Christmas Alphabet picture/grapheme cards - Double-sided (to use with a 'Function Machine’)

What’s included?

x6 sheets each with x5 picture/grapheme cards for all letters of the alphabet plus additional options for e/n - all Christmas themed. All sheets are portrait orientation, pdf format.

The alphabet cards are designed to be double-sided and used with a Function Machine. How to make a Function Machine is available as a resource to make yourself, following step-by-step instructions. The single sided version of these Christmas Alphabet cards are also available as a Christmas picture/grapheme matching activity.

Who’s it for?

This resource has been designed for early years children, pupils in years one as well as older students needing additional learning support.

What’s it for?

These cards have been designed to be cut out and made into double-sided cards for learners to practise identifying the initial sounds for x26 Christmas-themed images. This is a fun opportunity for learners to practise their sound knowledge in the run up to Christmas. Without a Function Machine these cards could be used by learners to self check - turning over the card to see if they were correct.

This activity has been designed to be a simple, interactive, predictable activity to promote independence and consolidate learning. This activity is ideal for individuals to be getting on with independently.

How to use it?

An adult prints these card shapes onto card and follows the instructions which are included on every page of the resource. In total x28 picture/grapheme cards are included. The set of (double-sided) cards can then be placed on a table top, positioned with a ‘Function Machine’ for learners to use on their own or perhaps with adult support (initially).

Learners look at each image and say this out loud. Learners then verbally identify the initial sound of the word. E.g. for the ‘a’ card the learner would say “Advent Calendar” and then “a” (for ‘Advent’). Learners then post the card (image side up) and when it pops out of the Function Machine’s lower slot (grapheme side up) they can see if they were correct.

As an additional activity learners could order the cards alphabetically.

Resource Details…

The pictures included use words with clear initial sounds. Some images/words may be completely new to learners - an opportunity to expand their vocabulary. E.g. ‘quince’ may easily be presumed to be a ‘pear’. For clarity all images are labelled on the back of every card.

Pictures included:

• a - Advent Calendar
• b - bauble
• c - cracker
• d - dove
• e - elf and elves (both versions are included)
• f - fire/fireplace
• g - gift/s
• h - holly
• i - invite/invitation
• j - jingle bells
• k - king (two versions of the ‘k’ grapheme are provided)
• l - lantern/light
• m - mistletoe
• n - nuts and nutcracker (both versions are included)
• o - orange
• p - pudding
• q - quince
• r - robin
• s - star
• t - tree
• u - under (the tree)
• v - Vixen (a reindeer!)
• w - wine
• x - Xmas
• z - zest (of lemon/oranges, lemon pictured)

Important message…

Any issues let us know - we are happy to make changes.