Identifying the number of syllables in a word is an activity you can do anywhere including whilst you are at the beach. Words could include: bucket, seaweed, crab, fish, shell, rock, sandals, jacket, net, sand, umbrella/ parasol, jellyfish, seagull, ice-cream, sunglasses, towel, octopus,…

Or you can use the pictures provided for one, two, three and four syllable words

(Depending on your accent you may have a different number of syllables to someone with a different accent)

Picture of a boy holding a red bucket walking between the rock pools

Syllable Clapping/ tapping

(use the syllable chart to help with counting the number of syllables)

Put out 5 Lego bricks. Tap out the number of syllables in a word, e.g. car = one; teddy = two; dinosaur = three; radiator = four taps/ claps

Put the picture by the correct number, i.e. caterpillar would go by number 4

Syllable Pairs

Initially only have a few pairs to match. Place the card face down on the table. Take turns to turn over a card. Count out the number of syllables in the word. Can you find another word with the same number of syllables.

-Syllable lotto

Make a set of lotto cards each with six to eight different pictures (with 1, 2, 3 or 4 syllables). Pull out a card and if the lotto board has the same picture then cover it up with a counter

Syllable charades

Mime a word and everyone has to guess the word and the number of syllables in the word

Syllable happy families

Make a pack of cards with 1, 2, 3 or 4 syllables. Each player needs to try and make a family of four (all have to have the same number of syllables). Initially introduce these cards and work together to collate the “families” then play as a game. Ask another player “do you have a card with two syllables”. If the other player says no take one from the middle pile.

Communication Lincs Ltd. …..because Speech Therapy Matters