CVC Words — Kindergarten Lesson
Students will blend three letter sounds to read CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant) and sort words by word family.
Kindergarten · Phonics · ~15 min lesson
What is a CVC word?
CVC stands for consonant-vowel-consonant. It’s the simplest word pattern: one vowel sound in the middle, with a consonant on each side.
- cat = c (consonant) + a (vowel) + t (consonant)
- dog = d + o + g
- sun = s + u + n
Blending: how to read a CVC word
- Say each sound separately: c-a-t
- Say them a little faster: c-a-t → ca-t
- Slide them together: cat
Tip: stretch the vowel in the middle — it carries the word.
The short vowels
CVC words use short vowel sounds:
| Vowel | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a | /a/ as in apple | cat, hat, map |
| e | /e/ as in egg | hen, pen, bed |
| i | /i/ as in igloo | pig, sit, fin |
| o | /o/ as in octopus | dog, hop, top |
| u | /u/ as in umbrella | sun, cup, bug |
Word families
Words that share the same ending are a word family: cat, hat, bat are in the -at family. Learning families makes new words faster to read.
- -at: cat, hat, bat, rat
- -an: can, man, pan, fan
- -ig: pig, big, fig, dig
- -og: dog, log, frog, hog
How to practice at home
- Tap it out: tap your fingers for each sound (c-tap, a-tap, t-tap), then blend.
- Word family sort: make cards for one family and sort them together.
- Build-a-word: use letter tiles to build cat, then change one letter to make hat.
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
Blend these sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/ — what word?
💡 Say the sounds faster and faster until they slide together.
Blend: /d/ /o/ /g/ — what word?
💡 d-o-g → dog.
What word is made of the sounds /s/ /u/ /n/?
💡 s-u-n → sun.
Which word rhymes with 'cat': 'hat' or 'cup'?
💡 Rhyming words share the same ending sounds.
The word 'map' belongs to which word family: -at or -ap?
💡 Map ends with 'ap'.
Fill in the missing middle sound: 'c _ t'.
💡 Say 'cat' slowly and listen to the middle sound.
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Letter sounds
- Beginning sounds
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Saying sounds separately without blending them together
- Confusing short vowel sounds, especially e and i
What to Learn Next
Browse more Phonics worksheets or explore all Kindergarten worksheets.
Related Worksheets
CVC Words Worksheet (Missing Middle Vowel)
Say each CVC word and write the missing middle vowel (a, e, i, o, or u).
CVC Word Families Worksheet
A word family is a group of words that end the same way. Sort each word into its family and read the words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CVC word?
A word with a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern, like cat, dog, or sun. These are the first words children learn to blend.
How do I teach blending?
Start by stretching the sounds: c-a-t. Then slide them together faster and faster until they become one word: cat. Practice a few words a day.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.