Kindergarten
First Sound Sort: b, d, p
The three letters kids mix up most: twelve words to sort under b, d or p, with a tip for telling them apart.
Phonics worksheet · Letter sounds
First Sound Sort: m, s, t
Twelve short words to read and sort by their first letter: mat, mug and mix, sun and sip, tub and ten.
- Grade level
- Kindergarten
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Letter sounds
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Letter recognition, Letter sounds, Beginning, middle and ending sounds, Letter formation
What kids do
“Read each word. Listen to its first sound. Write it under the letter it starts with.”
Words on this sheet
matsipmugtubsuntagsobtensetmenmix
Teacher tip
Read each word together, then let kids sort on their own.
How to use it
- Say the sound with a picture and a motion, like a buzzing hand for /b/ in bee.
- Model each letter in the air, then on the board, saying the strokes out loud.
- Say every word on the sheet together before kids start, stretching the sounds.
Watch for
Adding “uh” to stop sounds, like “buh” for /b/. Keep sounds short and crisp.
Talk about it
- Whose name in our class starts with this sound?
- How did you figure out that word?
Take it further
Bring something from home that starts with the letter for a sound show-and-tell.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More letter sounds worksheets
Kindergarten
First Sound Sort: c, g, h
Twelve words to sort by first sound under c, g and h: cat and cup, gum and gap, hat and hen.
Kindergarten
First Sound Sort: f, l, n
Twelve words to sort by first sound under f, l and n: fan and fox, lap and log, nap and nut.
Kindergarten
First Sound Sort: r, w, y
Twelve words to sort by first sound under r, w and y: rat and rug, web and wig, yes, yak and yum.
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