Say words starting with 'M' & 'P' without moving your lips!
Try to say words beginning with M and P while keeping your lips still, record how sounds change, and learn about speech production.
Step-by-step guide to say words starting with 'M' & 'P' without moving your lips
Step 1
Gather your materials and take them to a quiet spot.
Step 2
Sit in front of the mirror so you can clearly see your lips.
Step 3
Take three slow deep breaths to relax your mouth and face.
Step 4
On your paper write five words that start with the letter M.
Step 5
On your paper write five words that start with the letter P.
Step 6
Press your lips gently together so they cannot move.
Step 7
Say the first M word three times while keeping your lips still.
Step 8
Write one short sentence about how the M word sounded with your lips still.
Step 9
Keep your lips gently pressed together and say the first P word three times.
Step 10
Write one short sentence about how the P word sounded with your lips still.
Step 11
Repeat saying each remaining M and P word with your lips still and write one note for each word.
Step 12
Draw a small picture that shows whether each word sounded like it came from your nose or your mouth.
Step 13
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a mirror or paper?
Use your phone or tablet front-facing camera or a shiny spoon as the 'mirror' from step 2, and replace paper in steps 4–9 with a notes or drawing app so you can write five M and P words and draw the small picture.
My lips keep moving when I press them together—how can I fix that?
If your lips move during steps 5–9, watch your reflection (step 2), place a fingertip lightly on your lips for tactile feedback, and slow each word into separate parts while repeating it three times as instructed in steps 6 and 8.
How can we adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger children, shorten steps 4–9 to two M and two P words and have them draw instead of writing sentences, while older kids can list more words, record themselves during steps 6 and 8, and add a short written explanation of why some words sounded nasal or oral.
How can we make the activity more fun or personalized?
To extend the project, turn steps 4–10 into a family challenge with timed rounds, color-code the drawings from step 10 (e.g., blue for nose, red for mouth), and create a short mirror-video of your practice to share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to say words starting with 'M' & 'P' without moving your lips
30 Words Starting with Letter M || Letter M words || Words that starts with M
4 Videos
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WORDS THAT START WITH LETTER Mm | 'm' Words | Phonics | Initial Sounds | LEARN LETTER Mm
Words that start with M with live examples | letter M words for kids | WATRstar
Facts about speech production and articulation
🗣️ The sounds /m/ and /p/ are bilabial — they normally use both lips, so keeping lips still changes how they come out!
🤫 /m/ is a voiced nasal (air goes through the nose) while /p/ is a voiceless plosive (a tiny puff or 'pop' of air).
🎧 Recording your voice helps you catch small sound differences that you might not notice while speaking.
🧠 Practicing speech shows how your brain and mouth team up — the more you try, the clearer you can shape sounds.
🔬 Speech scientists study lip movement and airflow with slow-motion video and sound analysis to see how sounds form.
