Mouth Moves and Gestures for Phonemes by Melanie Shaver-Durham
Use these to help children learn phonemes by exploring their mouth moves and representing meaning with gestures.
Phoneme
/a/
/b/
/c/
/d/
/e/
/f/
/g/
/h/
/i/
/j/
/k/
/l/
/m/
/n/
/o/
Mouth Feel
Jaw and tongue are down
Lips start out together, then they open and a
puff of air comes out; Voice box on
Tongue is humped in the back of your mouth
Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth;
Voice box on
Mouth open, tongue behind bottom teeth
Top teeth touch your bottom lip
Mouth is open, tongue humped at back of
mouth; Voice box on
Air comes out of mouth
Mouth is open, tongue is slightly lowered
Tongue is up, lips are open
Tongue is humped in the back of your mouth
Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth and
stays there
Lips comes together
Tongue behind top teeth, air comes out your
nose
Mouth open, jaw dropped
Gesture
Meaningful
Representation
Rub eyes with fists
Pat chest
Crying baby
Beating heart
Pull index finger to click
camera
Knock on table
Click
Hand cupped behind ear
Swirl open hand
Raise glass
Hard to hear
Electric fan
Gulping milk
Pant
Mouth open, tongue out
Twirl hands
Pull index finger to click
camera
Hold up fist.
Hot dog
Icky sticky
Jumping rope
Click
Rub tummy
Swat at bug
Mmm mmm good
Buzzing gnat
Mouth open
Doctor says “open wide”
Door knock
Ready to lick a lollipop
/p/
/q/
/r/
/s/
/t/
/u/
/v/
/w/
/x/
/y/
/z/
Lips start together, then open and a puff of air
comes out
Back of tongue is humped in back of mouth,
lips make a circle
Tongue curls up to roof of mouth; Voice box on
Tip of tongue touches above yoru top teeth;
then make a snake sound
Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth
Mouth is open; tongue is down
Top teeth touch bottom lip; Voice box on
Lips make a circle
Begins with back of tongue humped in back of
your mouth; then makes a snake sound
Tongue is behind lower teeth; mouth is open
Tip of tongue touches above your top teeth;
Voice box on
Pop fingers open
Popcorn popping
Hands of hips
“Quiet said the queen!”
Clench teeth
Hiss and undulate hand side
to side
Move finger like pendulum
Pretend to punch stomach
Push arm back and forth
Move from side to side
Open a soda can
Dog growls “Ruff Ruff”
Snake
Slap side of leg
Pretend to zip up a coat
“YAH”
Zipper sound
Tick tock
Punch
Vacuum cleaner
Washing machine
Caarbonation leaking out