Winter Elkonin Boxes: Sound Mapping Mats (Free PDF)

Elkonin boxes, also called sound boxes, let a child see the sounds inside a word. The child says a word slowly and pushes one snowball token into a box for each sound. These winter Elkonin boxes cover twenty words, from three-sound CVC words to sled, a four-sound word with a blend, so the same mat grows with the child.

What’s inside

• Four words per page on five pages, each with a picture, one box per sound and a line to write the word.
• Words: hat, cat, map, van, hen, bed, net, jet, pig, pin, zip, fox, log, mop, hut, mug, plus sled (4 sounds), snow (3 sounds), ship (3 sounds) and moon (3 sounds).
• A page of snowball tokens to cut out. The answer key in the bonus ZIP lists the sounds for every word.

How to use in class

1. Show the picture and say the word, then say it slowly while pushing a snowball into each box.
2. Say the word again, sliding a finger under the boxes from left to right.
3. Start with the CVC words. Move on to sled, ship and moon when a child is confident.
4. As a last step, write a letter or letters under each box and read the word.

Who it’s for

Pre-K to Grade 1, and anyone who skips or swaps sounds when spelling. A good intervention tool.

Where it fits: Stage 3 — Blending & Segmenting (CVC Words)

Goes well with

• How to Teach Segmenting: The Skill Blending Depends On
• Phonological Awareness: 8-Level Progression with Ready Activities
• Word-Mapping / Elkonin Boxes (all-year version)
• Play Sound Boxes in the browser