CVCe Word Building Mats: Apple Theme
Recommended Grade Level:
Type of Resource: PDF
Number of Pages: 28
Coordinating Activities
CVCe Word Building Mats: Apple Theme
- Apple Theme word building mat
- Letter cards a-z plus extra e cards
- 35 CVCe word and picture cards
- CVCe picture-only cards for an added challenge
- Color and black and white versions
The two kinds of cards let kids build words at their own level: copy the word from a word and picture card or build it from the picture alone.
Required Materials:
- Paper, printer and ink
- Laminator
- Paper cutter or scissors
Standards for Long Vowels and Silent E
These word building mats support early literacy standards connected to long vowel sounds, silent e and spelling words.
Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.B: Associate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels. Kids build long vowel words with a silent e.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.C: Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds. Kids see how the e at the end makes the vowel say its name.
TEKS for English Language Arts and Reading
- TEKS ELA 1.2(B)(iii): Demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge by decoding words with closed syllables, open syllables, VCe syllables, vowel teams and r-controlled syllables. Kids build and read VCe words.
Virginia English Standards of Learning
- K.FFR.3.C: Discriminate between long and short sounds with common spellings for the five major vowels with open and closed syllables. Kids hear the long vowel sound in each word.
CVCe Word Building Mats: Apple Theme give kindergarten and first grade kids hands-on practice building and reading long vowel words with a silent e.
Kids place a word card or picture card on the apple theme mat, then build the word with letter cards. Every word follows the CVCe pattern, like cube, tube and mule.
Start with the word and picture cards, then switch to the picture-only cards when kids are ready to spell on their own.
How to Use CVCe Word Building Mats: Apple Theme
- Print, laminate and cut apart the mat, letter cards and word cards.
- Kids pick a word card or picture card.
- Kids say the word and listen for the long vowel sound.
- Kids build the word on the mat with letter cards.
- Kids read the word they built.
Small Group: Build a few words together and point out the silent e.
Literacy Center: Set out the mat and cards for independent practice.
Easy Ways to Differentiate These Word Building Mats
Every group has a mix of phonics skills. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.
For Children Who Need More Support:
- Use the word and picture cards.
- Build words with one vowel at a time.
- Say each sound together.
- Give only the letters kids need.
For On-Level Practice:
- Build and read each word.
- Mix words with different vowels.
- Write each word after building it.
- Check with a partner.
For an Extra Challenge:
- Use the picture-only cards.
- Take off the e and read the new word, like cube and cub.
- Write a sentence with the word.
- Sort the words by vowel.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:
- Say the sounds together and give plenty of wait time.
- Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
- Use the pictures to build vocabulary.
- Repeat the same words across several sessions.
CVCe Word Building Mats: Apple Theme Are Perfect For:
- Kindergarten
- First grade
- Apple and fall themes
- Literacy centers
- Small-group instruction
- Intervention
- Special education
- ELL and multilingual learners
- Homeschool
