The Very Cranky Bear: Rhyme Pop is an engaging and hands-on game that will challenge your students to identify rhyming words as they pop their way to victory!

Suitable for individuals and small groups, Rhyme Pop is a fun game that can be adapted to suit your classroom needs. While playing, students will explore a range of rhyming words featured on the 36 game cards, building phonological awareness in a playful and interactive way.

The game boards and cards are colourful, using bold clipart to capture the attention of its target audience. The game boards come in both high and low-colour versions to suit your printing needs. It is recommended to print both the game boards and cards on thick card for durability. Once prepared (including cutting the cards), this resource can easily be used time and time again.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify and match rhyming words
• ✅ Develop phonological awareness through play
• ✅ Build vocabulary and oral language skills
• ✅ Promote turn-taking and cooperative learning in small groups
• ✅ Reinforce rhyme and sound patterns through repeated exposure

What’s Included:

• 36 Rhyme Pop game cards
• Game boards in high and low-colour versions

Materials Needed:

• Printed Rhyme Pop game boards and cards
• Thick card for durability
• Scissors (for cutting the cards)

How to Use:

1. Read The Very Cranky Bear with your class to explore rhyme and sound patterns in the text.
2. Print and prepare the Rhyme Pop game boards and cards.
3. Introduce the game to students and explain how to match rhyming words.
4. Students take turns selecting and matching rhyming words on their game boards.
5. Continue play until a player has successfully popped all the rhymes on their board!

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use after a whole-class reading of The Very Cranky Bear to explore rhyme in context.
• 💡 Include in Literacy Rotations to target phonological awareness skills.
• 💡 Offer as an early finisher task for independent or small group play.
• 💡 Add to your relief folder for a no-prep, engaging literacy game linked to a familiar text.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Print on thick card and laminate the game boards and cards for repeated use.
• 💛 Use the black and white versions for a fun colouring activity before playing.
• 💛 Model how to listen for rhymes before starting the game to support emerging learners.
• 💛 Store the game in a labelled zip-lock bag or folder for easy access during literacy rotations.

The Very Cranky Bear: Rhyme Pop is a versatile and engaging way to explore rhyme and phonological awareness in your classroom. Simple by design but full of learning potential, it is sure to become a game on high rotation in your literacy program!

Check out more amazing resources related to The Very Cranky Bear in our The Very Cranky Bear PACKAGE.

Available in our basic fun font and all Australian state fonts.