Find the Star - /j/

Are you ready to add some excitement to your phonics lessons? Our Find the Star – /j/ Sound Game is a fun and interactive way for students to practice identifying and reading words with the /j/ sound! Designed to get students up, moving, and engaged, this activity is perfect for small groups, literacy centres, or even as a whole-class game.

How the Game Works

Here’s how to play the Find the Star game:

Print and Prepare: Print out the game materials.

Words with the /j/ sound—like jail, budge, barge, and others—are hidden beneath star flaps.

Hide the Stars: Cut out and place the star cards around the classroom, playground, or learning space. Hide them in fun and accessible places for students to find.
Find the Star: Students move around the space, searching for the hidden stars. Once they find a star, they lift the flap to reveal a word with the /j/ sound.
Read and Record: Students read the word aloud and either write it down or use a recording sheet to note the words they’ve found.
Extend the Learning: For extra practice, ask students to use the words they find in sentences or sort them by spelling patterns.

Why Choose Find the Star – /j/ Sound Words?

Phonics Practice with a Twist: Turns phonics into a fun, active game that reinforces word recognition and decoding.

Movement-Based Learning: Encourages students to move and explore, making phonics practice dynamic and engaging.
Reinforces the /j/ Sound: Helps students focus on the specific /j/ phoneme in a range of words, supporting their phonics and spelling skills.
Easy to Set Up: Just print, cut, and hide the cards—no prep time required!

Classroom Tips

Use as a literacy centre game to keep students engaged during phonics practice.
Combine with other phonics games to create a rotation of activities.
Encourage students to create their own sentences using the words they find.
Use as a team challenge—who can find and read the most /j/ sound words?

Download Your Free Resource

Find the Star – /j/ Sound Words is available for free on our website. Click the link below to download, print, and get your students moving and reading today!

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