Consonant Sounds
Let's learn about consonants! These are special letters that make sounds when air gets blocked or squeezed in your mouth.
📖 What Are Consonants?
Consonants vs. Vowels
The alphabet has 26 letters. 5 letters are vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and all the other 21 letters are consonants!
Vowels (5 letters)
Consonants (21 letters)
How Consonants Are Different
When you say a consonant sound, your lips, tongue, or teeth stop or slow down the air coming out of your mouth. Try saying "B" - your lips come together! Now try "S" - air hisses through your teeth!
💡 Meet the Consonants!
Each consonant makes its own special sound. Let's learn them all with pictures and words!
Consonant Sounds A-M
Consonant Sounds N-Z
Let's Look Closer at Some Sounds
✏️ Practice Time!
What consonant sound does each word start with? Look at the picture and choose the correct letter!
Problem 1: What consonant sound does this word start with?
Problem 2: What consonant sound does this word start with?
Problem 3: What consonant sound does this word start with?
Problem 4: What consonant sound does this word start with?
Problem 5: What consonant sound does this word start with?
Problem 6: What consonant sound does this word start with?
🎮 Fun Activities
🎵 Consonant Sound Song
Sing to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star":
You can hear them all around!
B says /b/ like bouncing ball,
S says /s/, a snake will call,
T says /t/ like tiny toe,
Now you know them - watch them grow!
🔍 Consonant Hunt
Go on a consonant hunt around your home or classroom!
- Pick a consonant letter (like B, S, or T)
- Walk around and find things that start with that consonant sound
- Say the word slowly: "Bbbball starts with /b/!"
- Try to find 5 things for each consonant!
👄 Feel the Sound
Learn where consonant sounds are made in your mouth!
- B, P, M: Your lips come together
- T, D, N: Your tongue touches behind your top teeth
- F, V: Your top teeth touch your bottom lip
- S, Z: Air hisses through your teeth
- H: A puff of air from your throat
Try each sound and feel where your mouth moves!
🎨 Draw a Consonant Book
Make your own consonant picture book!
- Fold paper to make a little book
- Write one consonant letter on each page
- Draw a picture of something that starts with that sound
- Write the word under your picture
🎯 Same Sound Game
Play with a friend or family member!
- One person says a consonant sound (like /m/)
- Take turns saying words that start with that sound
- Examples for /m/: mouse, milk, monkey, map, moon
- When someone can't think of a word, pick a new sound!
✅ Check Your Understanding
Which of these letters is NOT a consonant?
Which word starts with the /m/ sound?
How many consonants are in the alphabet?
📝 What We Learned
21 Consonants
All letters except A, E, I, O, U are consonants.
How They Sound
Consonant sounds are made by blocking or squeezing air in your mouth.
Each Has a Sound
Every consonant makes its own special sound.
Words Start with Them
Most words in English start with consonant sounds!
🚀 Next Steps
- Practice saying all 21 consonant sounds
- Find words that start with each consonant
- Listen for consonant sounds when people talk
- Try the activities with a friend or family member
- Move on to learn about Short Vowel Sounds!