Phonetic Activity Cards
Rooted in Neurodevelopment-
See the Guided Lesson Plan
High quality materials
Eco-Happy
Fun & Engaging Activities
Ages/Stages
Common Core
Phonetic activity cards turn beginning reading into a game of charades. Each card has one action word that can be sounded out, like "flap" or "clap." A student reads the card silently, acts it out, and friends guess the word. It's reading for meaning: the only way to act out the word is to understand it.
These are a great next step after our phonetic 3-part cards and phonetic word cards. They're also a wonderful way to get your social butterflies purposefully engaged in reading work.
What's included
- 40 cards, each with one phonetic action word printed in red (the same color used for verbs in the Montessori grammar materials)
- Cards are approx. 2¾" x 1¾"
- Eco-laminated with a food-grade laminate and rounded corners
- Sturdy, clear reclosable bag for teacher storage
- Lesson plan included
Add one or five small cloth pouches for an easy, child-accessible way to display the cards.
Prefer to make these yourself? They're also available as a digital file.
Created by a Montessori teacher. Eco-printed in our rural New England office.
Made in the USA. CPSIA compliant.
Why do phonetic activity cards matter for reading?
Reading is more than sounding out words. It's understanding what they mean. When a student reads "jump" and then jumps, they show themselves (and everyone watching) that they understood the word. Because the words are phonetic, beginning readers can decode them on their own. And because it's a game, students want to play again and again. Each round is more reading practice.
How do you use phonetic activity cards?
Start by modeling. Pick a card, read it silently, act it out, and invite a student to guess what you're doing. Then let the students take turns. A student picks a card, reads it silently, and acts it out while the others guess. Students can also work alone, reading each card and doing the action.
What ages is this for?
Typically ages 3 to 6, once a student can read phonetic words. They also work well for older students who need reading practice, English learners, and intervention settings.
How should I display phonetic activity cards?
We recommend two options. You can put 8 to 10 cards in one red pouch and swap them for new cards after a week or so. Or, you can use five red pouches with about 8 cards in each, so students can choose whichever set they want and repeat it as often as they like.
Choose options
Knowledge Bank
Recommended Articles
Download a PDF of our materials
Follow Us
