Phonics Art Project

Construct a Book

• A simple art project involves making a book that focuses on one sound in the English language. In this activity, students make an egg book for the short sound of the letter "e." This is the sound of "e" in other words like "excellent" and "extra." Draw an egg shape on a piece of copy paper. Cut out five sheets of paper using this egg shape. Staple the six sheets together to make an egg book. Make one for each student. Students can make another kind of book such as a "b" book shaped like a ball and practice how the letter "b" corresponds with the sound "b" as in the first sound of the word "book."

Letter-Sound Correspondence

• The egg book is a manipulative that students can use for studying the correspondence between the letter "e" and the short "e" sound in "egg." Students should write the word egg and their name on the cover of the book. Inside the book, the students can draw pictures of different animals and their baby eggs, such as a turtle, a duck and a chicken. Every time the student points to a picture of an egg, he should practice the short sound "e" for egg.

Integrate Reading and Writing

• The egg book provides a chance for students to practice other skills, such as reading aloud and writing. In the last few pages of the book, students can copy short sentences containing the short "e" sound. For example, you can write on the board this sentence: "An egg is excellent." Students copy down the sentence. Then they practice reading it aloud. Every time the short "e" sound is read, a student should point to the letter "e" in that spoken word. Other sentences to write on the board for students to copy into their books and read aloud are "My elephant is excellent" and "I need extra eggs."

Extensions

• The teacher can use this procedure to guide students in other projects. Students can make another kind of book that contains letters and associated pictures so they can practice the corresponding sounds. You might have each student use a composition book instead of construction paper. Students can draw a picture and a word for every sound; there are about 40 phonemes, or sounds, in the English language.