This winter-themed rhyming activity helps young learners practice identifying words that sound the same. Children match 30 illustrated mitten pairs in 10 bright colors, making it an engaging way to strengthen early phonological awareness during literacy centers or small group instruction.

Skills Targeted

Rhyming Awareness – Students identify and match picture pairs that rhyme, building foundational phonological awareness for early reading.
Word Recognition & Vocabulary – Students strengthen vocabulary and picture recognition while listening for words with the same ending sound.
Fine Motor Development – Sorting, handling, and linking mittens supports hand strength, coordination, and bilateral motor skills.

Preparation

Print the mitten cards on standard paper or cardstock.
Laminate for durability and repeated use.
Cut along the outside lines to separate each mitten.
Optional: Punch a hole in the bottom of each mitten so students can connect matching pairs with plastic links.

How to Use

Lay a small set of mitten cards on a flat learning surface.
Students choose one mitten and name the picture shown.
They listen carefully to the ending sound and look for a mitten that rhymes.
When a match is found, students say both words aloud.
If holes have been punched, students use plastic links to connect each rhyming pair.

Other Fun Uses

Sensory Bin Activity – Place the mitten cards in a sensory bin for students to dig, find, and match rhyming pairs.
Room Search Game – Post mitten cards around the classroom and have students travel to locate and match rhymes.
Create Another Rhyme – After forming a match, students think of new words that rhyme with their pair.
Silly Sentence Builder – Students use their matched rhymes to make playful sentences.