G4: Find the Hidden Word
Take away the beginning sound of a word to reveal the “hidden” word that remains, using picture cards as clues. Then identify the sound that was removed from the original word.
Your child will practice separating a single sound from a word and will also learn that changing a sound in a word can change its meaning.
Print out the picture cards, preferably on sturdy card-stock paper, and cut them apart. The word index and list are for the adult’s reference only.
You will use four of the picture cards in a session, whichever four you choose.
Before starting the game, explain to the child that with some words, you can take away one sound and find a totally different word “hidden” inside.
Before each round of the game, find the appropriate picture card (the word list will tell you which one to use). Go through the images on the picture card and name them, to make sure you and your child are using the correct word for each picture (e.g., art, not painting).
Adult: [showing picture card] Let’s look at these pictures.
They show owl, ache, and ear.
Now you name each picture as I point to it.
Child: Owl. Ache. Ear.
Be sure to do this identification before introducing the word for your child to analyze.
To start the game, you will say a word from the provided list and have the child repeat it, emphasizing and stretching out the beginning sound. Then have her tell you the “hidden” word that appears when you take away the first sound.
Adult: I’m going to tell you a word and ask you to take away a sound
and tell me the “hidden” word that’s left.
The hidden word will be the same as one of these pictures.
Here’s the word. Listen: fffear. Say fffear.
Adult: Again. Listen: fffear. Say that.
Adult: Now, look at the pictures and tell me the hidden word inside fffear.
[If the child struggles, repeat fffear with a pause (.5–1 second) in the middle: fff • ear.]
Adult: Yes, ear.
What sound did you cut off of fffear to find ear?
Adult: Good job. [Show next picture card.]
Now let’s look at these pictures. They show eat, ace, and oar.
Now you name each picture as I point to it.
Child: Eat. Ace. Oar.
Adult: Good. Here’s another word. Listen: door. Say d-d-door…
Don’t tell her to cut off the first sound specifically. She needs to discover for herself, through the game, which sound to eliminate.
Go through the other words connected to the four picture cards you selected for this session; that will be about 45 words per session. Slow down the pace and cover fewer words if your child has difficulty with the concept. Introduce the words in random order. At the end of a session, review any words that the child struggled with. Revisit this activity until you have gone through all the words and the child has a good grasp of the concept.
NOTE: Many children can “find the hidden word” easily but have trouble saying which sound was taken away from the original word.
4. Confidence Builder
Use fewer picture cards, and therefore fewer words, per session. Go through the smaller number of words multiple times in the lesson, in random order.
- Ask the child the location of the eliminated sound. Was it at the beginning or the end of the target word?
- Hold up two picture cards at a time, so the child has to choose the right answer from six pictures.
6. Small Groups (2-5 children)
Lesson Objective: Using picture cards as aids, children will hear a spoken word, delete its beginning phoneme, and name the picture of the word that is left.
Georgia Standards of Excellence: ELAGSEKRF2.d
Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2.D
Adaptation: Read the main activity, watch the video, and follow the instructions above, with the following changes:
Ask the children what hidden means. Can they give an example?
Play the game as a group. Name all images on the card. Give the word from the word list, stretching it out. Emphasize the beginning sound when you say each picture name.
Tell the children there is a hidden word that appears when you take away the first sound (the one that was stretched out). “Can you find that picture?” Practice with several cards together. This can be a difficult concept to grasp and may take several sessions.
Reinforcement: Play the game several times. The word list provides many opportunities for practice. Be sure to present the words in random order.
Use this Reinforcement at Home form to tell parents and guardians how they can reinforce lessons outside the classroom.
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