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PlayOwl

English · Grade 1

Short-Vowel Words and Consonant Patterns

Step 6 of the PlayOwl sequence: children learn the "floss" pattern (ff, ll, ss and zz after a short vowel, as in puff, bell, kiss, buzz), ck after a short vowel (duck, sock), and the -s ending that can sound like /s/ or /z/ (cats, dogs). They read a decodable story, Fuzz and the Big Mess, with ten new heart words.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 70 minutes
  • Step 6 check: 7 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, label a picture, put in order and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Read and spell one-syllable words that end in ff, ll, ss or zz after a short vowel (puff, bell, kiss, buzz).
  • Read and spell words that end in ck after a short vowel (back, duck, sock).
  • Read words with the -s ending for "more than one" and tell whether it sounds like /s/ or /z/; read s as /z/ in is, has, his and as.
  • Read decodable text with Steps 1–6 and the heart words what, who, they, have, one, two, come, some, look and good.

Lessons

  1. ff, ll, ss, zz 5 steps2 practiceabout 17 min
  2. ck after a short vowel 4 steps2 practiceabout 16 min
  3. The -s ending 4 steps2 practiceabout 17 min
  4. Read a story 6 steps3 practiceabout 20 min
  5. Step 6 check 7 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Memory LanternsFlip glowing lanterns to find pairs that belong together.
  • Sound GardenListen closely and grow the garden: find the word that starts, rhymes or claps just right.
  • Word WorkshopBuild the word for each picture, one sound at a time.

More 1st grade reading

Guides for grown-ups