Preschool Clap the Syllables worksheets

About this worksheet

A syllable is a beat in a spoken word, and clapping those beats is the first time many children hear that a word has parts inside it. Preschoolers often clap once for every sound they can name, so pencil turns into five claps instead of two. Put a hand flat under the chin instead: the jaw drops once for each beat, and the count stops being a guess. The first two levels show one picture at a time and ask for a number, which is a numeral, not a word to read.

The third level turns the question around: an adult asks for a picture with a set number of claps, and the child has to count several names before choosing. That is a real change of demand, not a longer timer. Say each word at an ordinary speed. Stretching apple into app-ul-uh invents a beat that is not there, and a child who hears you do it will copy it.

What your child will learn

• Hear the beats inside a spoken picture name
• Clap and count one, two and three beat words
• Match a spoken beat count with a numeral
• Find a picture that has a given number of beats

Head Start ELOF standard: P-LIT 1, RF.K.2.B