Caboose Sounds

Final consonant deletion is currently trending on my caseload. I created this activity with a certain little one in mind, but what preschooler doesn't love trains?


The purpose of the activity is to target minimal pairs. We talk about trains and how each one has a special car that always rides on the end: the caboose. Then I explain that some words have a special "caboose sound" too. If we forget the caboose sound, people might think we are talking about something else.


There are two sets of cards. Train Cards carry words that have caboose sounds...


... and Coal Cards carry words that do not. The object is to collect train cards to build a loooong train behind your engine (I draw or put a picture of the client in as the conductor), but you have to remember the caboose sound or you'll end up with a piece of coal in your rock pile instead - bummer!


There are other variations for the cards. Sometimes we work on auditory discrimination where I say the words and the student guesses whether they heard the "train" word or the "coal" word.

What language do you use to talk about final consonant deletion with little ones?

13 comments:

  1. This is so cute! I am always looking for new FCD activities! Sometimes I have my students drop a block in a bucket as they say the end sound to emphasize that they need to say the end of the word.

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    1. Thanks! I like the block idea, I'll have to give it a try - anything tactile :)

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    2. These have really helped my students!
      Thank you!

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  2. These are too cute! Thank you for sharing!

    Miss Thrifty SLP

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  3. My preschoolers will love this! Thank you so much!

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  4. love love this! Ccan't wait to use it! Thanks! :)

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  5. Perfect! I like how you included the picture with the target words - really helps my young ones! Thanks!

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  6. I have just landed my first SLP job post grad-school (woohooo!) at a preschool for kiddos with developmental disabilities. As a CFY/SLP, I MUST thank you thank you thank you for your inspiration and materials that you have graciouisly made available. You're site has been so helpful to me and you service delivery model is such a motivation for me. Your love for you work truly show.
    Thanks so much,
    -Alli
    agraham@lawrencedd.org

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  7. Apparently I need ST myself. That should read "Your love for your work truly shows"

    -Overwhelmed CFY/SLP ;-)

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  8. This is a great activity! I seem to have gotten a load of little FCD guys who also love trains, so thank you!

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  9. I love the idea and how you have done up your train cards. Is there any way to get a copy of these cards? I'd even be willing to pay to gain access. thanks! Pam Lamon

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  10. As I'm cutting out these little trains, I felt I had to stop and thank you for such a creative and adorable idea! I'm going to velcro them on a felt board. I can't wait to try it. I work with preschool children, most of whom have Autism. I'm beyond excited!! Thank you so much!!

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