Kindergarten
Clap the Syllables 3
Twelve animals in neat rows of one, two and three claps: frog and shark, penguin and puppy, kangaroo and octopus.
Phonics worksheet · Syllables and word building
Clap the Syllables
Say each character’s name and clap it out: bee is one clap, monkey is two, elephant is three. Color a circle for each clap.
- Grade level
- Kindergarten
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Syllables, Prefixes and suffixes, Spelling rules for endings, Compound words
What kids do
“Say each name and clap the parts. Color one circle for each clap.”
Words on this sheet
beepiemouselionmonkeypizzarobottigercactusunicorn
Teacher tip
Have kids put a hand under their chin. Each time the chin drops, that is a syllable.
How to use it
- Clap, tap or put a hand under your chin to feel each syllable.
- Write the base word in one color and the ending or prefix in another.
- Use it in a small reading group so you can hear each child sound out a few words.
Watch for
Kids who split syllables by letter count instead of sound. Clap the word again.
Talk about it
- How many parts does this word have?
- What sound does this letter or letter team make?
Take it further
Make a class book of compound words with a drawing for each.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More syllables and word building worksheets
1st grade
Clap the Syllables 2
Twelve new characters to clap out, from face (one clap) to alien and teddy bear (three). Color a circle for each clap.
1st grade
Clap the Syllables 4
Twelve new pictures to clap out: duck is one clap, rainbow and trombone are two, banana and pineapple are three.
1st grade
c or k at the Start?
A spelling rule kids can use: k before e and i, c everywhere else. Twelve words to sort, from cat and crab to kit and king.
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