Summer Beach Theme CVC Word Building Mat for Kindergarten

Summer is for sunshine, swimming, Popsicles–and reading! Although school is out for summer, it is the perfect time for young learners to strengthen their phonics and reading skills. This beach theme word building activity allows students to segment and blend sounds to make CVC words. These word building mats would be perfect for at-home practice over the summer or for summer-themed kindergarten literacy centers.

Teaching Phonics in Kindergarten:

EARLY READING SKILLS

ONCE KINDERGARTENERS HAVE MASTERED THE ALPHABET, THEY BEGIN TO APPLY THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF LETTERS AND SOUNDS BY READING SIMPLE WORDS.

Phonics is the relationship between written letters (the alphabet) and spoken sounds (phonemic awareness). In order to be a successful reader, students must learn to associate a written letter with a spoken sound. Phonics instruction teaches students to segment sounds and blend them back together into a complete word. Phonics instruction needs to be explicit and engaging.

Kindergarten phonics instruction often starts with simple short vowel words called CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant). Typically, kindergarteners learn about one short vowel family at a time. The teacher introduces the short vowel sound and gives students repeated practice identifying and making the sound. Next, the teacher models sounding out and building CVC words with that short vowel sound. For example, the teacher can present a picture of a CVC word with the target short vowel sound. Representing CVC words with pictures is extremely beneficial for young learners. Then, the teacher shows students how to segment the sounds in the word and represent each sound with a letter. Letter tiles or cards are super helpful for whole-group word building.

Once children have lots of practice with one short vowel family, the teacher will introduce another short vowel. Kindergarteners will eventually learn to build CVC words from each short vowel word family.

Word Building in Kindergarten:

KINDERGARTEN Reading and Spelling

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE STUDENTS LOTS OF PRACTICE DECODING AND BUILDING WORDS.

After children have experience segmenting sounds and building words in a whole-group setting, they need continued hands-on practice. Kindergarteners can practice their word building skills in small guided reading groups or independently in literacy centers.

This summer word-building mat is a perfect literacy activity for kindergarten because it is visual and hands-on. Each CVC word list includes colorful pictures to help students as they are sounding out words. Students are able to physically build each with letter tiles, cards, or magnets. After building the word, students write it using a dry erase marker. As children complete the word building activity, they have repeated practice segmenting and blending sounds.

The Importance of Word Building:

Building CVC words in kindergarten is so important because it builds other essential literacy skills.

How to Use the Summer Beach CVC Word Building Activity:

BUILDING WORDS WITH KINDERGARTENERS

CHILDREN WILL PRACTICE BUILDING CVC WORDS IN THIS FUN SUMMER ACTIVITY.

To set up:

• Print and laminate the word building mats, picture cards, and word lists.
• Cut apart the word lists and picture cards.
• Gather the other added materials: a letter set and dry erase marker.
• Depending on your learners’ readiness, you may want to separate each short vowel family so that students are only focusing on one vowel at a time.

To use:

• Children choose a picture card and name the word.
• Children place the card in the box at the top of the mat.
• Children say each sound in the word and place the correct letters into the “build it” box.
• Children copy the letters into the final box using a dry erase marker.
• Erase and repeat with a new card!

Other Ways to Use the Summer Beach Word Building Mat:

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