Related Episode:
108 A. Snug as a Bug
Age Range: 3-5
Skills: Rhyming
Subjects: Literacy and Language Development
Rhyme Ball
In “Snug as a Bug,” Frog and Bug try to find the word that finishes the rhyme “Snug as a bug in a ____.” They find several “ug” words, before they find the word RUG. In this fun activity you and your child can explore different rhyme words.
Materials:
- Tape
- Print out of BUG, CAT and FROG WordFriends (Click here for printable WordFriends page)
- One shoebox without a lid (or other small open box or bucket)
- Ball (which can fit into the box or bucket)
Directions:
- Tape the BUG WordFriend to the inside of the box.
- Place the box on its side so that the opening and the WordFriend face you and your child.
- Take the ball and stand a few feet away from the box with your child.
- Place the ball on the ground in front of you.
- Start the game by saying the word “Bug.” Once you have said the word, push or kick the ball a little in the direction of the open box.
- Then take turns saying words that rhyme with BUG.
Here are some ideas: hug, dug, mug, jug, tug, rug, slug, snug
For this game, it is also fine to come up with silly words, such as gug, sug and wug. - Once someone has said a rhyming word, push or kick the ball one more time.
- Keep going until you have successfully gotten the ball into the box.
Note: If you run out of words, before the ball goes in the box, repeat some of the words until the ball goes in the box. - Try playing the game with the Cat and Frog WordFriends. Take the Bug WordFriend away and tape the Cat or Frog WordFriend to the box. Repeat steps 2- 8 with Cat and Frog WordFriends. Here are some ideas for rhyming words:
- Words that rhyme with Cat: mat, rat, bat, hat, flat, fat, pat, that, sat
- Words that rhyme with Frog: fog, log, dog, hog, jog
Take it Further:
- Build a WordThing – Have your child make a WordThing with his favorite “ug” word. Write a word with “ug” in it, like “bug,” “rug” or “jug” in big letters on a piece of construction paper or cardboard. Then have your child turn the word into a WordThing by drawing an outline of the object’s shape around it and decorating it by drawing, painting and/or pasting on objects (like pom poms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, etc.).