Teaching syllable types: Open and closed syllables slide outlines

1. Teaching syllable types: Open and closed syllables in one-syllable words

Extract from a Literacy Hub professional learning webinar.

2. Syllable type: open and closed syllables (one-syllable words)

Generalisations for use: In an open syllable, the vowel is not followed by a consonant, so it makes its long sound. In a closed syllable, the vowel is followed by one or more consonants, so it makes its short sound.

3. Short and long syllable game

[Image: an activity to play with students to identify whether a word uses a short and long syllable type. A selection of nine letters sit to the left. The letters are: g, n, t, s, h, b, e, I, o. A picture to the centre shows three figures, a royal person in the middle (representing the ‘royal vowel’) and two royal guards on either side. In the example, the letter for the first guard is ‘n’. The letter for the royal vowel is ‘o’, and the letter for the second guard is ‘t’. Student needs to identify that the royal vowel makes its short sound as it is closed in. The right-hand guard is then removed, leaving the letters ‘n’ and ‘o’. Without the second guard closing in the syllable, the royal vowel can make its long sound, long o, so the word becomes ‘no’.]

4. Sample open and closed syllables in one-syllable words

not / no

got / go

hem / he

hip / hi

met / me

sob / so

shed / she