Phonics worksheet · Short vowels and CVC words

Short Vowel Word Search

Ten short vowel words, two for each vowel, hidden across, down and diagonally down: jam, web, pig, fox, cup and more.

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Grade level
1st grade
Time
About 20 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

“Find all 10 words. They go across, down or diagonally down. Cross each one off the list!”

Printed on the sheet:

  1. Pick two words with the same short vowel sound. Write them:

Words on this sheet

jamwebpigfoxcupsixhenmudbaglip

Teacher tip

Ask kids to say the vowel sound of each word they find.

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 the sheet as a quick check after you teach the sound, then reteach in a small group.

Watch for

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

Talk about it

  • What vowel sound do you hear in the middle?
  • What sound does this letter or letter team make?

Take it further

Play “change one letter”: cat to hat to hot to hop.

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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