Looking for a way to give students more variety and choice during your word study block? These Short A and Long A spelling games help students compare the Short A sound with three ways to spell Long A: A-E (CVCe), AI (CVVC), and AY (open syllable). Students practice with words like glass, trade, nail, and day in a partner board game and an independent picture board activity.
The games are aligned to Words Their Way: Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers (3rd Edition), Unit 3, Sort 18, but they work alongside any word study program. They were developed with 3rd-5th graders in mind and fit students in the middle of the Within Word Pattern stage who spell common CVCe and CVVC words correctly but still mix up the less common long vowel patterns.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Cape Capture Board Game (Partner Game)
Students draw vowel pattern cards and match them to words on the game board to move along the path. Friendly competition keeps students engaged, and the recording sheet makes it easy to check that students understood each vowel pattern and stayed on task.
- Teacher directions
- Cape Capture game board
- Word pattern cards
- Student-friendly directions
- Recording sheet
- Answer key
Spin, Cover, Build, Write (Independent Activity)
Students choose one of 4 picture boards, spin for a vowel pattern or clue, and cover a picture that matches. Then they build the word with letter tiles and write it on the recording sheet. The picture boards include transfer words that aren't on the sort list, so students apply the patterns to new words.
- Teacher directions plus ideas for extending the picture boards
- 4 picture boards
- 2 spinners with student-friendly directions
- Letter tiles for building words
- Recording sheet
- Answer key
ALSO INCLUDED
- Black and white and color versions of everything
- Word 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 spelling pattern
- Works for partner centers, small groups, early finishers, and independent practice
- Recording sheets build in accountability and quick assessment
- Uses the same game format as the rest of Unit 3, so students don't have to learn new rules each week
- Picture boards with transfer words help students apply patterns beyond the sort
- 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 Less Common Long Vowel Patterns Unit 3 Within Word Pattern Games Bundle | Open Syllable Activities, so you can get all of the Unit 3 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.
