Early Literacy Activity of the Month (November 2006)

Find the Compound Words is an activity that you can do with one child or a group of children to help them learn to listen for the smaller segments of language that are contained in words. 

This activity is a making progress activity, for children who have mastered some of the skills needed to learn to read and write.

This activity is a linguistic awareness activity. Linguistic awareness refers to a child's understanding of how language works, including the understanding of how sounds come together to make words.

My child is having trouble with this activity. How can I help?
If children are having difficulty with this activity, do the activity along with them. If you are using the word "cupcake," say the word out loud with the child. You and the child can clap, stamp or jump with each part of the word to help the child hear both parts of the word. Then, pick out the pictures that make up the word "cupcake." Put the pictures back, and let the child try the same word while you help. Do the same with another word, helping the child through the activity.

How can I make this activity more challenging?
Children who are ready for more of a challenge can try to think of their own compound words and draw their own pictures to go with them. For example, if a child thinks of the word "baseball," encourage him or her to draw a base and a ball to illustrate the parts of the word.

New resource! To download a list of compound words to use with this activity click here.

Where can I find this activity? (The links below are PDF files that will open in a new window.)

Find the Compound Words for one adult with one child, in English
Find the Compound Words for one adult with a group of children, in English
Find the Compound Words for one adult with one child, in Spanish
Find the Compound Words for one adult with a group of children, in Spanish