Learn to Read AI AY Words with AI AY Charades

If your kids like playing games, they will love this fun game for learning to read AI AY words! Kids won’t even know they are practicing reading when they play this game! Even my big kids who know how to read well like to play AI AY charades! This AI AY word game is quick and easy to prepare and simple to play. It can be used for homeschool phonics instruction, or for small group learning in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. Read on for the instructions and free printable for AI AY charades.

Materials Needed for AI AY Charades:

To make the AI AY Words game, you will need:

• one set of AI AY Charade cards for each person who will play the game
• one sheet of white card stock for each set of charades cards that you will make
• laminator – this is optional, but I highly recommend it so that your AI AY words cards will be nice and durable
• scissors or a paper cutter
• Here is the AI AY words cards printable:

How to Prepare AI AY Words Charades:

• Print the AI AY Charade cards – you need one set for each person who will play the game.
• Laminate (optional) and cut out the cards

Before You Play

• Remind your child of the sound that AI and AY make (they both make the long A sound – like the sound in the middle of rain and at the end of say). Below is a video to demonstrate the AI AY sound:

• Practice sounding out a few AI AY words. I recommend using a moveable alphabet for this – something like magnetic letters or letter tiles can also work well. A moveable alphabet is good because it adds a fun tactile element, which makes learning feel like play! If you need to keep it more simple, you can use a whiteboard or just plain old paper and pencil.
• Spell out a few simple AI AY words. Start with familiar AI AY words such as: rain, pain, sail, mail, say, may, day, etc..
• Ask your child to point out the AI or AY in the word, say the sound, and then try to sound out the whole word.
• If your child is getting the hang of sounding out the AI AY words, you can play AI AY charades!

How to Play AI AY Charades

• Explain the game:
• Each player has a set of cards with AI and AY words. Each player spreads their cards in front of them.
• On the first player’s turn, all other players close their eyes while she chooses the word card that she wants to act out and puts it face down in front of her.
• She acts out the word on the card, and the other players look at their cards to find the word she is acting out.
• The players make a guess by holding up a word card. If they are correct, the matching cards are discarded, and the next player has his turn.
• If you want to make this a competitive game, have the player who guesses correctly keep the matching word cards and see who has the most cards at the end!

*Note: if your child is just beginning to be able to sound out AI and AY words, you can start with just a few of the charade cards to avoid overwhelming her. Lay out 3-6 cards to begin with, and add more when she is ready for them.

**Phonics games like AI AY Charades are a great way to involve your older children in helping the younger children to learn. And it’s fun for everyone!

I hope you and your child enjoyed playing to learn with AI AY Charades! Feel free to check out more of my games and activities for joyful learning!

Thanks for visiting! I hope you come again soon!