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CVC Word Building Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Reception

  • ForReception
  • StageEarly Years
  • CostFree
  • FormatPrintable PDF
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CVC Word Building Cards is a free printable card set for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children say the sounds in a short word, then blend them to read it. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only paper and scissors, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children cut out a set of cards. Each card shows a short word broken into three letters, one for each sound, such as c, a, t. Children point to each letter, say its sound, then blend the sounds to read the whole word. The words name animals and everyday things. A grown up reads the first few cards alongside the child, then the child can try alone and read the cards again another day.

  • c - a - t
  • d - o - g
  • s - u - n
  • p - i - g
  • h - a - t
  • b - u - s
  • p - e - n
  • b - e - d
  • c - u - p
  • m - a - p
  • h - e - n
  • b - a - t

Reading a word sound by sound

j, a, m

This word is different from the words on the sheet. It shows how to point, say the sounds and blend.

Method 1: finger under each letter
  1. Point to the first letter and say its sound: 'j'.
  2. Point to the middle letter and say its sound: 'a'.
  3. Point to the last letter and say its sound: 'mmm'.
  4. Say the three sounds again a little faster, then slide your finger along the word and say it whole.
Method 2: counters under the letters
  1. Place one counter under each of the three letters.
  2. Push each counter forward as you say its sound.
  3. Push all three counters together as you say the whole word.
jam

Ways to build a word with the cards

Point and say

Point to each letter on a card in turn and say its sound. Keep each sound short and clear. Then blend the sounds and say the word.

Push a counter

Put a counter under each letter. Children push one forward for each sound, then sweep all three together to read the word.

Cover and reveal

Cover the last two letters. Say the first sound, then slide the cover along to show the next. Children learn to read left to right.

Mix and match

Lay the cards face up. Say a word aloud and ask the child to find the card. Then swap, so the child says a word and you find it.

Why start with three letter words?

A CVC word has a consonant, then a vowel, then a consonant. The vowel letters are a, e, i, o and u. The other letters are consonants. These words are short and each letter makes one sound, so they are often the first words children learn to read by blending.

In England, Reception classes teach reading through phonics. Children learn that letters stand for sounds, then push those sounds together to say a word. Practising with cards gives children a clear, small task. They can see every letter, say every sound and notice when they have read a whole word.

Skills and curriculum link

  • Blending sounds
  • Reading CVC words
  • Letter sounds
  • Reading left to right
  • Listening carefully

Notes for the grown up helper

  • Pure soundsSay each sound as short and clean as you can. Say 'sss', not 'suh'. Clear sounds make blending much easier.
  • Sounds, not namesUse the sound a letter makes, not its alphabet name. The letter name does not help a child blend the word.
  • BlendingBlending means saying the sounds close together until they become a word. Slow, then a little faster, works well.
  • Little and oftenShort sessions suit children aged 4 to 5. A few cards read happily are worth more than a long tired session.

Key words

  • SoundThe noise a letter makes when we read a word.
  • LetterA mark we write. Letters stand for sounds.
  • ConsonantA letter that is not a, e, i, o or u.
  • VowelOne of the letters a, e, i, o and u.
  • BlendPush the sounds together to say the whole word.
  • CVC wordA word with a consonant, a vowel, then a consonant.

How to use it

  1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
  2. Cut out the cards. A grown up can do the cutting for younger children.
  3. Read the first cards together. Point to each letter, say its sound, then blend the word. It takes about 10 minutes.
  4. Let your child have a turn. Praise careful sounding out, not only quick answers.
  5. Come back another day and read the cards again. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

If it feels too hard

Start with just four cards. Give your child a counter and ask them to push it along under each letter as they say the sound. Say the sounds together first, then let them try alone. Add more cards when they feel sure.

To stretch confident children

Ask your child to write each word on paper after reading it. Or change the first letter to make a new word, for example cat to hat. Ask them to read the new word and say which sound changed.

Make it a game

Sound hunt. Turn one card over and read it. Then find something in the house that matches the word. Bring it back and say the sounds again. Take turns choosing the card, and see how many you can find.

Mistakes to watch for

Watch forA child adds an extra 'uh' to sounds, so s becomes 'suh'.

Try thisSay the sound short and clipped, such as 'sss'. Let your child copy you, then try the word again.

Watch forA child guesses the word from the first letter, or from a picture in their head.

Try thisSlide a finger under the whole word. Ask them to say every sound before they say the word.

Watch forA child says the three sounds but cannot join them into a word.

Try thisSay the first two sounds together, then add the last. Say the sounds faster each time, then say the word.

Talk about it

  • What sound does the first letter make?
  • Which letter is in the middle of this word?
  • Can you say the sounds slowly, then say the word?
  • Can you think of another word that starts with the same sound?
  • Which card was easiest to read, and why?
  • Can you find something at home that matches this word?

Take it off the page

Sound box

Fill a small box with a few safe household objects with short names. Pull one out, say its sounds, then say the word.

Chalk words

Write a three letter word on the ground with chalk. Children stand on each letter, say its sound, then jump to say the word.

Sound sorting

Sort the cards into piles by their first sound. Then sort again by the middle sound.

Who it is for

Parents

Sit with your child for the first few cards, then let them lead. About 10 minutes is plenty. Keep it light, use short sounds, and stop while they still enjoy it.

Teachers

Use it as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or an early finisher task. It fits phonics practice at the word reading strand. Page 2 offers help and stretch for mixed ability groups.

Home educators

Print the cards and fit them in beside your reading and story times. Use them again for brothers and sisters, or return to them a few weeks later to see how reading has grown.

Where this fits in learning to read

Before CVC words, children listen to sounds, learn what each letter says and practise joining sounds aloud. Once they know a handful of letter sounds, three letter words are a natural first step in reading.

After this, children meet longer words and letters that work together, such as sh and ch. They read short sentences and begin to write the words they can sound out. Confident blending of three sounds supports all of that.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is CVC Word Building Cards for?

It is written for Reception, children aged 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Some children a little younger or older may enjoy it too, if they know some letter sounds.

What will children practise?

They practise blending three sounds together to read simple consonant, vowel, consonant words. They also practise saying letter sounds clearly, reading from left to right and listening carefully to the sounds in a word.

How do I use it?

Cut out the cards and read them with your child. Point to each letter, say its sound, then blend the word. Use short pure sounds, such as 'sss' rather than 'suh'. It takes about 10 minutes.

What if it feels too hard?

Start with only four cards. Give your child a counter to push along under each letter as they say the sounds. Say the sounds together first, then let them try alone, and add more cards later.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group, and use it as often as you like.

Is this a screen free activity?

Yes. It needs only paper and scissors, with a pencil if you try the writing stretch idea. That makes it good for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking and thinking.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Printing both pages gives you the cards for your child on page 1 and the notes for you on page 2.

Preview the full PDF

Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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