Letter A Sound Game

Hearing the first sound in a word is one of the biggest steps toward reading, and the Letter A Sound Game turns that step into a trip to the carnival. Kindergartners listen for the short a sound at the beginning of words like apple, ant and ax, read short a sight words like at, an, am and and, and connect the sound to the letter A. Playing a letter A sound game again and again builds the phonemic awareness and sight word skills children need before they can sound out words on their own.

In this short a sound game, rubber ducks bob along a carnival duck pond, each carrying a round bullseye target. Kids tap a target and a big water squirter swings around and blasts it with a splash. A correct hit spins the target and the duck dives under the water. Round one uses pictures that start with /a/. Round two switches to sight words, mixing in words like it, in, up and on, so children really have to listen and read. Round three asks kids to squirt every big A and little a. Lexy says the /a/ sound out loud in every direction and after every correct answer, so children hear exactly what the letter A says. A wrong tap just gets a wobble, a funny honk and a gentle “try again.” Play it in your browser on a phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer, or download the offline version for a PC or Mac with no internet needed.

What’s Included

• Online game that plays in any browser on desktop, tablet and phone
• Offline download for Windows PC and Mac (just unzip and double-click)
• 3 rounds: pictures that start with /a/, short a sight words, and big A and little a
• Voice directions that model the /a/ sound, carnival sound effects and a star score at the end

Here are three reasons this letter A sound game helps kids learn. First, hearing the /a/ sound said clearly with every word gives children a model to copy, which is exactly how kindergarten teachers teach letter sounds. Second, the sight word round asks kids to tell short a apart from other vowel sounds while reading words they will see in every early reader. Third, the splashy squirter, the golden duck surprise and the end-of-game stars keep young children motivated, so they happily play again and get even more practice.

Teachers and parents can stretch the learning beyond the screen. Say /a/ /a/ apple together and ask your child to think of more words that start the same way. Write at, an, am and and on sticky notes, hide them around the room and read each one when you find it. Draw a big A and a little a, then add a picture of an apple or an ant beside each one.

Related Resources

• Letter A Game
• Letter A Tracing Worksheet
• Letter A Song (Animated Music Video)
• Letter A Song on the Have Fun Teaching YouTube channel