Brighten up your phonics lessons with our Initial Sound Matching Rainbows. This colourful and engaging resource encourages students to sort pictures by their initial sounds, creating a hands-on way to practise phonemic awareness and sound-letter connections. Each rainbow is dedicated to a specific letter of the alphabet and includes four matching picture cards, making it a versatile tool for reinforcing early literacy skills.

Students place each picture onto the correct rainbow, saying the word aloud and identifying the sound they hear at the beginning. This interactive process helps develop confidence in recognising sounds, while the rainbow theme adds an element of fun and visual appeal to the learning activity. The clear design and simple structure make it accessible for younger learners and adaptable for different teaching contexts.

Perfect for literacy rotations, small-group activities, or one-on-one intervention, this resource can be adapted to suit different ability levels. Using velcro dots to attach the pictures makes the task easier for younger students and supports fine motor skill development, while more advanced learners can complete the activity independently as a self-checking task.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and say the initial sounds in words
• ✅ Match pictures to the correct beginning sound
• ✅ Strengthen phonemic awareness and sound-letter correspondence
• ✅ Develop fine motor skills through sorting and placing pieces
• ✅ Build independence and confidence in phonics activities

What’s Included:

• 26 rainbow mats - one for each letter of the alphabet
• 4 matching picture cards for each rainbow, featuring words with the target initial sound
• Bright and engaging designs to support early learners
• Teacher suggestions for differentiation and classroom use

Materials Needed:

• Printer and thick A4 cardstock for durability
• Scissors or guillotine to cut picture cards
• Laminator and pouches for long-term reuse
• Optional: velcro dots to attach picture cards for extra support
• Storage bags, envelopes, or tubs to organise sets

How to Use:

1. Print and laminate the rainbow mats and picture cards.
2. Cut out the picture cards and store with the matching rainbow boards.
3. Students select a rainbow, say the name of each picture, and listen for the initial sound.
4. They place the picture onto the rainbow with the matching letter.
5. Repeat until all four pictures have been sorted correctly.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a literacy centre activity for independent or partner work
• 💡 Incorporate into small-group rotations for targeted sound practice
• 💡 Provide as an intervention resource for students needing extra support
• 💡 Turn into a competitive game by timing how quickly students can match all pictures
• 💡 Display completed rainbows on a phonics wall for reinforcement and celebration

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Add velcro dots to make attaching pictures easier and more engaging for younger learners
• 💛 Introduce a small number of letters at a time before moving to the full set
• 💛 Use the rainbows as quick assessment tools by observing students as they sort

Our Initial Sound Matching Rainbows make phonics practice colourful, interactive, and effective. With their engaging theme and hands-on format, they are the perfect resource to support early learners in mastering sound recognition and building a strong literacy foundation.