Teach CVCe Words with these 5 Hands-On Activities for Kindergarten

If your Kindergarten students have mastered CVC words, then you can teach them CVCe words next! Not every curriculum includes CVCe words at the Kindergarten level, but it is helpful to introduce them to CVCe words and short or long vowel sounds before they go to First Grade. Today, I will share some of my favorite CVCe word activities for Kindergarten students. You can use these CVCe activities in your whole group lesson, as a phonics center activity, or as independent work! 

What is a CVCe Word?

A CVCe word has the pattern: consonant, (long) vowel, consonant, silent e, like the word “bake”. You do not pronounce the e sound, but rather it makes the vowel “say its name” or long vowel sound. They are also commonly called “silent e”, “magic e”, “tricky e”, “bossy e”, among others. When teaching my students, I use all these “nicknames”, so no matter what their next teacher calls it, they will know what they are talking about! It is important that they know what a CVCe word is and the CVCe pattern. Even if you do not teach an entire CVCe unit, you can still try some of these CVCe words activities for Kindergarten.

CVCe Words Activity #1: Short vs Long Vowel Picture Sort

The first step in teaching CVCe words is making sure students understand what a short and long vowel sound is. If you’ve only taught them short vowel sounds, then that is how they will sound out these words. 

Using a short and long vowel picture sort will help your students listen and identify short or long vowel words. Students will look at a picture, say the word, and sort it under the short vowel or long vowel heading. 

CVCe Words Activity #2: Color by Code

While students are learning the CVCe pattern, you can practice identifying the CVCe pattern that they hear in a word. 

With this color by code activity, students will look at a picture and color it based on the sort by color key at the top. To challenge your students, you can have them try to spell the CVCe word under each picture.

Try a sample activity for free here!

CVCe Words Activity #3: Matching Game

Once students understand the CVCe pattern, you can teach them how to decode (or sound out) these words. 

In this matching game, students will have to read the CVCe word, then find the matching picture. You can either play it just like memory (with all the cards turned backwards). Another way to play is to place all the picture cards facing up, have the words face down or in a basket, and have students read the word and match it to the picture.

CVCe Words Activity #4: Build it, Write it

After students are able to read the CVCe word, then they can practice spelling the word using the CVCe pattern. 

With this activity, students will practice building the CVCe word with letter tiles, then spelling it using a dry erase marker. 

CVCe Words Activity #5: Missing CVCe Word

If your students are able to blend, spell, and read CVCe words fluently, then this is a great challenge for them! 

Students will look at the picture and read the sentence with the missing word. Then, they figure out what word is missing and spell it correctly. 

Find these CVCe word activities here:

You can find these units on TPT here: CVCe Words Phonics Unit for Kindergarten and First Grade CVCe Words Unit.

Shop all CVCe Resources on TPT here

Are your students ready to learn long vowels in Kindergarten? Make sure to read this post here for my tips on teaching long vowels in Kindergarten.