Rhyming picture pairs: a 15-minute preschool phonological awareness game
What it is: a listening game where each student gets a picture card and walks around to find the classmate whose picture rhymes with theirs, such as cat and hat or bee and tree. It builds the ear for rhyme that comes before reading.
Time: about 15 minutes. Grade: Pre-K (ages 4 to 5).
Materials: picture cards in rhyming pairs, one card per student (cat and hat, bee and tree, star and car, cake and snake, bug and rug, moon and spoon).
- Hold up two rhyming cards and say them slowly: "cat, hat." Ask: "What part sounds the same?"
- Hold up a pair that does not rhyme: "cat, sun." Students give a thumbs down.
- Give each student a card. They say the word on their card quietly to themselves.
- Students walk around and say their word to classmates until they find the one that rhymes.
- Pairs sit down together. Each pair says their two words for the class, and the class repeats them.
- Collect the cards, mix them and play once more.
Differentiation: for students who need support, play with four pairs at a table and lay the cards face up. Students who are ready can add a third rhyming word for their pair. English learners can hear each card named before the game starts.
Quick check: say two words, such as "moon, spoon" or "moon, cup". Students touch their nose for a rhyme and their knees for no rhyme.
Need it for another grade or subject? Ask us on the request page and our team will write it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Reading
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.