Letters & early reading
First CVC word activities
Six simple consonant–vowel–consonant words with picture checks, missing-vowel practice and a separate answer page.
4–5 years · FreeExplore activity
Beginning sounds · Free printable
Beginning sound picture sort
Listen to the start of a word, then choose where its picture belongs. This starter sort uses sun and sock, pig and pencil, book and bin. There are only three groups, so it is easy to begin with two and bring in the third later. An adult provides the agreed picture names; the child does not need to read the labels independently.
Take a little peek6 items · Original illustrations
sun
sock
pig
pencil
book
bin
Picture-play preview shown. The PDF contains the beginning sounds layout.
Inside the printable
First page shown. The download includes the complete activity and grown-up guidance.
What we’re exploring
Hear a word’s initial sound and group familiar spoken words with the same starting sound.
A little way to play
- Name every picture in the vocabulary you normally use. For this game, use the printed label so the answer group stays predictable.
- Say sun slowly and naturally. Model its first sound /s/, then do the same with sock. Place both pictures on the s mat.
- Offer a new picture and say its label aloud. Choose between the available sound mats; repeat the whole word when checking the beginning.
- An adult can cut out the pieces, or the child can point while you move them. Compare the two pictures in each completed group.
Make it easier
Begin with s and p only, and one picture for each. Give a model before asking for a choice. A child may listen or hand a card to an adult instead of naming the sound.
Try a little moreLook for another familiar object with one of the starting sounds. Check the spoken word, not its colour or use. Talk about a different label if it would change the group.
For the grown-up
Use short sounds rather than adding “uh” to /p/ or /b/. Letter names and sounds are different. The UK bin card becomes trash can in US vocabulary, so the US version uses banana in the b group instead; both versions keep the listening task accurate.
Answers & naming help
UK: s = sun, sock; p = pig, pencil; b = book, bin. US: s = sun, sock; p = pig, pencil; b = book, banana. A different chosen object name may start with a different sound.
sun · sock · pig · pencil · book · bin / banana
How do I print this?
Choose your vocabulary and paper size, then download the PDF. Print at actual size or 100%. Use the low-ink option for outline activities; colour-name cards still need their colour to teach the word. Cut-and-stack mini-books are available in the flashcard maker.
Helpful parent guides
Keep the discoveries going.
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