Read and Draw: Short Vowels

Grade level

1st grade

Time

About 20 minutes

Topic

Short vowels and CVC words

Answer key

Not needed: answers vary

Kids practice

Short vowel sounds, Blending CVC words, Segmenting sounds, Reading short sentences

What kids do

“Read each sentence. Draw a picture to show what it says.”

Printed on the sheet:

1. 1. A fish sits on a big ship.
2. 2. The red hen has a hat.
3. 3. A frog naps in the sun.
4. 4. The duck is in the tub.

Teacher tip

The silly sentences show who is really reading every word.

How to use it

• Model blending with your arm: touch your shoulder, elbow and wrist for each sound, then slide down.
• Push a counter into each sound box as you say each sound.
• Use it in a small reading group so you can hear each child sound out a few words.

Watch for

Short e and short i are the hardest to tell apart. Exaggerate the mouth shapes.

Talk about it

• If we change the first letter, what new word do we get?
• How did you figure out that word?

Take it further

Build CVC words with letter tiles at a center.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.