Christmas initial sound spotter activity

This Christmas initial sound spotter activity is ideal for Early Years and KS1 phonics sessions in the run-up to Christmas. Pupils look closely at each festive picture and colour the circles that match the initial sound, helping build confidence with early sound recognition. Each page includes a clear Christmas word prompt and a themed illustration such as Santa, a tree, an elf or an igloo.

Teachers can use these as a quick phonics warm-up, a morning task or as part of a continuous provision set-up. They fit well with Phase 2 work and support children who are still securing their first set of sounds. The simple layout and bold images make the sheets easy to follow, and each page is differentiated by picture rather than difficulty, so you can choose the right option for every child.

This Christmas phonics resource helps with:

• Recognising initial sounds in a motivating Christmas context
• Developing early segmenting and matching skills
• Encouraging careful looking and fine motor control
• Giving children a sense of success while practising key phonics steps

Perfect for December classrooms, phonics interventions or calmer end-of-term sessions when pupils need something engaging that still supports progress.

Explore the rest of our Christmas resources.