
2. For older children use words which are similiar or alike. An example of this is the word run and match to the word hurry. To make the activity even more challenging use three words and one word is not the same.
3. Write the words in either two or three colums (depending on the number of words which you want them to choose a match from) on the left side of the folder. Using a marker have the younger children find the match for the first word in each row of the first column.
4. To increase the level difficulty use the three column word match. Do not use only the first word but scramble the words and star or circle the word you want the child to match out of any of three colums.

Tips & Warnings

• You can choose to have children use the books or magazines to find the same word and cut it out and match the word also. Do not save the words but make them do a new search each time. Change the word to match as often as you like. Good way to introduce new reading or spelling words for each new theme unit.
• Laminator by adult only
• scissor help for younger children may be needed