Listen for a Word’s First Sound
Notice when two spoken words begin with the same sound.
Supplied materials
- A trusted adult to read the words aloud.
- Paper and a pencil are optional.
Learn the idea
An adult can say a word slowly while you listen to the first sound. In sun, the first sound is /s/, the long hissing sound sss. Listen to the sound, not the name of the letter.
Sun and sock begin with the same /s/ sound. Moon starts with /m/, a humming sound mmm. You do not need to read all these words by yourself; ask your adult to say each one clearly.
- Ask an adult to say sun and sock. Repeat their first sound.
- Ask the adult to say moon and map. Listen for mmm at the start of each.
- Listen to the four check choices and find the word that starts like map.
See the method in action
Sun and sock both begin with /s/. Fish begins with /f/, so fish does not belong in this pair.
Check your reasoning
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See the answer and explanation
moon
Map begins with the humming /m/ sound. Moon begins with /m/ too. Sun begins with /s/, fish with /f/, and top with /t/.
Take it further
Try a new sound pair with an adult: top and tent start with /t/. Say each word and draw something named by one of them.
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Check the subject sources
These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.