Phonics worksheet · Short vowels and CVC words

Real or Silly Words?

Six real and six made-up CVC words (sat and zat, fun and fum) to sound out and sort. Silly words show who is really blending.

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Grade level
1st grade
Time
About 15 minutes
Answer key
Yes, page 2 of the PDF
Kids practice
Short vowel sounds, Blending CVC words, Segmenting sounds, Reading short sentences

What kids do

“Sound out each word. Is it a real word or a silly word? Write it in the right column.”

Printed on the sheet:

  1. A silly word follows the sound rules but has no meaning. Sound it out, then decide: is it a real word?

Words on this sheet

funmippigsatwebjopfumwibzatbedreal wordhopvedsilly word

Teacher tip

Silly words show who is blending and who is guessing. Listen closely.

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.
  • Keep a set of letter tiles or magnetic letters on the table for building 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.

More short vowels and cvc words worksheets

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