Sounds Like...

Directions:

Onomatopoeia is a term for words that sound like what they are, such as "buzz," "hiss," and "ping." With a little applied theatrics, your kids can probably make a lot of words onomatopoetic.

The word "big," for example, which even though it isn't (big, that is) can certainly sound "big" if said in a deep, resonant voice. And even though "little" is bigger than "big," it won't sound that way if it's said in a soft, squeaky voice.

Make a game out of creating sentences that use words that sound like what they describe, and challenge your kids to use as much tone, volume, and inflection as necessary to take the idea to a silly extreme.

Begin by helping them think of words that genuinely fit the bill: "hiss," "buzz," "crunch," "pop," "sizzle," "bang," and "swish," for example. Then have your children add their own interpretations of how particular words should sound.

So, what's the sound of children pretending to be asleep in the backseat of a car? Snooooooze!

More on: Games for the Whole Family

Excerpted from:

© 2005 by Steve and Ruth Bennett. Excerpted from 365 Unplugged Family Fun Activities with permission of its publisher, Perseus Books Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

To order this book visit perseusbooksgroup.com.