Open Syllables

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Open Syllables

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.A

Basics on the topic Open Syllables

Follow along as Dee and Kala learn about open syllables. They happen when a word ends with a vowel, and that vowel says its name, like "go" or "hi."

So, when you see a syllable that ends with a vowel, remember that the vowel in that word gets to be a star and says its name loud and clear. Keep your ears open for open syllables in words you read and say!

Transcript Open Syllables

Dee and Kala want to take in the view from the top floor of Syllable Tower. So, they head to the lobby elevator to ride it to the tippy top! But as the doors begin to close, someone else tries to catch the elevator. Dee presses the open button to keep the doors from closing, but instead of keeping the doors open, something magical happens! They zoom off to a special floor, the floor of "Open Syllables"! Syllables are words, or word parts, that have one vowel sound and take one puff of air to say. But, did you know that there are six different types of syllables that each have their own rules? In kindergarten, we learn about the open syllable! An open syllable only has one vowel, at the end of the syllable, which makes a long vowel sound. The vowel always makes a long sound in an open syllable because it is open at the end. There is no consonant closing it in. In an open syllable, there can be consonants before the vowel, but never after. A vowel can be all by itself in an open syllable too, just like in the words A or I! To show that the vowel makes a long sound in an open syllable, we can mark it with a macron, a little line above the vowel. Let's mark the open syllable, hi, as an example! We draw a macron over the I, like this, to show that the I is making a long sound. Next, we draw a curved line underneath the letters to show they belong to one syllable. Finally, we write O, for open, to label the syllable type. Now, that we've learned all about open syllables, let's help Dee and Kala pick out the open syllable on the screen! Remember, open syllables only have one vowel at the end of the syllable, which makes a long vowel sound. Can you spot the open syllable: flub, met, or she? The open syllable is she! The E is the only vowel, and it is the last letter in the syllable. The letter E also makes the long E sound! Which one is the open syllable here: u, bed, ip? The open syllable is U! The U is the only vowel AND only letter in the syllable, so it is also the last letter. The letter U makes the long U sound too! While Dee and Kala walk back to the magic elevator, let's remember! Today we learned about open syllables! An open syllable only has one vowel, at the end of the syllable, which makes a long vowel sound. We mark an open syllable with a macron above the vowel, a scoop below the syllable, and an O underneath it all. "How interesting, Kala!" "Oh my Dee, did you press the close button? Here we go again!"

Open Syllables exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Open Syllables.

Find the open syllables.

Hints

An open syllable has one vowel at the end, which makes a long vowel sound. For example: thri, she, go.

A vowel can be all by itself in an open syllable too. For example, "I".

There are three open syllables in the picture.

Solution

Three open syllables are highlighted in green. They are: a, to, and he. These syllables have one vowel at the end.
Syllables ip and bid are not open syllables because they end in a consonant.
True or false?
Hints

Some examples of open syllables are: thri, she, go.

There are three correct answers.

Solution
The following rules about open syllables are correct:
- An open syllable only has one vowel.
- The vowel always makes a long sound in an open syllable.
- In an open syllable, there can be consonants before the vowel, but never after the vowel.
How do we mark the open syllable?
Hints

To mark that the vowel makes a long sound in an open syllable, we follow three steps. The first step is to mark it with a macron - a little line above the vowel.

Then, we draw a curved line under the letters to show they belong to one syllable.

Finally, we write O, for open, under the curved line to label the syllable type.

Solution
To mark that the vowel makes a long sound in an open syllable, we follow three steps.
- The first step is to mark it with a macron - a little line above the vowel.
- Then, we draw a curved line under the letters to show they belong to one syllable.
- Finally, we write O, for open, under the curved line to label the syllable type.
Which syllables are open?

Hints

An open syllable has one vowel at the end, which makes a long vowel sound. For example: me, go.

Some examples of closed syllables are: pot, map, pet.

In an open syllable, there can be consonants before the vowel, but never after the vowel.

Solution

Open syllables are: she, so, hi. These syllables have one vowel at the end, which makes a long vowel sound.
Closed syllables are: not, nap, pin. These syllables have a consonant at the end.
Listen and find pairs.
Hints

The vowel always makes a long sound in an open syllable.

An open syllable always ends in a vowel.

A vowel can be all by itself in an open syllable. For example, "a".

Solution
Listen to the audio to hear the correct pronunciation of the open syllables:
- me
- I
- no
- so
Can you find open syllables?

Hints

There are four open syllables in the sentence.

An open syllable only has one vowel at the end.

Listen to the audio if you want some help.

Solution

Open syllables in this sentence are: he, to, to, a. They end in one vowel that makes a long sound.
Syllables went, their, shop, get, gift, for, and Sam are not open syllables because they end in a consonant.