Eight scrambled short vowel words, from TAC to LAGF, make up the main task on this 7-page 1st grade phonics sheet. Each row has a picture and a riddle hint, such as "A soft pet that purrs.", and students write the letters in order: cat, pig, dog, bug, frog, crab, nest and flag. Two challenge sentences reuse frog and nest. A mystery word built from the bold letters U, F and N spells fun. The sheet links to Common Core RF.1.2d, RF.1.2b and RF.1.3b, with a full answer key.
RF.1.2d
“Segment spoken single-syllable words into their complete sequence of individual sounds (phonemes).”
Students say each picture name and sound it out before putting the scrambled letters in order.
RF.1.2b
“Orally produce single-syllable words by blending sounds (phonemes), including consonant blends.”
Frog, crab, nest and flag each hold a consonant blend students must keep together.
RF.1.3b
“Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words.”
Reading the two challenge sentences and the eight one-syllable answers.
A three-column table lists the scrambled letters, a picture with a hint, and a space for the answer. The words grow from three letters (cat, pig) to four-letter blends like frog and crab.
Students pick two unscrambled words to finish "The little green _____ hops into the pond" and "The mother bird laid three eggs in her _____."
The bold letters U, F and N unscramble to finish the hint "Learning new words is lots of _____!"
The eight words with their hints, frog and nest for the challenges, and fun for the mystery word.
Tap the sounds
Ask students to say each picture name and tap the sounds on their fingers before they touch the letters. Crab and flag take longest because the blend has to stay together.
Split across two days
Seven pages is a lot for one sitting. Give the table on day one and the challenge sentences and mystery word on day two.
Finish with the mystery
Send students back to the bug, frog and nest rows, where U, F and N are bold, and let them unscramble fun from there. The box names the letters too.
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