Phonics · lesson 8 of 24 · free

CVC words with short a — Phonics for kids

CVC words are made of a consonant, a vowel and a consonant: cat, hat, map, bag. Children say the three sounds and blend them into a word — the first real reading.

▶ Watch how it works

Got it? Practise ↓

How the sounds work

Sound it out, then blend — “say each letter’s sound, then push the sounds together into one word”

  1. Point to each letter and say its sound: c – a – t.
  2. Say the sounds faster and faster until they join: c-a-t → cat.
  3. Check the word against the picture.

Use it for: Reading the first easy books and labels, and spelling three-letter words.

Worked example: 🐱 Which word is this? → cat

  1. Look at the picture: 🐱. Say its name slowly.
  2. Sound out each word: c-a-n, c-a-t, h-a-t. c-a-t blends into “cat” — that is the picture.

Check: c-a-t → cat matches 🐱 ✓

▶ Watch it animated

✏️ Practice

Listen (🔊), look at the pictures, then tap the answer. Grown-ups: read the question together.

Right: 0 · Tried: 0

🏁 Lesson 8 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 🐱 Short-A Reader badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 2 · Blending and words. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ CVC Words Worksheet – Short a

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