You’ve reached the tomb, and it’s time to get the treasure! With each correct answer, students uncover new rewards - but there’s a twist. Will they play it safe and bank their treasure, or risk it all for a bigger score? The trapdoor awaits anyone who guesses wrong!

In this version, students practise syllable awareness by identifying which word has the correct number of syllables. All the vocabulary is animal-themed, making it perfect for integrating phonological awareness with science or thematic literacy learning. This game supports oral language development and early reading skills through listening, clapping, and syllable segmentation.

Let’s Steal – Counting Syllables: Animals is ideal for Foundation to Year 2 classrooms during phonological awareness units, literacy rotations, or small group support. Students can play independently via QR code or work in teams to decide when to risk or bank their treasure!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify the number of syllables in spoken words
• ✅ Practise segmenting words into syllables orally
• ✅ Strengthen phonological awareness and early decoding skills
• ✅ Build vocabulary and sound discrimination using animal-themed content
• ✅ Engage in interactive learning through a risk-and-reward format

How to Play:

1. Students are shown a group of animal names and a target syllable number.
2. They select the word that matches the given number of syllables.
3. Correct answers earn treasure; players can choose to bank it or play on for more.
4. Incorrect answers cause the player to fall through the trapdoor and lose unbanked treasure.
5. The game continues until all questions are answered. The player with the most treasure wins!

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during Foundation–Year 2 phonological awareness and syllable segmentation lessons
• 💡 Great for early readers developing sound discrimination and oral language
• 💡 Add to rotations alongside clapping or counting syllables with real objects or animal cards
• 💡 Follow up with a syllable-sorting activity or animal sound-matching task

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Let students personalise their experience by choosing from six characters before the game begins
• 💛 Select the number of players or teams at the start of the game to suit individual, paired, or group play
• 💛 Send the QR code home for students to play as a homework or revision task

Let’s Steal – Counting Syllables: Animals makes phonological awareness an exciting treasure hunt - where every clap, count, and choice takes students closer to victory!