apple · ant · add
Sound cards · Free printable
First letter sounds
Hear a sound model, then hear it in three example words. Print the cards to revisit the same spellings away from the screen. Letter names are different from the sounds used to blend a word.
Take a little peek1 item · Original illustrations
First activity preview shown. The PDF contains the sound cards layout.
Hear it, read it, try it
Play a sound model, then hear its three example words. Choose a few spellings already taught and revisit them together.
bag · bed · bun
cat · cup · cot
dog · dip · den
egg · end · elf
fan · fish · fog
get · gap · gum
hat · hen · hop
in · ink · it
jam · jet · jug
kit · kid · kick
lip · leg · log
map · mat · mud
net · nap · nut
on · ox · odd
pen · pig · pot
quick · quiz · quack
qu usually represents two sounds, /k/ and /w/.
red · run · rip
sun · sit · sock
tap · ten · top
up · under · us
van · vet · vest
wet · win · web
box · six · fox
x in these words represents two sounds, /k/ and /s/.
yes · yet · yell
zip · zap · zigzag
Synthesised British or American pronunciation, selected by the English edition in the header. Accents vary. Follow your school’s sound models and teaching sequence.
Inside the printable
First page shown. The download includes the complete activity and grown-up guidance.
What we’re exploring
Link a written spelling to a known sound and hear that sound in familiar words.
A little way to play
- An adult chooses only spellings the child has already been taught.
- Play the sound, then the example words. Notice the spelling on the card; an adult supplies an unfamiliar word.
- Print and cut the large cards if useful. Revisit a small known set before adding another card.
Make it easier
An adult models one example while the child points, talks or directs the activity.
Try a little moreTry a fresh example, explain your choice and return to an earlier page for a fluent reread.
For the grown-up
Audio is a synthesised pronunciation model, with separate British and American recordings. Accents vary; follow the school’s pronunciation and teaching sequence. qu, x and nk can represent two sounds and are labeled accordingly. Letter names are available separately on alphabet pages.
Answers & naming help
a: apple, ant, add; b: bag, bed, bun; c: cat, cup, cot; d: dog, dip, den; e: egg, end, elf; f: fan, fish, fog; g: get, gap, gum; h: hat, hen, hop; i: in, ink, it; j: jam, jet, jug; k: kit, kid, kick; l: lip, leg, log; m: map, mat, mud; n: net, nap, nut; o: on, ox, odd; p: pen, pig, pot; qu: quick, quiz, quack — qu usually represents two sounds, /k/ and /w/.; r: red, run, rip; s: sun, sit, sock; t: tap, ten, top; u: up, under, us; v: van, vet, vest; w: wet, win, web; x: box, six, fox — x in these words represents two sounds, /k/ and /s/.; y: yes, yet, yell; z: zip, zap, zigzag
First letter sounds
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; color-name cards still need their color to teach the word. Cut-and-stack mini-books are available in the flashcard maker.
Helpful parent guides
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