Elkonin Boxes: Tap It, Map It, Zap It, and Graph It

Elkonin boxes are an excellent tool to help young learners build phonemic awareness. This resource has both picture and text support. Students are distributed the correct amount of magnetic chips to place in the box at the top of their mat.

Example:

Teacher: Say 'cat'

Student: cat

Teacher: TAP IT

Student: /c/ /a/ /t/ (Student will tap it out with their fingers)

Teacher: MAP IT

Student: The student will drag the magnetic chips into the correct circles as they sound the word out again.

(Depending on which mat you are using, will determine which step you take next.)

Option 1: Graphing Mat

Teacher: GRAPH IT

Student: The student(s) will drag each chip down as they sound out the individual phonemes and then write the letter that matches the sound. Next, you may choose to clear the board and erase, or ZAP IT!

Option 2: Zap It Mat with Arrows and Lines

Student: The student(s) will drag each chip down as they sound out the individual phonemes. Once they have all the chips slid down the arrows, the teacher will say, "ZAP IT." The student will take their magnet or magnetic wand and slide over the word from left to right to ZAP the word!

Option 3: Zap It Mat

Teacher: ZAP IT

Student: The student will take their magnet or magnetic wand and slide over the word from left to right to ZAP the word!

This activity can be used during small group instruction, intervention, and independent center work. This resource includes three mat options for 3, 4, 5, and 6 phonemes. You can find the magnet wands and chips on Amazon! Search "magnet wand with chips." Also, I print this resource on white cardstock and place it in dry erase pockets. You can also purchase these on Amazon, when searching 'dry erase pockets'. Each mat is 8.5"x11".