FREE Printable S Blends Speech Therapy Game

Looking for a fun, engaging way for your child to work on s blends? This free printable s blends game is a great way to work on s blends speech therapy at home with Kindergarten, grade 1, and grade 2 students. Simply print the s blends activity and you are ready to practice sk, st, sw, and sc words!

S Blends

Ever wondered why your little one says “thtar” instead of “star” or “poon” instead of “spoon”? They’re grappling with /s/ blends, a common phonics challenge for many kids. Children should be able to say this correctly by ate 7 or 8. If they can’t you may need to look into speech therapy and a little extra help at home to accelerate the process. I’ve got a fun and engaging way to help them master these tricky s blends sounds! This s blend words activity is perfect for helping first grade and 2nd graders practice with s blends speech therapy at home!

What Are /S/ Blends?

An /s/ blend happens when the /s/ sound combines with another consonant, creating a blend. You’ll find these blends in words like “st”, “sn”, “sm”, “sp”, “sw”, “sk”, and “sl”. These blends can be tricky because they require the tongue, teeth, and airflow to work together precisely. For instance, “star,” “school,” and “smile” all start with these blends.

Why Practice /S/ Blends?

Practicing /s/ blends is crucial because mispronouncing these sounds can change the meaning of words. Imagine saying “cool” for “school” or “sick” for “stick”—it can make communication confusing! Plus, mastering these sounds helps with spelling and overall language development.

s blend words

The following are the s blend words included in this activity: scarecrow, scare, scout, scar, skirt, skelton, skill, skull, stage, stamp, stir, stem, swan, sweep, sweat, swallow, score, scooter, scale, scone, swing, switch, swamp, sweater, student, stairs, store, stapler, skate, skin, skinny, skateboard

S blends speech therapy

Before we dive into the game, here’s what you’ll need:

• Print off game boards and a spinner: You can easily find these online or create your own.

• Create a spinner: Use a paper clip and pencil or purchase a spinner from a craft store.
• Gather game pieces: Any small items like buttons or coins will do.

• 

S blends Game

1. • Set up: Place the game board and spinner on a flat surface. Each player chooses a game piece.
   • Spin and say the blend: Player one spins the spinner and says the /s/ blend out loud. Then, they move their piece up one space at a time, saying the name of each picture carefully. For example, if the spinner lands on “sw,” they move until they land on a word that starts with “sw,” like “sweater.”
   • Encourage proper pronunciation: Gently remind your child of the correct tongue, teeth, and airflow coordination for each /s/ blend.
   • Winning the game: The game continues until a player spins a blend that’s not in front of them, allowing them to move their piece to the end and win!

Articulate speaking exercises

Tips for Success:

• • Model the sounds: Show your child how to position their tongue and teeth to make the /s/ sound correctly.
  • Consistent practice: The more your child practices, the more confident they’ll become in using these blends.
  • Helpful reminders: It may be helpful to remind our little ones that generally “sc” will be followed by “a,” “o,” or “u” (as in “scar”), and “sk” will be followed by “i,” “e,” or “y” (as in “skill” and “skeleton”).

By turning phonics practice into a game, you’ll keep your child engaged and excited about learning. Happy blending!