EQUIPMENT
List of prepared words - each containing 1, 2 or 3 vowels. (Teachers could use this week's spelling-list.)
See below.
DESCRIPTION
This can be a noisy activity - so you may wish to pre-warn other teachers.
Students may sit or stand for this activity.
Briefly remind students about “Finger-vowels”. (A = thumb E = index finger I = middle finger O = fourth finger U = little finger)
Remind students that they use their non-dominant hand for “Finger-Vowels” (not the hand they usually write with.)
The teacher calls out a word containing a single vowel.
All together, students repeat the word, then (still in unison) call out the vowel and thrust appropriate fingers skywards.
There is no need to examine every response. A quick visual check will enable the teacher to see which students are having difficulties. It is important that this does not become a test. All students should be encouraged to participate and none should be made to feel stupid or silly.
The teacher calls out further words (about 10 - 15 words). Each time, students repeat the word, call the vowel, and point the appropriate finger.
When the class are confident, the teacher calls out words with 2 vowels. Students repeat the word, call back both vowels and raise both fingers simultaneously. The teacher could even go on to call words with 3 or more vowels.
BEFORE
Students must be familiar with "Finger-vowels"
AFTER
The following BrainBites activities also build on the "Finger-vowels" activity:
All of the above are based on BSL (British Sign Language) - but could all be adapted to ASL.
LOGICAL
MUSICAL
INTRA-PERS.
PHYSICAL
LINGUISTIC
INTER-PERS.
NATURALIST
VISUAL
The following lists of words may be useful
1 vowel
cat
dog
pet
pig
ball
hop
push
cut
hit
pat
but
hat
mug
top
tip
duck
sock
lip
mop
fat
thin
bat
hut
king
pen
cup
big
red
box
lid
leg
miss
bell
pin
hot
run
men
bed
set
fish
doll
net
mud
car
run
slap
slip
puppy
2 vowels
lion
bear
head
love
hate
line
code
apple
money
heart
fair
boat
write
angle
one
blue
train
you
yellow
river
nice
carrot
east
easy
white
south
horse
mate
camel
gone
leaf
loud
boat
four (number)
five
round
shout
fine
bone
meal
pound
life
bread
loaf
slice
nine
jumper
puzzle
2 (same) vowels
It is easy to check students’ accuracy - because they should be holding aloft only one finger - or both hands!
level
moon
tree
beer
three
poor
free
good
green
drama
spoon
kneel
pool
seven
yo-yo
hoop
filling
feel
fool
greet
cool
hitting
feet
3 vowels
house
elephant
eating
united
alive
hearing
picture
table-top
mouse
video
piano
sea-gull
penguin
hospital
accident
spaghetti
Homophones
This exercise can be a useful way of highlighting the different spellings of words that sound the same.
pair (of socks)
pear (to eat)
dear (costs a lot)
deer (animal)
wear (clothes)
where (is it lost?)
hear (with your ears)
here (not there)
there (not here)
their (possession)
rain (weather)
reign (of king or queen)
main (biggest)
mane (of a lion)
pain (hurt)
pane (of glass)
bear (animal)
bare (with no clothes)
sail (on a boat)
sale (cut-price)
poor (no money)
pour (a drink)
Just for fun!
banana
caravan
redeemed
re-elected
illicit
limiting
monotony
abracadabra (5 a's)
ambidextrous (all 5)
lynx (none)
sphynx (none)