Rhyme time: find the odd one out
Before children can read, they need to hear that words can sound alike. This lesson uses short, familiar words and a lot of listening: cat and hat rhyme, dog does not.
At a glance
- From
- Level 0, Little Steps English: Week 10, Shapes
- Grammar
- It's a circle. It's big. It's small.
- Key language
- rhyme / It rhymes. / It does not rhyme. / cat, hat, star, car, bee, tree, pig, wig, sock, clock
- Children make
- Children say which word does not rhyme and circle the odd one out on the worksheet.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
By the end of the lesson children can hear whether two words rhyme and pick the odd one out in a set of three words.
Success criteria for children
- I can hear words that rhyme.
- I can say "It rhymes."
- I can find the odd one out.
Timing: 30 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | Listen for the end | Say pairs of words; children show thumbs up for a rhyme and thumbs down for no rhyme. |
| 5 to 11 | Rhyme pairs from the bag | Children pull two objects from the bag and sort them into the two hoops. |
| 11 to 19 | Odd one out | Three words: two rhyme, one does not; children say the odd one out. |
| 19 to 23 | Rhyme action game | Stand up for a rhyme, sit down for odd words. |
| 23 to 28 | Worksheet: odd one out | A grown-up says the three words in each row; children circle the odd one out. |
| 28 to 30 | Rhyme goodbye | Say goodbye with a rhyme. |
Materials
- Picture cards or small toys for: cat, hat, dog, star, car, sun, bee, tree, bus, pig, wig, cup, sock, clock, hen
- A bag or box
- Two hoops or two mats labelled "rhymes" and "does not rhyme"
- One worksheet per child, a pencil or crayon
- Shapes flashcards (free, linked from Week 10)
- Song: Twinkle twinkle little star (free, linked from Week 10)
Before the lesson: Say each rhyming pair aloud so you are sure of the sounds in your own accent. A pair rhymes when the ends sound the same (cat, hat) even if the letters differ.
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 5 minListen for the end
- Say "cat, hat" and exaggerate the "at" sound. "They rhyme!" Then say "cat, dog": "No rhyme."
- Say pairs and children show thumbs up or down: bee/tree (up), pig/cup (down), sock/clock (up), star/sun (down).
"Listen. Cat... hat. They sound the same at the end. They rhyme! Cat... dog. Not the same."
- Do cat and hat sound the same at the end? (Yes.) Do cat and dog? (No.)
5 to 11 minRhyme pairs from the bag
- Put the objects in the bag. A child pulls out two, names them and says "It rhymes" or "It does not rhyme" with the class.
- Put the pair in the matching hoop. Keep the rhyming pairs together at the end and say them again.
11 to 19 minOdd one out
- Put three objects on the floor: cat, hat, dog. Say all three together and point. "Which one does not rhyme?" Children say or point to "dog".
- Repeat with star, car, sun; bee, tree, bus; pig, wig, cup. Make the sets quicker each time.
- Let children make a set for friends using the pictures.
"Cat. Hat. Dog. Two of them sound the same. Which is the odd one out? Yes, dog!"
- Which two sound the same? (cat and hat) Which is different? (dog)
19 to 23 minRhyme action game
- Say a word, then a second word. If they rhyme, children jump. If not, they sit.
- Pair up and take turns giving each other words.
23 to 28 minWorksheet: odd one out
- Read the first row aloud together: "cat, hat, dog". Children circle dog.
- The rest of the rows are done in pairs with an adult saying each word.
28 to 30 minRhyme goodbye
- Say "See you soon, goodbye, goodbye. Wave to the moon, wave to the sky." Children wave and repeat.
Differentiation
Support
- Use only two sets (cat, hat, dog; bee, tree, bus) at first.
- Let children point to the odd one out instead of saying it.
- Say all three words slowly, emphasising the end sounds.
Stretch
- Ask children to say a new word that rhymes with cat (mat, sat, bat).
- Ask for an odd one out from three words you do not show, only say.
- Make a two-line rhyme using a pair from the lesson.
Rhyme
Say it with a steady beat. Stress the rhyming words and let children fill them in.
A cat in a hat sat on a mat.
A star in a car went far, far, far.
A bee in a tree said, "Look at me!"
A pig in a wig did a little jig.
A sock on a clock. Tick, tock, tock!
Now it is time for the rhyme to stop.
Questions
- What rhymes with cat in the rhyme?
- What rhymes with tree?
- What rhymes with wig?
- What rhymes with clock?
Printable worksheet
Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.
Which is the odd one out?
A grown-up says the three words in each row. Circle the one that does not rhyme.
1. cat, hat, dog
2. star, car, sun
3. bee, tree, bus
4. pig, wig, cup
Answer key
Rhyme questions
- hat (and mat).
- bee.
- pig.
- sock.
Worksheet
- 1: dog (cat and hat rhyme).
- 2: sun (star and car rhyme).
- 3: bus (bee and tree rhyme).
- 4: cup (pig and wig rhyme).
Exit ticket
At the door say "cat, hat, dog" or "sock, clock, hen" and ask "Which word is the odd one out?" Tick: said it, pointed, not yet. (Answers: dog; hen.)
Homework
Say two rhyming words to a grown-up (for example "star, car") and ask them to say a word that rhymes.
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- Level 0, Week 10: Shapes (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
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