M & M Phonemes

M & M Phonemes
Objective:
The students will identify and manipulate phonemes.
Materials:
•  M & M candies
Lesson:
Review with students that words can be segmented into individual phonemes, or sounds. Give
an example by segmenting a word. Then,
1.  Give each student a small pile of M & Ms (five to ten, depending on the number
of phonemes in the target words).
2.  As a word is said, have students use their M & Ms to represent and “mark”
phonemes in the word, moving one M & M away from the pile and into a line for
each sound identified.
3.  Once students are able to segment individual phonemes in a word, instruct them
to manipulate phonemes in words, moving them to other positions in the word.
Use the M & Ms to help students track the phoneme move.
4.  After manipulating the position of the phoneme, ask students to say the new word
aloud. Listen to how silly the word sounds!
Adaptations:
Have students use M & Ms to manipulate syllables.
In place of M & Ms, use small, blank pieces of construction paper or other manipulatives to
represent and manipulate phonemes.
For English language learners, discuss the meaning of the word that is being segmented, and
clearly enunciate the word when initially providing it to students. Be sure to review sounds that
differ between the students’ first language and English, and/or discuss the formation of such
sounds in the mouth and throat