Alphabet Beginning Sounds Sort: Weather Theme

Recommended Grade Level:

Preschool kindergarten early elementary

Type of Resource: PDF

Number of Pages: 28

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Coordinating Activities

Weather Alphabet Beginning Sounds Sort

  • 26 letter sorting mats (clouds) in color, 2 letters to a page
  • 3 raindrop picture cards for each letter, 78 in all
  • The same mats and picture cards in black and white

Each picture starts with the sound of its letter, so kids say the picture name, listen for the first sound and sort it to the right letter.

Required Materials:

  • Paper, printer and ink
  • Laminator
  • Paper cutter or scissors

Standards for Beginning Sounds and Letter-Sound Correspondence

This weather sort supports early literacy standards connected to hearing beginning sounds and matching sounds to letters.

Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2.D: Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel and final sounds in three-phoneme words. Kids say each picture name and pull out the first sound.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.A: Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences. Kids match each beginning sound to its letter.

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and TEKS for English Language Arts and Reading

  • PK4.III.C.2: Child recognizes at least 20 distinct letter-sound correspondences. Kids connect each letter to the sound at the start of the pictures.
  • TEKS ELA K.2(A)(ii): Recognize spoken alliteration or groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset or initial sound. All the pictures on a mat start with the same sound.

Virginia English Standards of Learning

  • K.FFR.2.C: Isolate the initial, medial and final sounds in three phoneme words. Kids listen for the first sound in each picture name.
  • K.FFR.3.B: Identify common letter-sound correspondences. Kids sort each picture to the letter that makes its beginning sound.

Weather Alphabet Beginning Sounds Sort gives preschool and kindergarten kids hands-on practice hearing beginning sounds and matching them to letters with weather sorting mats and picture cards.

Each letter sits on a cloud, and every raindrop has a picture. Kids match the raindrops to the cloud with the matching sound.

Lay out a few letter mats, mix up the picture cards and have kids say each picture name. They listen for the first sound and place the card with the letter that makes that sound.

Start with 2 or 3 letters that look and sound different, then add more as kids are ready. Print full size or shrink the pages to 2 or 4 per page in your printer settings.

How to Use Weather Alphabet Beginning Sounds Sort

  1. Print, laminate and cut apart the picture cards.
  2. Set out the letter mats you want to practice.
  3. Kids pick a card and say the picture name.
  4. Kids listen for the first sound and place the card on the matching letter mat.
  5. Check each mat together and say the words again.

Small Group: Sort the cards together and stretch out the first sound of each word.

Literacy Center: Put out the mats for the letters you are working on so kids can sort on their own.

Easy Ways to Differentiate This Beginning Sounds Sort

Every group has a mix of letter knowledge and phonological awareness. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.

For Children Who Need More Support:

  • Start with 2 letters that sound very different.
  • Say the picture name together and stretch the first sound.
  • Name the letter sound before sorting.
  • Sort one letter at a time.

For On-Level Practice:

  • Sort 3 or 4 letters at a time.
  • Say the letter sound and the picture name.
  • Check each mat with a partner.
  • Practice the black and white cards too.

For an Extra Challenge:

  • Sort all the cards for 6 or more letters.
  • Name another word that starts with the same sound.
  • Write the letter on a whiteboard after each match.
  • Find something in the room that starts with the sound.

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:

  • Say the letter name and sound together and give plenty of wait time.
  • Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
  • Use the pictures to build vocabulary before sorting.
  • Work on the same letters across several sessions.

Weather Alphabet Beginning Sounds Sort Is Perfect For:

  • Preschool and pre-K
  • Kindergarten
  • Weather and spring themes
  • Literacy centers
  • Letter of the week
  • Morning tubs
  • Small-group instruction
  • Intervention
  • Special education
  • ELL and multilingual learners
  • Homeschool

This resource is available with the FREE Basic Membership Level.

Sign up for the Basic Level here <<

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