Short Word Sounds (CVC)
The Spark
Concept
CVC words have three phonemes: a consonant, a short vowel, then another consonant — e.g. cat = /k/ /a/ /t/. Blending these sounds together is the heart of phonics-based reading. Segmenting (breaking words apart) is the reverse skill, used for spelling.
Activity
Demonstrate blending by saying the three sounds slowly then speeding up: /k/ ... /a/ ... /t/ ... kat ... cat! Compare it to a train starting slowly and then moving faster as the sounds join together.
Check
Say a CVC word stretched out (/c/ /u/ /p/) and ask your child to blend it into one word. Then say a whole word and ask them to stretch it out into three separate sounds.
Match CVC Words (Set A)
Draw a line to match each word on the left to the same word on the right. Sound out each word!
Sound Boxes (Set A)
Listen to each word. Write one letter in each box. Then write the whole word.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → cat
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → sun
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → hat
Which Word Is It? (Set A)
Read the clue. Sound out the words. Circle the correct CVC word.
A thing you put on your head
A furry pet that says meow
Bright and hot in the sky
Match CVC Words (Set B)
Draw a line to match each word to the same word.
Sound Boxes (Set B)
Write one letter per box. Then write the whole word.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → dog
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → cup
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → pen
Which Word Is It? (Set B)
Read the clue. Circle the correct word.
A pet that barks
You drink from it
You write with it
Match CVC Words (Set C)
Draw a line to match each word to the same word.
Sound Boxes (Set C)
Write one letter per box. Then write the whole word.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → bed
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → mop
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → run
Which Word Is It? (Set C)
Read the clue. Circle the correct word.
You sleep in it
Used to clean floors
Moving fast on your legs
Match Six CVC Words
Draw a line to match each word on the left to the correct word on the right.
Read and Choose (Set A)
Sound out each word. Circle the real word in each row.
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Write the CVC Word (Set A)
Look at each clue. Write the CVC word.
A hat goes on your ______ (3 letters, rhymes with bed)
A cat sits on a ______ (3 letters, rhymes with hat)
The sun is very ______ (3 letters, rhymes with dot)
Sort by Middle Vowel: /a/ and /o/
Listen to the middle sound. Sort each word into the correct column.
Unscramble the Sounds (Set A)
The sounds are mixed up. Write them in the right order to spell the word.
Tip: The Blending Train
Reading CVC words is like driving a train! Start slowly: /c/ ... /a/ ... /t/. Then speed up: c-a-t... CAT! Always say the sounds slowly first, then blend them faster and faster.
Blend these sounds: /h/ /a/ /t/ → ______
Blend these sounds: /d/ /o/ /g/ → ______
Read and Choose (Set B)
Sound out each word. Circle the real word.
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Draw and Write CVC Words (Set A)
Draw a picture of each word. Then write the word underneath.
Draw and write: cat
Draw and write: sun
Draw and write: dog
Match the Word to Its Vowel Sound
Draw a line from each word to the vowel sound in its middle.
What Is the Middle Sound? (Set A)
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle of the word?
cat
dog
cup
CVC Spark: Words All Around You!
Look around the room. Can you find something that is a CVC word? (Like a cup, a hat, a pen, a bed?) Draw it and write the word.
I found: ______ Draw it:
Sort by Middle Vowel: /a/, /i/, /o/, /u/
Listen to the middle sound. Sort each word.
Sound Boxes (Set D)
Write one letter per box.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → big
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → top
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → red
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → hug
What Is the Middle Sound? (Set B)
What vowel sound do you hear in the middle?
big
red
hug
sit
Unscramble the Sounds (Set B)
Write the sounds in the right order to spell the word.
Match CVC Words to Clues (Set A)
Draw a line from each clue to the CVC word that matches.
Which Word Is It? (Set D)
Read the clue. Circle the correct word.
A tiny creature with six legs
A red fruit
Not cold
A baby cat
Sort by Middle Vowel: All Five Vowels
Sort each word by its middle vowel sound.
Write a CVC Word for Each Vowel
Write one CVC word with each middle vowel sound.
/a/ word: ______
/e/ word: ______
/i/ word: ______
/o/ word: ______
/u/ word: ______
Read and Choose (Set C)
Sound out each word. Circle the real word.
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Which is a real word?
Tip: Segmenting — Breaking Words Apart
Segmenting is the opposite of blending! Instead of pushing sounds together, you pull them apart. Cat → /c/ /a/ /t/. This is the spelling skill! Try segmenting these words.
sun → /___/ /___/ /___/
dog → /___/ /___/ /___/
pen → /___/ /___/ /___/
Match Words with Same Middle Sound
Draw a line to match words that have the SAME middle vowel sound.
Change the First Sound (Set A)
Change just the first sound to make a new word. Example: cat → change /c/ to /b/ → bat.
cat → change /c/ to /h/ → ______
dog → change /d/ to /l/ → ______
sun → change /s/ to /b/ → ______
pen → change /p/ to /h/ → ______
What Is the Last Sound? (Set A)
What sound do you hear at the END of the word?
cat
dog
cup
bed
Sound Boxes (Set E)
Write one letter per box.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → pit
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → bag
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → wet
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → gum
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → fox
Change the Last Sound
Change just the last sound to make a new word.
cat → change /t/ to /n/ → ______
bed → change /d/ to /g/ → ______
hot → change /t/ to /p/ → ______
pin → change /n/ to /t/ → ______
Which Word Matches the Picture Clue? (Set A)
Circle the CVC word that matches the clue.
It has wheels and goes fast
Red and grows on trees
You use it to dig in sand
Draw and Write CVC Words (Set B)
Draw and write each word.
Draw and write: bed
Draw and write: cup
Draw and write: pen
Match CVC Words to Clues (Set B)
Draw a line from each clue to the matching CVC word.
Change the Middle Sound
Change just the middle vowel sound to make a new word.
cat → change /a/ to /u/ → ______
hat → change /a/ to /o/ → ______
big → change /i/ to /a/ → ______
pin → change /i/ to /a/ → ______
CVC Spark: Robot Talk!
Play Robot Talk! A robot speaks in separate sounds: /c/ /u/ /p/. Can you be a robot? Break these words into three robot sounds.
Robot says 'hat': /___/ /___/ /___/
Robot says 'dog': /___/ /___/ /___/
Robot says 'cup': /___/ /___/ /___/
Now YOU choose a word for robot talk:
Speed Read: Real or Nonsense? (Set A)
Read each word quickly. Circle REAL if it is a real word, or NONSENSE if it is made up.
cat
zop
bed
mip
sun
feg
Write CVC Words from Memory
Your parent will say a word. Write it in the box without seeing it first!
Word 1: ______
Word 2: ______
Word 3: ______
Word 4: ______
Word 5: ______
Sort CVC Words by Ending Sound
Sort each word by its ENDING sound.
Word Ladder (Set A)
Change one letter at a time to make a new CVC word. Example: cat → hat (changed c to h).
cat → change the first letter → ______
______ → change the middle letter → ______
______ → change the last letter → ______
Tip: Three Sounds, Three Letters
Every CVC word has exactly three sounds and three letters. The first sound is a consonant, the middle sound is a vowel, and the last sound is a consonant. C-V-C! Try identifying each part.
In 'cat': C = ___, V = ___, C = ___
In 'dog': C = ___, V = ___, C = ___
Speed Read: Real or Nonsense? (Set B)
Read each word quickly. Circle REAL or NONSENSE.
pen
bof
run
tig
hot
jep
Match CVC Words to Pictures (Set A)
Draw a line from each word to the correct picture name.
Write a CVC Word That Starts With...
Write a CVC word that starts with each letter.
Starts with 'c': ______
Starts with 'h': ______
Starts with 'b': ______
Starts with 'd': ______
Starts with 'r': ______
Unscramble the Sounds (Set C)
Put the sounds in the right order.
CVC Word Families (Set A)
Write as many CVC words as you can for each word family.
-at family (cat, hat, ...): ___________________
-og family (dog, log, ...): ___________________
-un family (sun, run, ...): ___________________
Odd One Out: Different Middle Sound
Circle the word with a DIFFERENT middle sound.
cat, hat, hot
big, sit, cup
run, sun, dog
CVC Sentence Writing (Set A)
Use each CVC word in a short sentence.
cat: ___________________________
sun: ___________________________
bed: ___________________________
Word Ladder (Set B)
Change one letter at a time to make a new CVC word.
dog → ______ (change one letter)
______ → ______ (change one letter)
______ → ______ (change one letter)
Which CVC Word Completes the Sentence?
Circle the word that completes the sentence.
The ___ sat on the mat.
I can ___ fast.
The ___ is hot.
I am in ___.
Sort CVC Words by Beginning Sound
Sort each CVC word by its beginning sound.
CVC Word Families (Set B)
Write as many CVC words as you can for each word family.
-en family (pen, hen, ...): ___________________
-ig family (big, dig, ...): ___________________
-ot family (hot, dot, ...): ___________________
Match CVC Words to Sentence Clues
Draw a line from each sentence to the CVC word that fits.
Sound Boxes (Set F)
Write one letter per box.
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → jam
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → vet
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → win
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → zip
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ] → yak
Speed Read: Real or Nonsense? (Set C)
Read quickly. Circle REAL or NONSENSE.
jam
vet
nup
win
zep
fox
CVC Word Hunt
Practise blending CVC words in real life.
- 1Write 3 CVC words on sticky notes and hide them. Your child blends the word and finds the matching object.
- 2Play robot talk: say a word in robot sounds (/c/-/u/-/p/) and your child says the real word.
- 3Take turns being the robot — your child segments words for you to blend.
- 4Use bath letters or fridge magnets to build and blend CVC words.
CVC Sentence Writing (Set B)
Write a sentence using each CVC word.
dog: ___________________________
hat: ___________________________
cup: ___________________________
pen: ___________________________
Which CVC Word Completes the Sentence? (Set B)
Circle the word that fits.
The ___ is in the pond.
I sat on my ___.
Put the lid on the ___.
The bug is on the ___.
Write a CVC Word That Ends With...
Write a CVC word that ends with each sound.
Ends with /t/: ______
Ends with /g/: ______
Ends with /n/: ______
Ends with /d/: ______
Ends with /p/: ______
Sort: CVC Words I Can Read vs Still Learning
Read each word. If you can read it easily, put it in the 'I Can Read It!' column. If you need help, put it in the 'Still Learning' column.
CVC Rhyming Pairs
Write a CVC word that rhymes with each word.
cat → ______
dog → ______
pen → ______
cup → ______
big → ______
Write a Two-Word Sentence
Write a tiny sentence using two CVC words. Example: Big dog. Red hat.
Sentence 1: ___________________________
Sentence 2: ___________________________
Sentence 3: ___________________________
Speed Read: Real or Nonsense? (Set D)
Read quickly!
map
dib
van
gop
wet
pim
Draw and Write CVC Words (Set C)
Draw each word and write it underneath.
Draw and write: fox
Draw and write: jam
Grand CVC Match: 8 Words
Draw a line to match each word to its clue.
CVC Word Families (Set C)
Write as many words as you can for each family.
-up family: ___________________
-et family: ___________________
-an family: ___________________
CVC Sentence Writing (Set C)
Write a sentence for each word. Make them interesting!
run: ___________________________
big: ___________________________
hot: ___________________________
Change One Letter: What Is the New Word?
Change ONE letter to make a new word. Circle the correct answer.
cat → change c to h →
dog → change d to l →
sun → change s to b →
pen → change p to h →
CVC Mini Story (Set A)
Write a mini story using at least THREE CVC words. It can be silly!
My CVC story:
Unscramble the Sounds: Grand Challenge
Put the sounds in the right order.
Tip: Building Longer Words from CVC
CVC words are the building blocks of longer words! 'cat' is inside 'caterpillar'. 'sun' is inside 'sunshine'. Can you find the CVC word hiding inside each longer word?
The CVC word in 'hatbox' is: ______
The CVC word in 'sunset' is: ______
The CVC word in 'hotdog' is: ______
Write All the CVC Words You Know!
How many CVC words can you write in 2 minutes? Write as many as you can!
My CVC words:
Total: ______ words!
Which CVC Word Completes the Sentence? (Set C)
Circle the word that fits.
The ___ ate a fish.
I can ___ a bus.
Mum ___ for a run.
The ___ is on a web.
CVC Riddles
Solve each riddle. The answer is a CVC word!
I have four legs and say meow. I am a ______.
I am round and you kick me. I am a ______.
I am hot and yellow in the sky. I am the ______.
You put me on a hook to catch fish. I am a ______.
Write Your Own CVC Riddle
Make up a riddle where the answer is a CVC word!
My riddle: ___________________________
The answer is: ______
CVC Spark: CVC Words at the Shops
If you went to the shops, which CVC words could you find? Think about things you might see or buy!
CVC words I might see at the shops: ___________________________
CVC Sentence Writing (Set D)
Write a sentence for each word.
map: ___________________________
van: ___________________________
fox: ___________________________
Grand CVC Sort: All Five Vowels
Sort every word by its middle vowel sound.
CVC Mini Story (Set B)
Write another mini story using CVC words. Try to use FIVE CVC words this time!
My CVC story:
Grand CVC Quiz (Set A)
Read each word and circle whether it is REAL or NONSENSE.
vet
dap
fox
wib
yak
rog
CVC Word Families: Grand Challenge
Write as many words as you can for each family. Try for 5 each!
-at: ___________________________
-og: ___________________________
-un: ___________________________
-en: ___________________________
-ig: ___________________________
Match 10 CVC Words to Clues
Draw a line from each word to its meaning.
Draw and Label a CVC Scene
Draw a picture of a park, house or garden. Label as many things in your picture as you can using CVC words.
Draw your scene:
CVC word labels I used: ___________________________
Grand CVC Quiz (Set B)
Circle the correct CVC word for each clue.
A colour
Not small
You sit on it
Very warm
A garden tool
CVC Crossword Clues
Read each clue and write the CVC word answer.
1. Across: A pet that purrs. (3 letters) ______
2. Down: Opposite of cold. (3 letters) ______
3. Across: The opposite of sit. (3 letters) ______
4. Down: A yellow star in the sky. (3 letters) ______
Tip: You Are a Reader Now!
You can read CVC words — and that means you are a reader! Every long word is made up of small sound chunks. The skills you have practised here (blending, segmenting, listening to sounds) are the exact same skills real readers use every day.
I am proud that I can read: ___________________________
CVC Challenge: Write 20 CVC Words
Can you write 20 different CVC words? Use all five vowel sounds!
My 20 CVC words:
CVC Sentence Challenge
Write a sentence that uses as many CVC words as possible! Example: The big red cat sat on a mat.
My CVC sentence:
What Is the First Sound? Last Sound? Middle Sound?
Answer each question about the sounds in the word.
cat: first sound?
cat: last sound?
cat: middle sound?
dog: first sound?
dog: middle sound?
Make Up New CVC Words
Invent three CVC words that are NOT real words. Then write what they might mean if they were real!
My made-up word: ______. It means: _______________
My made-up word: ______. It means: _______________
My made-up word: ______. It means: _______________
CVC Mini Story (Set C)
Write your best mini story yet! Use at least SIX CVC words.
My best CVC story:
Sort: Words I Can Spell vs Words I Need Help With
Sort these CVC words honestly.
CVC Word Art
Choose your favourite CVC word. Write it in BIG letters and decorate it!
My favourite CVC word is: ______
Draw it big and beautiful:
CVC Champion Challenge
You are a CVC Champion! Try these activities to keep practising.
- 1Write CVC words on cards. Flip one over and read it as fast as you can!
- 2Play CVC Bingo: write 9 CVC words on a grid, and cross them off as someone says them.
- 3Find 5 CVC-word objects in the kitchen (cup, pan, lid, tin, mug).
- 4Write a shopping list using only CVC words.
CVC Assessment: How Many Can I Read?
Read each word aloud to your parent. Tick the ones you can read.
cat __ sun __ dog __ hat __ cup __ pen __ bed __ run __ big __ hot __
fox __ jam __ vet __ win __ zip __ yak __ map __ van __ bug __ mop __
I can read _____ out of 20 CVC words!
CVC Spark: What Will You Read Next?
You can read CVC words! What do you think you will learn to read next? Longer words? Sentences? A whole book? Draw or write about what you want to read.
Next I want to read:
Draw yourself reading: