Want students to hear vowel sounds clearly before they start spelling long vowel patterns? These Short I and Long I games review the Short I sound and introduce Long I with picture-based activities, using words like fish, swim, pie, and nine. Students listen for the vowel sound in each picture in a partner card game and an independent picture board activity, so they can reliably tell Short I from Long I before moving on to long vowel spelling patterns.
The games are aligned to Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers (3rd Edition), Unit 1, Sort 2, but they work alongside any word study program. They were developed with 3rd-5th graders in mind and fit students at the beginning of the Within Word Pattern stage who have worked heavily with short vowel word families and CVC words, including those with blends and digraphs, and are ready to be introduced to long vowels.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Say, Listen, Match Card Game (Partner Game)
Students take turns flipping two picture cards, saying each word aloud, and listening for whether the vowel sounds match (both Short I or both Long I). It plays like a classic memory match game, and the player with the most matches wins.
- Teacher directions
- Say, Listen, Match picture cards
- Student-friendly directions
- Answer key
Spin and Cover (Independent Activity)
Students choose one of 4 picture boards, spin for a vowel sound or clue, and cover a picture that matches. Then they record whether the word they covered has a Short I or Long I sound.
- Teacher directions plus ideas for extending the picture boards
- 4 picture boards
- 2 spinners with student-friendly directions
- Recording sheet
- Answer key
ALSO INCLUDED
- Black and white and color versions of everything
- Picture list of all included words
- Answer keys for both activities
HOW THIS RESOURCE HELPS YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS
- Gives students two engaging ways to practice the same vowel sounds
- Picture-based activities keep the focus on hearing the difference between Short I and Long I
- Works for partner centers, small groups, early finishers, and independent practice
- The Spin and Cover recording sheet builds in accountability and quick assessment
- Uses the same game formats as the rest of Unit 1, so students don't have to learn new rules each week
- Ready to print and use with no extra prep beyond cutting cards
Want every game in this unit? This game set is included in the Short & Long Vowels CVC & CVCe Unit 1 Within Word Pattern Games Bundle, so you can get all of the Unit 1 games together and save.
ABOUT THE WITHIN WORD PATTERN STAGE
This stage is where students move past single-syllable short vowel spelling and begin studying vowel patterns in depth. Students at this level can spell most consonant sounds and short vowels correctly and are ready to explore long vowel patterns, r-influenced vowels, diphthongs, and complex consonant patterns. Instruction focuses on how the same vowel sound can be spelled several different ways, and students learn to recognize the patterns that signal each one. By sorting and comparing words, students strengthen spelling accuracy while building the pattern recognition that supports fluent reading.
NEED PRINTABLES FOR THE ENTIRE WITHIN WORD PATTERN LEVEL?
See the Within Word Pattern Printable Bundle (contains all 4 resources)
Or, Shop By Activity:
- Word Study Notebook
- Word Searches
- Fill in the Blank Word List Activity
- Weekly Spelling Homework & Word Lists
Copyright © Tammy Roose, Tarheelstate Teacher.
The purchase of this resource gives the buyer permission to download and copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution is also limited to single classroom use. Copying for other teachers, school-wide use, or school systems is only allowed with the purchase of additional licenses.
