Middle Sound Puzzles—Long Vowels
vowel sound. There are two Puzzles each for the five long vowel
sounds. Each Puzzle contains a Category Puzzle Piece, which has
a yellow background, and six Picture Puzzle Pieces, giving
students the opportunity to match seven picture cues per
Puzzle. Students build two long vowel Puzzles at a time by
placing two Category Puzzle Pieces on their Mat and finding all
the matching vowel sound Puzzle Pieces. Both isolating and
sorting skills are needed to complete the task. Vary the
difficulty of the task by comparing vowel sounds that are easily
confused or by adding some sound Pieces that do not belong.
Congratulations on your purchase of Really Good Literacy
Center-in-a-Box™ Middle Sound Puzzles—Long Vowels, a
hands-on activity that strengthens your students’
phonological awareness skills.
Objective
The student will match long vowel sounds in words using
picture cues.
This Really Good Stuff® product includes:
• 10 Category Puzzle Pieces
• 60 Picture Puzzle Pieces
• 2 Game Mats
• Center Task Card
• This Really Good Stuff® Activity Guide
Model the Activity
Begin by modeling the activity, discussing every step with
students. Decide on which two vowel sounds to compare and
gather their Category and Picture Puzzle Pieces to introduce
to your group. Review and name the pictures on the Puzzle
Pieces to make sure students can easily identify them.
Emphasize the vowel sounds by stretching them out: caaake,
leeeaf. Place the Category Puzzle Pieces on the Mat, one on
each side of the T-chart, and name their pictures and vowel
sounds, cake and leaf. Scatter the Picture Puzzle Pieces face
up around the Mat. Explain that students will build a Puzzle
for each of those long vowel sounds. Take a Puzzle Piece, name
it, and ask if it has the same vowel sound as cake or leaf. Place
the Puzzle Piece in the correct column.
Middle Sound Puzzles—Long Vowels reinforces early readers’
long-vowel sound knowledge and builds essential auditory
discrimination skills. Students sort Puzzle Pieces into their
long-vowel sound categories to make 10 unique long vowel
Puzzles. Through repeated practice, they become quick at
isolating, identifying, and matching long vowel sounds.
Managing the Center-in-a-Box
• Display the Center Task Card.
• Remind students to check their work by putting the Puzzle
Pieces together after sorting them. If they fit together,
the sort has been done correctly.
• Demonstrate how to tidy the center when the game is
complete.
• Store the center materials in the box and store it
alongside other Centers-in-a-Box.
Continue until all the Puzzle Pieces are sorted. Once all the
Pieces are placed in their columns, say each word aloud to make
sure they all have the same vowel sound. Put the Puzzle Pieces
together. If they all fit together, the Puzzle Pieces have been
correctly sorted. If they do not fit together, review the pictures
and sort again.
Introducing Middle Sound Puzzles – Long Vowels
As an added challenge, include one or two Picture Puzzle Pieces
that do not fit in the vowel categories selected. Have students
explain why they do not belong.
Long vowel sounds can often be difficult to distinguish for early
readers. Middle Sound Puzzles sharpens students’ listening
skills by having them focus on one part of a word – the long
All activity guides can be found online:
Helping Teachers Make A Difference®
© 2010 Really Good Stuff
®
1-800-366-1920 www.reallygoodstuff.com Made in Guangzhou, China #304150
Middle Sound Puzzles—Long Vowels
Center Task Card
Middle Sound Puzzles – Long Vowels Activity
One to four students
Object: Match long vowel sounds in words using picture cues
Materials: Puzzle Pieces, Game Mats
Before use, select two vowel sounds to compare and gather
their Picture Puzzle Pieces.
1. Put the Category Puzzle Pieces at the top of each column
of your Mat. Name each one and say its vowel sound.
2. Scatter the Picture Puzzle Pieces face up around your Mat.
3. Take a Picture Puzzle Piece and name it. Say its vowel sound.
4. Put the Picture Puzzle Piece in the correct column on your
Mat.
5. Continue until all the Picture Puzzle Pieces are used.
6. Put the Pieces of your two long vowel Puzzles together.
Name each picture. If the Pieces fit together, you have
done it correctly. If not, take them apart and try again.
Post this at the literacy center in a visible position. The student
or helper can refer to the Center Task Card for instructions.
Refer to the shaded section at the top of the Card for center
preparation, including needed materials.
Meeting State Standards
This type of practice in middle-vowel sound identification and
matching helps students meet grade-level expectations and
builds a strong phonological-awareness foundation.
Related Really Good Stuff® Products:
Middle Sound Puzzles – Short Vowels (#304147)
For two or more students, take turns.
Middle Sound Puzzles Set 1 (green backs)
Long Vowel Sounds
a
e
i
o
u
Category Puzzle Piece cake
leaf
dice
bone
flute
Picture Puzzle Pieces
name
bead
slide
poke
spoon
in order of how they fit
together top to bottom
frame
feet
line
rope
goose
cape
beak
kite
rose
tooth
plane
meat
price
throne
tube
state
peach
time
cone
moon
gate
dream
hive
nose
boots
e
i
o
u
Category Puzzle Piece chain
beans
pipe
bowl
pool
Picture Puzzle Pieces
braid
seat
bite
toast
noon
in order of how they fit
together top to bottom
plate
cream
nine
road
fruit
scale
deep
spine
comb
scoop
snail
wheat
night
goat
juice
rain
sheep
slice
coat
root
snake
wheel
write
globe
roof
Middle Sound Puzzles Set 2 (purple backs)
Long Vowel Sounds
a
Helping Teachers Make A Difference®
© 2010 Really Good Stuff® 1-800-366-1920 www.reallygoodstuff.com Made in Guangzhou, China #304150