1. Show the students a set of three pictures, two of which rhyme. Ask the students to name the pictures and choose the two that rhyme. Repeat the rhyming set orally as a class. Confirm if the two words rhyme.
2. Show the students a set of three pictures, two of which start with the same beginning sound. Ask the students to name the pictures and choose the two that begin with the same sound. Repeat the set orally as a class. Confirm if the two words rhyme.
3. Engage students in picture sorting by rhyme. Conduct the activity as a whole-class or small-group, teacher-directed lesson to model the process for students. Once students understand the process, they can be guided to work more independently in pairs, small groups, and individually. Identify two pictures with different rime pattern, say each, and place each at the beginning of what will be a column for all pictures that rhyme with the guide picture word. Students sort picture cards according to the picture with which they rhyme and place rhyming cards under the guide card. If the student makes a mistake, say the name of the guide picture that the student identified followed by the name of the picture and prompt the student to listen if they sound the same. Repeat the process with the alternative guide picture, coaching the student to hear the sounds that are the same.
4. Give a target word to students, (e.g., bat) and have them list orally words that rhyme with the given word. Have students say the rhyming part of the word. Record the words that rhyme in a list under the target word. If students give words that rhyme, but do not have the same end rime, record the word, but make a new column for the variant spelling.
5. Give each student a set of three cards with pictures that represent a variety of end rimes. (Not all students have the same card, although cards may be repeated across students.) Say a word aloud. The students with a picture whose name rhymes with the word hold it up. Each student with a rhyming card repeats the word that the teacher said and the name of her/his picture. The class determines if they hear the rhyme by saying the two words. If the sounds do not match, coach the students to hear the difference.
Special thanks for the above learning experiences courtesy of Lynchburg City, Bedford, Appomattox, and Pittsylvania Counties in conjunction with the VA Department of Education.