“Swatting Phonograms” – A Fun Phonogram Activity
Looking for a fun way to review phonograms? “Swatting Phonograms” is a fantastic hands-on activity that your child will love! It’s fast paced, engaging … and just a little bit gross. Perfect!
Instructions for “Swatting Phonograms”
- Download and print the swatter and bug cards.
- Cut out and assemble the swatter and laminate for added durability.
- Cut out the phonogram cards for the level you wish to play.
- Start swatting phonograms!
Playing “Swatting Phonograms”
Arrange a selection of bug phonograms on the floor or table. (This might be the only time you don’t mind having bugs on your kitchen table.😊) Be sure to select only the phonograms that your child has learned.
Say the name and/or sound of a phonogram and have your child find the phonogram and “swat” it with the swatter.
Keep going until all the phonograms have been swatted. Repeat any phonograms that your child had trouble with.
More Fun with Your Swatter
There is no limit to the fun that you can have with your swatter. Here are three more ideas:
- Scatter your bug cards around the room. Say the names and let your child run around the room to find and swat the phonograms. Turn up the fun a notch by timing each attempt!
- Reverse roles. Let your child take a turn at dictating the names or the sounds of the phonogram cards while you swat them.
- Need to review word cards instead of phonograms? Play the game with a selection of word cards from your child’s reading or spelling review box.
Can you think of more fun ways to use your swatter? Leave a comment!
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Photo credit: Elaine from Humble Dwelling
sheila Griffin
says:I could have sworn I saw a black and white version of this game on your website but with just the uppercase and lower case letters on the bugs. Now I can’t find it. Could you, please repost the link or email it to me. Thank you.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSheila,
I am unaware of any version of this Swatting Phonograms game with both capital and lower case letters. However, this download includes pages of blank “bugs” that you can add capital letters to. You can print and write the letters, or you can use Adobe Reader’s “Fill and Sign” option to type in capital letters before printing.
We also have a Top 10 Activities for Letter Knowledge blog post that includes a few printable games that include both capital and lower case letters.
sheila Griffin
says:Thanks for the suggestions!
Caroline Fraser
says:My two- year-old granddaughter is learning to read – so far loves doing her alphabet cards and naming the letters and their sounds. I’m sure she would love this game.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceCaroline,
This is a great game for little ones as it allows them to get so physical!
You may also like to see some of the other games and activities we have for Letter Knowledge. There is lots of fun to be had!
Kay
says:Thanks for all the games you share on your website!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Kay. I hope you and your student (or students) have a lot of fun with this one!
Kathryn
says:This looks like great fun and a really engaging way to learn sounds we struggle with – thanks for the great advice and ideas :)
Marianna Schultz
says:This will be a great thing for my student who is having problems with her sounds. Thanks!
Elle
says:This game looks like it would be a lot of fun for kids and have them learning at the same time.
Becky
says:Love it when we find ways to make learning fun. This hits the mark!
Sarah
says:This looks like fun. We’ll have to try it!
samantha
says:That is actually a really fun game. My five year old is getting the hang of it I hope to have him playing it at the end of the week.
Rachel
says:Oooo this is such a fun idea. Thanks for sharing!
Kristin Girod
says:Perfect game for my boys!!
Val Clark
says:I’ve been wanting to purchase AAR, but need 4 different levels! It is not exactly cheap, I wish the app was included with purchase price. It is such an outstanding app they could probably make a decent profit from non AAR users. There is nothing else like it out there, I have searched.
Bethany Morrison
says:What a fun game!
Joanna Adams
says:This activity is perfect for my youngest. She struggles with reading and things that involve action help her retain what she’s learning.
Liz K
says:How fun! Thanks for the idea! I can see this working with lots of other topics too!
Nichole
says:What not to love about swatting bugs! Thanks for the download!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Nichole. 😊
Ashley Chesmore
says:How fun is this?! I remember doing something similar in my 9th grade Spanish class. It sure made things a lot more interesting and fun. I have used the swatting method with my family here just for the letter alphabet and other things. Thank you very much for the free download.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceAshley, I love that you did something similar with 9th-grade students! It shows that SMACKING something is a great motivator regardless of the student’s age. 😊
Kandy deleon
says:looks like fun
Amy Lingg
says:love this! Thank you
Janel A Blakely
says:My preschoolers love bugs. Thank you for sharing
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Janel! I hope your little one has a lot of fun with this.
Becky
says:Looks like a great idea for motivating preschoolers!
Nicolle
says:Great idea!
Sally
says:I’ve always said that games are the best curriculum for young kids.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYes, Sally! When learning is fun it sticks better. 😊
Deborah
says:Thank you so much for the beautiful games. I really all the wonderful colorful games.
Hollie
says:This will be perfect for my stubborn reader. He’ll have an opportunity to smack something and I really think this will help motivate him to read. I think we’ll read some Frog and Toad to accompany the game.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceHollie,
I love the idea of enjoying some Frog and Toad books to go along with swatting phonograms! I’d love to hear how it goes.
Ally George
says:This looks so cute! Can’t wait to try it with my 6yo.
Felicia Hernandez
says:Ohhh Mtyy WHAT A FUN FUN WAY TO LEARN!!! Im going to add this to our Summer School Program!! Tytytyty for sharing
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Felicia. I hope you and your students have a lot of fun swatting!
Tamara
says:My kids really enjoy this. Thanks for sharing such fun activities!
auschick
says:I love this! I think I’ll play this with my son tomorrow morning!
Carlychan
says:Thank you so much for sharing! My kids will LOVE it!
sandi aryanto asyid
says:this great for
me… thank’s
Chen
says:A great fun way to review phonograms
Julie
says:This is a great idea! Active and fun combined with learning to identify things quickly.
Neysi
says:Thank you, am sure they will like it.
Deidra
says:Great game!
Erin
says:What a fun way to review!
Debbie
says:Thanks for all the fun games.
Erica k
says:The games are my favorite way to teach! Thanks so much for providing hands on fun that reinforces our lessons!
Jennifer Doggart
says:So cute!
T. Graham
says:My chillins love swatting bugs!
Faith C
says:My granddaughter loves anything with insects. This should be fun to use with her. Thanks!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Faith. The download contains blank “bugs” too, so you could write anything in that she needs to review such as math facts or even vocabulary words.
Enjoy!
Helen
says:This looks so fun! My kids would LOVE to be competitive with this.
Hearther B
says:I love this idea, it makes phonogram practice so much fun
Laura Stephenson
says:My kids loves the review games, especially over the summer.
C New
says:Can’t wait to try this game out
Karen
says:This will be fun practice for the summer!
Lisa Streissguth
says:This looks so fun!
DANIEL P
says:What a great activity.
Catherine
says:How does the bug cards stick to the flyswatter please?
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceCatherine,
The game is to “SMACK!” the bugs; they aren’t supposed to stick to the flyswatter. However, you could try adding double-sided tape or something like it. If you try it, let me know how it goes.
Shayla Shuman
says:What a great game!! My son loves to use the fly swatter and this adds learning to it!
RUBY
says:This looks awesome, and so fun. I love when I can combine learning with fun!
Claire Levesque
says:This looks like fun! We might use putty or something that resembles a frog tongue to grab the bugs because my child loves animals.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceClaire,
I like that idea! It would be extra fun for the bug to stick to the swatter.
Jamie
says:Love these hands on activities!
Kristy
says:My kids would love this game! Can’t wait to try it!
Sacha
says:My son loves these kinds of games. Anything to make learning fun!
Elizabeth
says:Looks fun
Alexa Humphries
says:Cute idea!!
Amber
says:As always from AA Lesrning, another great hands on technique! You could swat review cards!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceAmber,
Yes! The download includes blank “bugs” too, so you could right in review words if your student would prefer to swat bugs, but it is even simpler just to lay the review cards down and swat away.
Melissa
says:I love this! Downloading now!
Sarah
says:This is a great activity for boys!
Susan Goldberg
says:Place numerals on table, wall, or around room. Student is given a math problem to solve and swats the answer or you can give student a number and have student swat at the problem.
You can also use this with vocabulary words and definitions (any subject) or finding sight words.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGreat ideas, Susan! I especially love the change up with math, swatting both the answers and the problem. Thank you for sharing these!
Sarah J
says:This is one of our favorite games to play!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceThanks for letting us know you enjoy this one, Sarah!
Jessica M
says:We will have to do this! My kids loved a similar activity we did a couple months ago from AAR 2!
Katy Lineberry
says:My son would love this game! Fun way to learn!
Nicki
says:My little guy will love this game!
Jade
says:Oh what fun!
Josie Iverson
says:This is so cute, what a neat idea!
Jessica
says:My girls loved this game. Something different to break up the worksheets
Christy
says:Love the idea! I love making learning fun!
Christy
says:Cute idea!
Elizabeth
says:I am so not creative so I appreciate the ideas to make learning fun!!
Jucinda Willoughby
says:Super cute!
Christine
says:Looks fun
angie
says:adorable
julie
says:love this!
Carole
says:What a great idea! Thank you for sharing these great ideas for free!
Jennifer Lodge
says:I love your materials and the fact that you have fun games to go with it!
Christie
says:Really cute!
Sharon
says:Super fun idea!!!!
Candice
says:My kids are always wanting to play with my fly swatter so this would be a perfect game in our house!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceCandice,
There is something about fly swatters that are very attractive to kids. I think it’s that lovely “SMACK!” sound they make. ;)
June Bewley
says:Great game. Thank you for your hard work.
Johanna
says:I have played a game similar with my children and they loved it, so I love this idea!! Thankyou
Cynthia
says:This looks like such an interesting way to work on memorizing and reinforcing phonograms! Kids will love it!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMy kids certainly love this activity, Cynthia! :D
Kayla
says:This is such a cute game!
Melissa Mezger
says:Thank you for giving us a new way to practice phonograms.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Melissa. I hope you have a lot of fun swatting those phonograms!
Mira
says:What fun game idea! I love all these creative ideas! Very inspiring!
Karen
says:These look great! I’d be keen to try them with my little boy! Thank you
Abbey F
says:My boys will love this — thank you for such a terrific idea!
Katie Amberson
says:We are definitely going to use this for some of our word card review! My kids are going to Love this!
Katie Petrino
says:I love this!!
Jenn Khurshid
says:What a fun idea! Thank you!
Allyce
says:I love this idea! Thank you. I am prepping for it and will play on Thursday!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI hope it’s as big a hit in your home as it has been in mine, Allyce! Let me know how it goes.
Lynn
says:My son will absolutely love this! Thanks!
Susanne
says:Thanks for the great idea and resource!
Darlene K.
says:I think my little one will love this game
Dana Combs
says:My younger 2 would love this.
Kecia B
says:My four year old would love this!
Andrea
says:Sounds fun!
Sarah Bout
says:I am so excited to start this material with my kiddos!
Kristy
says:This is a great idea
Ashley
says:I could use this idea with sight words!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceAshely,
The game download includes blank “bugs” so you could use the game with any kind of review you want to do! I was thinking it would be great to put numbers on the bugs and then I could call out something like, “56,” and my student would need to smack 8 and 7. I think it would be a fun way to review multiplication facts!
Melissa
says:Love this! Thank you for sharing!
Day
says:Perfect for my active learner!
Carol
says:Looks like a fun game for kids to play. Thank you.
Ashley Gatlin
says:I love this idea! My children love games so I am excited to try this with them! Thank you!
Crystal G Kuffner
says:Amazing idea ! Can’t wait to use this for my next center!!
Kamilie
says:We are still working on Alphabet Recognition so we are going to play this game with letters!!
Sherry
says:I think playbased learning is very important. This game is great!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSherry,
I agree! Play learning is important in so many ways. :D
Stephanie Slusher
says:Awesome activity and it keeps my child learning and entertained
Beth
says:This looks like it will be very engaging for my children!
Laura
says:Thank you! This looks awesome!
Cathy Tonks
says:We love the fun games!
Gale
says:OK, that is super fun! Reminds me of a birthday party game we once did where we put velcro on paper bugs and the reverse velcro on one of those roll up party horns (the ones that don’t make nois, they just unroll when you blow on them) then we played “frog” and zapped the buggs. You could do it without the velcro with just one kid…but hitting them with that party horn while pretending to be a frog is super fun.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceGale,
I love your “frog” idea! It would be hilarious and so much fun. Thank you for sharing this idea.
Carol
says:What a fun game! The kids will love it.
Karena Kersten
says:This is so much fun for kids!
Jennifer Cummings
says:Can’t wait to try this with my son he is 3 now but he will love it
Anita Flinchum
says:Always find new, innovative and fun learning ideas with you.
Kathleen Clark
says:What a novel and fun idea!
Kate
says:I can’t wait to try this!
Jenny
says:Great ideas
Raquel brown
says:Love this idea and falling in love with how my kiddos enjoy this program it’s been a blessing for our first few months of home schooling
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceOh, Raquel, I’m so pleased that your first few months of homeschooling are going well!
Eli’s Mom
says:We’re not here yet, but my son is going to LOVE this game!!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI think you could adapt this game easily for even nursery school learning. The download includes blank black and white bugs. You could color them and use the game for practice colors. Or put shapes on them and use them for practicing shapes. Or make pairs and your son could SMACK! the pairs. There are lots of things you could review with this game. It’s very adaptable.
Gessyca Lord
says:You’re right! Great ideas! Thanks!
Meredith Sauer
says:This looks so fun! I’ll be downloading it!
Tauni
says:My boys love these kind of games! Thank you!
Michelle Seetoh
says:So fun! Time to do this for my girl. :) She will love it
Shantelle
says:Such a great idea!
Sally Chancellor
says:Haha, this is great. My kids will love this, thanks!
Stephanie Rojas
says:Both my son and daughter would find this game FUN, especially since I find bugs to be gross!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceStephanie,
I can just imagine the giggles and laughter! Have lots and lots of fun with this. :D
CindyH
says:This looks fun! Thanks for the idea.
Dandi D
says:This would be a wonderful activity to do with my son this summer!
Kandi
says:Wow! This looks like a lot of fun! Going totry with my youngest!
Judith Martinez
says:I would love to try this game with words.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceJudith,
The game’s download includes blank bugs so you can write words in. If you laminate the bugs, you can even write words with a wet-erase marker and then wipe it clean for a new word. However, you can just use the All About Reading word cards too. Kids mostly like the smacking anyway!
April
says:So creative!
Tracy Kemp
says:Excited to try it!
Lisa Annette
says:Love it! What a fun way to reinforce phonogams. Just need to buy a new flyswatter!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceLisa,
Just a few days ago, I found 2-packs of swatters for $0.99 in the cleaning products aisle of my grocery store.
Lindsay
says:Love this idea!
Krista
says:Looks super fun!
CLAUDIA MONTANO
says:This game sounds so much fun, Im preparing it to play with my son today!! Thank you
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceClaudia,
Let us know if your son enjoys it!
Carolyn
says:Love all the hands on learning!
Carolyn
says:Love all the hands on activities with All about learning!
Mallory C
says:My kids would love this!
Sarah McCaffrey
says:This is a fantastic idea to get my daughter moving while being on task. Thank you!
Yvette Jimenez
says:What a fun activity!
Angie
says:Great idea!
Tracie
says:So many opportunities to make spelling fun!
Elizabeth
says:I’ll admit I always think it would be easier to just read the words, but my daughter flourishes with hands on activities such as this one. Keep up the awesome work!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceElizabeth,
I know what you mean. Sometimes it would be faster and easier just to read the words and move on. But these extra things make the review fun and keep motivation up. I found with my kids that setting aside one day a week for fun review was a good compromise between my children’s desire for activities and my desire for easier and faster review.
Jewel
says:Perfect for my little one
Shakeeta W
says:Looks like a lot of fun!
Sarah Gentry
says:We made a homemade version of this and it was a hit literally lol
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceSarah,
I love your pun! Thanks for letting us know that this review activity was successful for your student.
Jessica
says:What a fun activity! Anything that includes hitting things with a fly swatter would interest my son.
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceJessica,
There is something very satisfying with that SMACK! of the swatter. :D
Trina Greene
says:What a fun activity and cheap! Love creativity!
Loreen G
says:I love the games you provide. They are a fun and helpful addition to the regular curriculum. Thank you!
Trina Greene
says:What a blast and a cheap fun way to learn! Too bad live bugs don’t have words written on them…
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceTrina,
What a funny thought! I don’t know if that would make more people read or less. :D
Sharon
says:My son would love this!
Krista
says:Haha, this looks fun and cute!
Katie O.
says:Wow! Such a simple and fun review game! I love the idea and am looking forward to trying it!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceI hope your students have a lot of fun with it, Katie!
Melody
says:What a great tactile game! I think my older students may even be “game” to play this one. ;) Thanks for the ideas!
Robin E.
says: Customer ServiceMelody,
Yes, this game gets a lot of enthusiasm. There is something really fun about WHACKING! at flashcards.
Annemarie Janse van Rensburg
says:Excellent reading and tips!
Kim
says:Thanks for sharing these downloads.
Kendra Waind
says:We review key cards with the swatter too! I have a list of answers that we put on the board and I’ll ask the key card questions. The students have a race to see who can swat the answer first. It’s so fun! For ex. I will ask when do we use /j/ three letter /j/ (dge) and they have to swat “right after a short vowel.”
Robin E. at All About Learning Press
says: Customer ServiceKendra,
Oh, what a great active idea! Thank you for sharing it.
whenita
says:thank about it. it help our students.
Tracy
says:What a fun idea! We are definitely going to try this. My son moans about review cards but he loves to smack a flyswatter!
Beth
says:What a fun way to review! Easy to put together, easy to use, and what child doesn’t enjoy smacking a fly swatter?
Merry
says:LOL, yes!
Ingrid
says:Very great activity for reading phonograms . It can be used to reinforce many other reading skills.
Renae
says:What a fun phonogram activity! I love the hands on component that helps with hand eye coordination. You’re being featured as part of a Phonogram Activity Round Up at Every Star Is Different!
Merry
says:Thanks Renae, great post!
Cathy
says:Use with High frequency words to help kids learn them automatically … read the word – heve the splat the correct word … later read a story and have them splat the words they hear in the story … this would be very easy to adjust to different learning levels.
Thanks for the ideas!
Marie Rippel
says: Customer ServiceGood ideas for using the Swatter, Cathy! Thanks for sharing!
Ingrid
says:they can say “swat” as they hear the words being read in the story.
Cathy
says:Thank you for this idea! I love it! I have some first grade intervention students who can’t remember sight words. This will be a great activity for them.