Teaching the Difference Between Vowels and Consonants

Discovering that letters are divided into vowels and consonants are fun for my students to learn about.

I teach them a vowel song to the tune of B-I-N-G-O so they have that concept nailed by the end of the day.

Click on the link to view/print a copy of the Vowel Song.

I also hang up a set of vowel posters and then let them sort tubs of plastic letters, and numbers that I have collected over the years. 

They enjoy sorting them into two piles: one for numbers and one for letters.  When I’m sure they aren’t confusing them, I’ll have them sort the vowels from the consonants.

Speed Games: 

My Y5’s enjoy “Speed” games.  This is when I have them do a skill sheet as fast as they can.  Some take the full minute, others are done as quickly as 15 seconds.

Playing in this game-like fashion relieves tension and anxiety and prepares them for future timed-tests that the state mandates as they get into higher grades.

I reward everyone with a sticker.  The first 3 done correctly, get to choose their stickers.

One of their favorite “Speed” games is to circle the vowels and underline the consonants in a themed drawing.

I have a booklet: Vowel & Consonant Help, filled with 10 (One for each month from September through June).

These skill sheets also double as “I spy an upper or lowercase letter” that your little ones will enjoy playing, when your students are working on letter recognition.

Click on the link to look at the booklet.  The book also includes an upper and lowercase bookmark where students trace the vowels in one color and the consonants in another. 

Afterwards, these can be laminated and used as “I Spy” game strips as well. You'll also find a certificate of praise to reward your students with after they have learned their vowels!

More Fun and Games:

Another helpful booklet is entitled A Little Bit Of This and a Little Bit Of That. 

It's FREE and 136-pages long!

Chock full of interesting vowel and consonant help, your students will enjoy vowel and consonant "searches", Bingo Dot the consonants or vowels, letter puzzles, alphabet wheels, a long and short vowel booklet + long and short vowel writing skill sheets. 

My Y5's really love making a rip and tear vowel booklet, or pinching a golf tee and poking holes around a letter (Pinch & Pokes) to not only help with letter recognition in this fun way, but strengthen their finger muscles at the same time. 

All of these vowel/consonant and letter activities are included in this FREE book. Click on the link to view/print this booklet.