1st grade
Short e Words: Sound It Out
Six short e words (bed, hen, net, web, leg, ten) in sound boxes: say each sound, blend them, write the word and draw a picture of it.
Phonics worksheet · Short vowels and CVC words
Short u Words: Sound It Out
Six short u words (bus, cup, sun, bug, rug, tub) in sound boxes: say each sound, blend them, write the word and draw a picture of it.
- Grade level
- 1st grade
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Short vowel sounds, Blending CVC words, Segmenting sounds, Reading short sentences
What kids do
“Say each sound. Blend the sounds to read the word. Write the word, then draw it!”
Printed on the sheet:
- Sound boxes: one sound in each box. Touch each box as you say its sound, then sweep your finger under the word to blend. The short u is in the colored box.
Teacher tip
Short u is the “uh” sound. Kids often mix it with short o.
How to use it
- Say a word and let kids hold up a finger for each sound they hear.
- Work on one short vowel at a time before mixing them.
- Use it in a small reading group so you can hear each child sound out a few words.
Watch for
Kids who sound out each letter but can’t blend. Practice saying the sounds closer and closer together.
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
1st grade
Missing Short Vowels
Eight short sentences, each with a vowel missing from one word. The sentence tells kids which short vowel fits.
1st grade
Read and Draw: Short Vowels
Four silly short vowel sentences to read and draw. A quick check that kids read every word, not just the first one.
1st grade
Mixed Short Vowels: Sound It Out
Six short vowel words with a different vowel each time (cat, pen, pig, dot, bug, web) in sound boxes. Kids have to listen for which vowel it is.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.