Ten words with silent letters hide in this two-page Year 5 word search, reading across or down. The list includes thistle, doubt, lamb and castle. Three of the words, knight, psalm and solemn, are the examples the England National Curriculum itself gives for Year 5 silent letters. The answer key gives the row, column and direction for each word, so marking is quick.
Spelling
“Spell some words with 'silent' letters [for example, knight, psalm, solemn]”
All ten words carry a silent letter, such as the k in knight and the b in lamb.
Spelling
“Use knowledge of morphology and etymology in spelling and understand that the spelling of some words needs to be learnt specifically, as listed in English Appendix 1”
Words such as psalm and doubt give no sound clue to their silent letter, so pupils learn them by sight.
Pupils find AUTUMN, CASTLE, DOUBT, GHOST, ISLAND, KNIGHT, LAMB, PSALM, SOLEMN and THISTLE in a letter grid.
Each word is located by row and column, from THISTLE at Row 1, Column 1 to AUTUMN at Row 8.
Spelling list launch
Hand it out the day you introduce silent letters. Pupils see each word several times while they search.
Underline follow-up
Once pupils find a word, ask them to write it out and underline its silent letter.
Wet break
Keep a few copies ready for indoor break. It still practises the list.
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