Play Initial & Final Consonant Blends Matching Pairs (3 years +) - Teacher Notes

The 'Initial & Final Consonant Blends Matching Pairs' game is an engaging educational activity designed for children aged 3 years and older. It is intended to help young learners recognise and match words with initial and final consonant blends, which are combinations of consonants that produce distinct sounds at the beginning or end of words. To ensure the game is accessible for early learners, it is recommended to start with just a few pairs of words. This playful approach to learning forms part of the comprehensive reading scheme offered by Guinea Pig Education, which aims to teach children to read efficiently within six months to a year.

Guinea Pig Education's Pre Reader Work Packs are tailored for non-readers and employ phonics—the sounds within words—as a foundational learning tool. These packs introduce children to the concept of phonics, enabling them to decode approximately 80% of the English language, while the remaining 20% of words are learned through visual recognition and repetition. The material includes activities such as identifying initial sounds like 'b', 'd', and vowel sounds in words like 'cat', as well as blending these sounds to form complete words. Children are also encouraged to construct sentences using the words they've learned. The packs contain clear instructions for the accompanying adult and are filled with enjoyable word games to reinforce learning. Children are advised to personalise the accompanying drawings and engage with the material daily until they are comfortable with the content, ensuring a structured and enjoyable reading journey.