alliteration — nearby words beginning with the same speech sound
syllable — a spoken beat in a word
phoneme — the smallest speech sound that can change a word
spoken word — a word we hear or say
Key concept
I can hear and make rhymes, repeated beginning sounds, syllables and individual speech sounds.
Learning goal: I can hear and make rhymes, repeated beginning sounds, syllables and individual speech sounds.
I am ready when I can
I can recognise a spoken rhyme.
I can generate a rhyming word.
I can recognise alliteration by sound.
I can clap spoken syllables.
I can isolate one speech sound using a cue word.
See it, then try it
See the skill in action
Worked-model method: listen, say or clap, then name the sound pattern.
1. Listen as the teacher says cake and lake without showing the spellings.2. Repeat the pair and stretch the ending of each word; the endings sound the same.3. Name the feature as rhyme and offer make as another spoken word with the same ending sound.
Model answer: Cake, lake and make rhyme because their spoken endings sound the same.
Worked example: compare alliteration, syllables and one sound
Worked-model method: listen, say or clap, then name the sound pattern.
1. Say ‘helpful Henry’ and notice that both words begin with the same gentle breathy sound.2. Say banana and clap three spoken beats: ba, na, na; each beat is a syllable.3. Say moon slowly and isolate the humming sound at its beginning as one speech sound.
Model answer: Helpful Henry shows alliteration, banana has three syllables and moon begins with one humming speech sound.
Australian Curriculum elaborations
E1: Hear and produce spoken rhymes
Rhyming words share the same or a very similar spoken ending, even when learners are not shown how the words are written.
cakelakemake
Listen to the ending of the whole spoken word.
Think: Say cake and lake while pictures are visible but print is hidden. Repeat the pair and compare their spoken endings. Invite make or another valid spoken rhyme and repeat the set.
Try: Which word has the same spoken ending as cake, and what new rhyme can you make?
A strong answer: Listen to and repeat the rhyme pair, compare the spoken endings, then say another word whose ending follows the same sound pattern.
Check: The learner recognises a spoken rhyme and produces another word with the matching ending sound.
If you are stuck: Offer two picture names, lake and fish, repeat both after cake and ask the learner to echo the matching pair.
E2: Notice repeated beginning sounds
Alliteration occurs when nearby spoken words begin with the same speech sound.
helpful: gentle breathy beginningHenry: same beginningMia: different beginning
Alliteration is heard at the beginnings of nearby words.
Think: Say 'helpful Henry' naturally. Repeat it slowly and notice the gentle breathy sound at both beginnings. Compare it with 'helpful Mia' and create another matching pair.
Try: Which words begin with the same speech sound, and what do you hear at both beginnings?
A strong answer: Say the alliterative phrase, identify its repeated beginning sound with a cue word, then create another two-word example.
Check: The learner identifies the repeated beginning sound in a spoken phrase and generates another appropriate alliterative pairing.
If you are stuck: Use two picture names beginning with the same cue sound and one contrasting picture, then say every name aloud.
E3: Clap syllables in spoken words
A syllable is a spoken beat in a word, and clapping can make each beat easier to notice.
ba: clap onena: clap twona: clap three
One clap marks each spoken syllable.
Think: Say banana as a whole word. Repeat it slowly and clap the three beats ba, na and na. Count the claps, then compare with a one-beat word such as moon.
Try: How many spoken beats do you hear in this word, and where will you clap?
A strong answer: Say the whole word naturally, clap once for each spoken beat, count the claps and compare the count with a partner's pronunciation.
Check: The learner coordinates one clap with each naturally spoken syllable and reports the matching count.
If you are stuck: Say the word while placing one counter for each beat before adding the clap movement.
Common misconceptions
Rhyming words must look alike — Hide the print and compare the spoken endings with careful listening.
A syllable is the same as one speech sound — Clap the word beats first, then stretch one beat to hear smaller speech sounds inside it.
A letter name is the beginning sound — Say the whole cue word and imitate the sound heard at its beginning rather than reciting the letter name.
Listen, explain and apply
Listen before looking at print
Adult: say the words naturally and repeat if needed. For rhyme, alliteration and syllables, assess what the child hears and says. Reading or spelling the words is not required.
Find the word that does not rhyme
Adult: say “hat, sun, mat”. Which word does not rhyme with the other two? Say a new word that rhymes with hat.
Answer and teaching guidance
Sun is the odd one out; hat and mat share their spoken ending. Cat or bat is a possible new rhyme. Accept another spoken rhyme in the child’s variety of English.
Beginnings or endings?
Say “sun, sock” and “sun, run”. Which pair shares a beginning sound? Which pair rhymes?
Answer and teaching guidance
Sun and sock share the beginning sound. Sun and run rhyme. Listen to the requested part of the word instead of treating any matching sound as rhyme.
A beat is not a phoneme
Say “dog”. Clap its syllables, then slowly say its separate speech sounds. Are the counts the same?
Answer and teaching guidance
Dog has one syllable and three speech sounds. One clap marks a syllable; three counters can represent the smaller sounds. Keep letter names out of this listening task.
Ready to move on
Adult: ask for a rhyme for “hen”, a pair of words beginning like “moon”, and the syllables in “rabbit”.
Answer and teaching guidance
For example, pen; moon and map; two beats in rabbit. Accept valid alternatives and natural pronunciation. Check each skill separately; reteach the one that needs support.
Try these
Rhyme basket — Listen to three object names and place together the two whose endings rhyme.
hear the whole ending; do not decide from spelling
Beginning-sound parade — Choose two picture names that begin with the same sound and say them as an alliterative pair.
silly snake • busy bee • helpful hen
Clap and stretch — Clap the syllables in a familiar name, then say the first speech sound with a cue word.
whole word → beats → first speech sound
Check your understanding
Quick checks
Which pair rhymes?
Which word rhymes with ‘cat’?
Which phrase has alliteration?
Which phrase repeats the /b/ sound at the beginning?
Mastery evidence
Which pair rhymes?
Which word rhymes with ‘cat’?
Which phrase has alliteration?
Which phrase repeats the /b/ sound at the beginning?
The learner recognises a spoken rhyme and produces another word with the matching ending sound.
The learner identifies the repeated beginning sound in a spoken phrase and generates another appropriate alliterative pairing.
The learner coordinates one clap with each naturally spoken syllable and reports the matching count.
The SkillrHub lesson remains the primary learning resource. This optional video reinforces the explanation; you can complete the lesson and practice without watching.
Scratch Garden — Hearing words that have the same ending sound.
As you watch: Can you hear two words that rhyme?
Load video playerLoads YouTube in this lesson. See the video notice below.
Try it: Say cat, then invent or find two words with the same ending sound. Explain whether dog belongs in that group.
Video unavailable, inaccurate or unsuitable for this year? Report a video problem to SkillrHub by email. You can continue with the written lesson and practice resources.
Another explanation: Syllables
Scratch Garden — Hearing and clapping the beats in spoken words.
As you watch: How many beats can you hear in your name?
Load video playerLoads YouTube in this lesson. See the video notice below.
Try it: Clap the syllables in three familiar names. Sort them by the number of beats you hear.
Video unavailable, inaccurate or unsuitable for this year? Report a video problem to SkillrHub by email. You can continue with the written lesson and practice resources.
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