Sound Snap It: Vowel Sounds is a hands-on phonics activity that supports students in recognising and isolating short vowel sounds in words. This interactive resource uses colourful image-based task cards and multiple-choice vowel options to help learners identify medial sounds while building phonemic awareness and sound-symbol knowledge. Ideal for small group work, literacy centres or independent practise, this engaging activity adds movement and play to essential reading skills.

Students will love using a crocodile peg (or alternative marker) to ‘snap’ the correct vowel sound on each task card. As they say each word aloud and focus on its middle sound, learners develop stronger sound discrimination and confidence in decoding. With opportunities for kinaesthetic, visual and auditory learning, this resource makes vowel practise both effective and enjoyable.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and isolate short vowel sounds in spoken words
• ✅ Strengthen sound-symbol relationships and decoding skills
• ✅ Develop phonemic awareness and oral language fluency
• ✅ Promote fine motor skills and independent learning routines
• ✅ Reinforce foundational literacy skills through interactive play

What’s Included:

• Printable task cards featuring images and vowel sound options
• Optional crocodile toppers for pegs
• Instructions and suggested extensions for varied ability levels

Materials Needed:

• Printed task cards (preferably on thick cardstock)
• Crocodile pegs, counters, or markers
• Optional: write-and-wipe sleeves and dry erase markers
• Optional: paper and pencils for follow-up writing tasks

How to Use:

• Print and cut out the task cards and optional crocodile toppers
• Students select a card, say the word aloud, and identify the vowel sound
• Snap or mark the correct vowel from the choices provided
• Repeat with new cards to continue building skills

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use in literacy rotations or as a phonics warm-up game
• 💡 Incorporate into targeted intervention sessions to build decoding skills
• 💡 Pair with vowel anchor charts or sound walls for visual reinforcement

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Encourage students to stretch each word slowly to clearly hear the vowel sound
• 💛 Observe student choices for formative assessment of vowel recognition skills
• 💛 Add a writing challenge where students write and illustrate words with the same medial vowel

Sound Snap It: Vowel Sounds brings fun and focus to essential phonics practise. Download this resource today and help your students snap their way to confident vowel sound recognition!