CVC word activities are the perfect way to jumpstart your first-grader’s reading skills! These 3-letter words with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern and a short vowel sound are essential for early reading success. Today, I’m sharing 8 hands-on games and activities to teach CVC words in a fun and engaging way. Let’s get started!
Write and Wipe CVC Mats
Using write and wipe dry-erase pockets make a great literacy center! They are so easy to prepare and easy for students to use and clean. This set includes 25 mats different mats, some focus only on one short vowel while others have a mix of cvc pictures. Each mat also comes in both a color and black and white versions- plus answer keys. What an easy cvc word activity!
Want to learn more? Try this short o set!
Roll and Read
This game is perfect for a learning center! With the help of these large “pocket” dice, you can insert consonants on two dice and vowels on one. Students practice decoding sounds and creating words. Not only will they roll some “real” words, but they’ll also encounter some silly nonsense ones. Get ready for some serious reading fun with this cvc word activity!
CVC Word Ladders
Take your students’ reading skills to the next level with word ladders. This activity challenges students to change one sound at a time in simple CVC words. Each step of the ladder features a different picture, with only one letter changing from one word to the next. This boost phonemic awareness skills, as students segment words into individual sounds and identify which sound has been modified.
Word Building
Give your students a set of letter cards, tiles, or magnetic letters and have them build words as you dictate them. This engaging exercise will help to enhance their phonics skills as they analyze and construct each sound in the word. Perfect for both whole and small group instruction, your students will love this fun and interactive way to learn.
CVC Words Dictation Activities
Did you know that writing and reading go hand in hand? Encouraging your students to “encode” by writing can actually enhance their reading abilities! And what better way to do it than with dry erase boards. Whether you’re teaching in a small or large group setting, dictation activities are perfect for engaging students and reinforcing consonant-vowel-consonant patterns. So, let’s get writing!
Students segment the words into the 3 sounds they hear (yay for building in those phonemic awareness skills!) and draw 3 lines on their board. Next, they sound the word out again and write the letters as they say the sounds. Last, students can quickly run their fingers under the letters and read the word.
Word Sorts
Unlock the power of word sorts to help students recognize common patterns between words. By using a set of word cards, your students can easily sort them based on a specific pattern. For instance, your students may sort a group of cvc words by their vowel sound or a set of short a words by ending rimes like at, ap, and an. The options for word sorts are endless!
Words could be sorted on a student’s desk, in a pocket chart, digitally, or in a more game like format. Check out this post to learn even more about word sorts.
Digital Games and Activities for Practicing CVC Words
Give your students the independence they crave with engaging digital activities that reinforce essential skills. With Boom Cards©, students can practice on their own and receive instant feedback – the perfect way to keep learning fun and efficient!
Grab a free set of short a Boom Cards©!
Even more CVC Words Boom Card activities!
Decodable Texts
It’s time to tackle connected texts! Make sure the text is leveled appropriately, with most of the words phonetically decodable. Repeated readings will develop fluency, and don’t forget to engage in conversations to build comprehension. Want to learn more about decodable text sets? Check out our informative blog post!
If you’re looking for creative ways to make teaching short vowel words engaging and worthwhile for your students, take a look at the activities mentioned in this post. Check out the CVC word activities and get started right away! Let’s make practicing phonics fun together!
