If you’re looking for some fun, new rhyming activities to try with your kids, these quirky rhyme games are sure to do the trick. 

And, our best-selling Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack is a must-have if you’re looking for similar activities!

Getting Ready

Before beginning these rhyming games, some teaching prep work is involved.  Teaching rhyming can be tricky. I was happy when I learned there is a rhyming teaching sequence. So you don’t have to worry about trying to teach rhyme identification and rhyme generation simultaneously.

The first step is for kids to learn how to identify words that rhyme. I find pictures sorts with three options work best at this level. An example of an activity is to lay out three pictures with two that rhyme and one that doesn’t. Then, ask a question such as, “which one rhymes with cake… dog or rake?” (The activities below focus on developing this skill.)

The next step is for kids to learn how to generate rhyming words on their own. So at this level, the kids can be challenged with prompts such as “think of a word that rhymes with key and bee…. tree, knee, see, me, we, etc.”

I’ve been advised before that even making up nonsense words is okay, as long as they rhyme. Kids certainly seem to love it when they can make up a word to rhyme with their own name.

Once kids get the hang of rhyming they will hopefully appreciate that “rhyme” and “slime” rhyme. I was stoked when I thought of that combo, so I hope your students enjoy the following activities!

Rhyming Games

The first game you can play is Rhyme Slime, which is a bit like a game of snap but with a twist.

Each player is given a set of rhyming cards and they take turns putting a card face up on the rhyme slime mat. They need to say the picture out loud e.g. “tree.” If there are two cards face up that rhyme, such as “tree” and “bee”,  the players needs to say “rhyme slime” and high five each other with the motion of slimy, slithery fingers!

Free rhyming game! Perfect for preschool or early kindergarten.

The next rhyming game is a picture sort that includes the rhyme endings of -AT, -AN, – AKE, -EE. I usually work with two sets to begin with such as -AT and -EE. I begin by laying out the headings and saying the sounds.

I get the kids to take turns choosing a card and saying the name of the picture out loud. Then, they have to place it below the mat that rhymes.

Fun rhyming sort for kids!

The activity could be tweaked for kids who are ready to generate rhymes. You can use the headings as prompts to see how many rhyming words they can come up with.

The last activity is memory, also known as concentration. To play, kids randomly choose a few rhyming cards from the pile. For beginners, I’d stick to just two word families such as -AT and -EE.

Then, lay the cards face down in rows. Each player turns over two cards at a time. If they rhyme, they get to keep the pair and have another turn.

Fun rhyming memory game!

If they don’t rhyme, they need to turn the card back over and remember where it is. Then, the next player has a turn. The player with the most pairs wins.

Tip: Printing the cards on cardstock keeps players from seeing through to the other side.

RhymeSlimeActivties

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14 Comments

  1. I keep trying to buy the Books for Boys early reading pack, but the purchase never goes through. On the last page of paying, it won’t let me press to buy it. Can you advise me? I really need it for a specific student. Thanks!

    Paula

  2. This is amazing! We’ve been working on rhymes at home and this will definitely come in handy! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  3. Thank you so much for this resource, it looks awesome!

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words– we are here because of folks like you!
      Have a wonderful week,
      Kimberleigh

  4. Hi,

    When I printed the rhyme slime set, the actual rhyming cards printed very wrong. The rest of the pack printed correctly so I know it is not from my computer.

    1. Uh oh Melissa. We never want that. Can you send us an email describing the problem and I can try to help troubleshoot the problem? hello@www.playdoughtoplato.com I look forward to hearing from you, and fixing this issue!

      Chat soon!

      Kaylee // Playdough to Plato Team

  5. This sounds like a great resource for my preschoolers. I am having trouble downloading it. When I click on the download button another screen comes up saying page not found. Could you help me please.

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