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Word Counter

Run the Word Counter MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

The Word Counter MicroSim helps kindergarten students develop the "concept of word" - the understanding that spoken language consists of individual words separated by spaces in print. This foundational skill is essential for tracking print during read-alouds and for early writing.

Features

  • Sentence Library: 22 simple sentences ranging from 2-5 words
  • Visual Blocks: Colorful blocks appear for each word counted
  • Audio Support: Hear the sentence spoken, then hear words spoken individually after correct answers
  • Difficulty Levels: Filter by 2, 3, 4, or 5 word sentences
  • Celebration Animation: Falling block particles reward correct answers
  • Large Tap Target: Easy tapping for young fingers

How to Use

  1. Listen: Click "Hear Sentence" to hear the sentence spoken
  2. Count: Tap the orange circle once for each word you hear
  3. Watch: Colorful blocks appear showing your count
  4. Check: Click "Check" to see if you counted correctly
  5. Learn: After a correct answer, hear each word spoken separately
  6. Continue: Click "New" for another sentence to count

Sentence Difficulty

2 Words: "Run fast." | "I play." | "Go home." 3 Words: "I am happy." | "The cat runs." | "I like dogs." 4 Words: "The dog is big." | "I like to run." 5 Words: "I like to play ball." | "The big dog can run."

Iframe Example

You can include this MicroSim on your website using the following iframe:

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/reading-for-kindergarten/sims/word-counter/main.html"
        height="482px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, students will be able to:

  1. Remember: Recall that sentences are made up of individual words
  2. Understand: Explain that words in speech correspond to words in print
  3. Apply: Count the number of words in simple spoken sentences
  4. Analyze: Identify where one word ends and another begins

Suggested Activities

  1. Movement Counting: Have students take a step for each word in a sentence
  2. Block Building: Use physical blocks to represent words before the digital tool
  3. Finger Tracking: Point to each word in print while listening to audio
  4. Sentence Building: Create sentences with a target number of words

Assessment Opportunities

  • Track which sentence lengths students master first
  • Note if students count syllables instead of words
  • Observe if compound concepts (like "ice cream") cause confusion

Differentiation

  • Support: Start with 2-word sentences; use sentences with clear word boundaries
  • Challenge: Include sentences with contractions to discuss "hidden words"

Common Misconceptions

  • Counting syllables instead of words
  • Thinking phrases like "a lot" are one word
  • Not counting small words like "a," "the," "is"

Technical Notes

  • Uses p5.js for interactive graphics
  • Web Speech API for sentence pronunciation
  • Web Audio API for tap feedback sounds
  • Touch and mouse input supported
  • Responsive design adapts to container width

References