Minimal Pairs Activity

Materials
several pairs of cards labeled with minimal pairs that differ between the /ɛ/ and /æ/ sounds, ie:
*pet/pat
*bet/bat
*letter/latter
*better/batter
*set/sat
*dead/dad
*met/mat
*said/sad


Procedure
1.  With a partner, students will sort cards according to vowel sound.  They will put all words with /ɛ/ sound in one column and all words with /æ/ in another column.
2.  After sorting the words, they will then match up all the minimal pairs.
3.  Students will then practice pronouncing, listening, and identifying the words.  The teacher will announce a minimal pair to start with by writing it on the board.  She will then pronounce one of the words in the pairs, and the students will hold up the correct word.  She will then pronounce the second word of the pair, and the students will hold up that word.  After practicing this way with two or three sets of words, the students will take turns pronouncing one word and his/her partner will point to the word pronounced.  


Extension
1. The teacher will announce a minimal pair to use.  She will recite a sentence.  The student will hold up the correct word from the minimal pair.
2. The teacher will announce a minimal pair to use.  She will recite a sentence with a word missing.  The student will hold up the correct word to be used from the minimal pair.