Phonics Activities

Our growing assortment of free phonics activities will help your early learners get a jump on reading, writing and spelling! Phonics, for many students, are the building blocks of basic reading skills, They are also the foundation of spelling. Of course, as adults, we know that many exceptions exist to most phonics rules, but you can help to launch the youngest of pre-readers and pre-spellers with the fun, simple activities included on this page. 

Find a phonics game, poem, some flash cards or another classroom activity to give your students extra phonics practice. If there are other activities you'd like to see, please contact me and let me know. 

Phonics Games

Letter Lane - A phomenic awareness board game for two or three players that features beginning consonant sounds for the letters b, d, f and m. No reading is necessary. Great for pre-K through grade 1.

Picture This Phonic Game - We think your early learners will enjoy this activity featuring short vowel words. Which player can cover the most pictures? This game requires two players, and a third person to check their work. It features a fun picture board!

Picture Perfect Game - Additional engaging pictures are used on this game board. It's very similar to the game above, but it features long vowel words. Fun for everyone!

Memory Matches - Use a familiar format to practice beginning sounds and letters, remembering which card is where. Free printable game cards included! 

Free Preschool Games for Phonics - 3 simple adaptations of familiar formats with a phonics twist. Try our versions of "I Spy," "Hide and Seek" and "I'm Going on a Trip." What fun ways to learn!

A Pickle or a Tickle  and  Stand Up, Sit Down:  Two fun preschool games for children! Your students will need to listen carefully to initial consonant sounds as they play these entertaining games. 

Slip It In! - A great phonics game that kids can play over and over again. Our version features short vowel words, but you can adapt this game for other phonics skills as well.

Interactive Preschool Game - Kids can check their answers right away as they select the correct initial letter for many easy images.

More Fun Phonics Activities

Phonics Lesson Plans - Short/Long vowel sentences for children to copy and complete. These easy phonics lesson plans will give your students valuable practice in phonics, spelling and handwriting, with minimal work for you!

To E or not to E? - When teaching phonics for kids to learn silent E words, there are many fun, free simple activities you can use. Here are just two. These ideas pull kids away from the computer, and away from worksheets into hands-on real-life stuff!

Tic-Tac-Toe and What's Right? - Two very easy-to-implement ways to practice primary phonics skills

ABC Phonics Poem - A fun and funny way to learn about initial sounds! Our ABC phonics poem is fun AND funny! Please read it through and see if you agree. Then try our ideas for making the most of it at home or in the classroom! You'll find the ideas at listed below the poem.  

Alphabet Phonics Booklet Kids will love to learn as they complete our alphabet phonics booklet! This easy-to-assemble A to Z phonics activity can be customized by each child.  This is a great activity to complete at home or at school. Follow our step-by-step instructions for a great finished project!

Phonics Flash Cards - A free printable set for the entire alphabet! Use our phonics flash cards to supplement your current literacy program. Flash cards offer quick, easy practice even when you have just a few spare minutes. Kids can quiz each other, and parents can quiz their children.

Who Wants It? - A great sing-song activity to help kids listen to match initial sounds to the correct letters  

Phonics for Kindergarten - Basic principles to follow when teaching phonics to preK-K students

You'll find lots more helps by using the tabs on the left. They will direct you to more worksheets, games, word lists and grade-level resources.

Rhyme Time - On this kids' crossword, ask your child to come up with a word for each blank that rhymes with another important work in the clue. Solve the first couple of clues together until s/he has the idea. Then let the child try to finish the rest of the clues independently. 

Word Lists

Use these helpful lists for all of your phonics activities!

Short vowels words - 100 Words with short vowel sounds, arranged in word families.

Long vowel words - 60 simple words with long vowel sounds, arranged in word families

Be sure to check out my collection of Fun Spelling Worksheets for grades 1 and 2. 

You'll find lots of all-new pages, not on the website, to help boost your first and second graders' spelling and phonics skills!

Phonics Worksheets 

View our entire collection of free phonics worksheets.

Phonics Printables - 2 super-simple worksheets for beginners, featuring the letters  b, c, d, f, g, and h as initial consonants

Phonics Worksheet - Here's more practice with initial consonants, this time with the letters j, k and l.

Note This! - Super-fun page to color and practice words that begin with two sometimes confusing letters, m and n.

Lots of Leaves!  - Students will discern long and short vowel phonics sounds as they complete this fun page.

Spelling Bee Toolboxes for Grades 3/5 and  6/8    All the resources you need for a successful bee!

Visit my YouTube Channel for fun spelling practice videos!

AnyWord Spelling Practice Series Worksheets, Games and Prompts that work with almost ANY spelling words!

Fun Spelling Worksheets for Grades 1 and 2    50 All-new reproducible pages for early learners!

Young Spellers Spelling Bee Word List for Grades 1 & 2 only 

Gigantic Spelling Bee Word Lists with definitions, sentences and languages

Spelling Bee Toolboxes for Grades 3/5 and 6/8   All the resources you need for a successful bee! 

Monumental Spelling Bee Word Lists for grades 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 with definitions, sentences and languages

Mammoth Spelling Bee Word Lists  for grades 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8  with sentences, definitions, and languages

Young Spellers Spelling Bee Word List for Grades 1 & 2 only 

100 Difficult Spelling Bee Words with Definitions, Sentences and Pronunciations, Volumes 1 and 2

600 Spelling Bee Words & Sentences for Gr 3/5 & 6/8 Extra words & sentences at two levels