Odd Man Out

For all age children who need practice in phonemic awareness.

This activity asks children to find the word that doesn't belong in the list. With younger children, encourage them to listen for the words that begin with the same sound. "Listen as I say these words. Which word doesn't have the same first sound as the other words? Jump, jolly, jelly, mouse, jam. Let me say them again—jump, jolly, jelly, mouse, jam. Yes, you are right. Mouse is not like the others. It does not begin with a /j/ sound. What sound does mouse begin with?"

Ask older children to make a list of five words—four that begin with the same sound and one that does not. Ask them to read their list to a small group and have the group identify the "odd man out."

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