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Learning to read is an essential milestone in your child’s educational journey. As educators and parents, we are constantly on the lookout for creative and engaging ways to introduce early literacy skills to young learners. In this blog post, I am going to share with you some hands-on activities for building CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words using cutting, gluing, and drawing. This interactive and multisensory method will not only captivate your little one’s imagination but also enhance their phonemic awareness and reading abilities.
What Are CVC Words?
CVC words consist of three letters, with the middle letter being a vowel (a, e, i, o, or u) and the first and last letters being consonants. Examples of CVC words include “cat,” “dog,” “hen,” and “pig.” These simple words are fundamental in developing early reading skills, as they provide a foundation for blending sounds and decoding more complex words.
What You Need For The CVC Words Hands-On Building Activities
To embark on this fun learning adventure, gather the following materials:
- Construction paper or cardstock in various colors.
- Scissors. Make sure you choose safety scissors specially designed for kids. These ones feature both extra-strong and durable stainless steel safety blades with rounded tips
- Glue sticks.
- Markers or crayons.
- Word cards or printed CVC word lists (optional)
Here Is How To Do It
Introduce CVC Words
Firstly, begin by explaining what CVC words are and then provide some examples. Show your child word cards or a printed CVC word list to familiarize them with the concept. Encourage them to pronounce the words aloud, emphasizing each sound. You can download these free cards from here or by clicking on the image below.
Prepare Word Pieces
Using the construction paper or cardstock, cut out rectangular strips measuring approximately 2 inches by 4 inches. These will serve as the word pieces for the activity. Cut enough strips to create a variety of CVC words.
Divide and Write Letters
Divide the word pieces into three groups: consonant cards, vowel cards as well as final consonant cards. Write one letter on each strip, making sure to include a balanced assortment of consonants and vowels. For example, you might have strips with the letters “b,” “c,” “d,” “a,” “e,” “i,” and “g.”
Building CVC Words
At this point, invite your little one to participate in buildin and creating CVC words. Start by asking them to choose both a consonant card and a vowel card from the respective piles. Instruct them to place the chosen word pieces side by side, forming the initial and middle sounds of the word.
Adding the Final Consonant
Now that your little one has selected the initial consonant and the middle vowel, ask them to select a final consonant card. Then, they should place it at the end of the existing letter pair. This step will enable them to see and hear the complete CVC word.
Reinforce Learning with Drawing
After building each word, encourage your child to draw a corresponding picture next to it. For example, if they built the word “cat,” they could draw a picture of a cat beside it. Drawing helps reinforce the word’s meaning and provides a visual connection for better comprehension.
Glue and Display
Once your kid has created a set of CVC words and accompanying drawings, have them glue the word pieces and illustrations onto a separate sheet of construction paper or cardstock. This display serves as a personalized CVC word booklet, showcasing their achievements.
Let’s Build CVC Words
If you don’t have the time to collect all the materials needed, then here is an engaging resource that will make building CVC words a fun experience.
Let’s Build CVC Words is a fun and engaging 45-page resource for your students to learn and practice the CVC words by building them. The following activities are included:
– Firstly, cut out the letter tiles.
– Then, give the students the page with the CVC word you want to practice.
– Ask the students to color the picture.
– Ask the students to glue the letter tiles in the correct place so as to build the CVC word.
– If they are already familiar with the concept of vowels and consonants, then ask them to color the letters, too. They can use red for the vowels and blue for the consonants.
– Finally, students will have to make up a sentence including the CVC word.
Click here to preview this product and have a look at the list of words that are included.
Engaging children in hands-on activities that stimulate both their senses and creativity can greatly enhance their learning experience. By building CVC words through cutting, gluing, and drawing, we provide young learners with a multisensory approach to phonemic awareness as well as reading. This interactive method fosters a deeper understanding of word formation, encourages sound blending, and ignites imagination through art. So, grab your scissors, glue, and construction paper, and let the CVC words building begin!