Reading Simple Words

Letters make sounds

Every letter has a sound.

The letter s says "sss". The letter m says "mmm".

When we know the sounds, we can read words.

Can you make the "sss" sound like a snake?

Say the sounds

Say these sounds. Keep them short.

s like in sun. a like in apple. t like in top. p like in pot.

Say them again: s, a, t, p.

Which sound do you hear at the start of your name?

Blending

Blending means we push the sounds together to make a word.

c - a - t

Say the sounds slowly. Then say them faster. Then say them fast.

c-a-t. cat!

You just read a word!

cat

cat

c - a - t

A cat has soft fur. A cat says "meow".

Point to the letters. Say each sound. Then say the word.

Do you have a cat at home?

The middle sound

Short words have a sound in the middle.

a, e, i, o, u

c-a-t has "a" in the middle.

p-o-t has "o" in the middle.

Listen for the middle sound. It is small but important!

The -at family

Change the first sound and you get a new word!

c-at: cat

m-at: mat

s-at: sat

h-at: hat

These words are a family. They all end in "at". Can you read them all?

pot

pot

p - o - t

A pot is for cooking. Mama cooks soup in a big pot.

Say the sounds: p-o-t. Say it fast: pot!

What do you cook in a pot at home?

The -ot family

These words all end in "ot".

p-ot: pot

h-ot: hot

d-ot: dot

g-ot: got

Read them slowly. Then read them fast. Which one is the easiest to say?

sun

sun

s - u - n

The sun is in the sky. The sun is hot and bright.

Say the sounds: s-u-n. Say it fast: sun!

Is the sun shining today?

The -un family

These words end in "un".

s-un: sun

r-un: run

f-un: fun

b-un: bun

Sun, run, fun, bun! They sound alike at the end. Can you say them in a row?

hen

hen

h - e - n

A hen is a mother chicken. A hen lays eggs.

Say the sounds: h-e-n. Say it fast: hen!

What sound does a hen make?

The -en family

These words end in "en".

h-en: hen

p-en: pen

t-en: ten

m-en: men

Hen, pen, ten, men. Point to each word and read it. Which word is a number?

dog

dog

d - o - g

A dog can run. A dog can bark. A dog says "woof".

Say the sounds: d-o-g. Say it fast: dog!

Do you know a dog? What is its name?

pig and big

pig

p - i - g

big

b - i - g

The middle sound is "i". It is a short sound, like at the start of "in".

Pig, big, dig, wig. Can you hear the "i" in the middle?

Slow, then fast

Here is the trick for every short word.

First say the sounds slowly: m - a - n.

Then say them a bit faster: m-a-n.

Then say the word: man!

Try it with: b-u-s, t-i-n, c-u-p.

Tricky words

Some words are tricky. We do not sound them out. We just know them.

the

a

is

Look at them. Say them. See them again and again until you know them.

Can you find "the" on this page?

Your first sentence

Now put words together.

The cat sat.

Read it: the - cat - sat.

A sentence tells us something. This one tells us what the cat did.

Read it again. Point to each word as you say it.

The sun is hot

The sun is hot.

Four words. Read them one by one.

the - sun - is - hot

Now read them together. Does it sound like talking?

Is the sun hot where you are?

The hen is in the pen

The hen is in the pen.

Read it slowly. Point to each word.

Where is the hen? She is in the pen. A pen is a small place with a fence.

What other animals live in a pen?

A dog can run

A dog can run.

Read it: a - dog - can - run.

Can you run like a dog? Run on the spot! Now stop and read the sentence again.

Can a cat run too?

Kofi is on the bus

Kofi gets on the trotro to go to town.

Kofi is on the bus.

Read it: Kofi - is - on - the - bus.

b-u-s is a short word. Say the sounds. Say it fast: bus!

Big letter, full stop

A sentence starts with a capital letter. Capital T, not small t.

A sentence ends with a full stop. It looks like a dot.

The cat sat.

Can you find the capital letter and the full stop?

Finger under the word

When you read, put your finger under the first word.

Read it. Move your finger to the next word. Read it.

Your finger helps your eyes keep the place.

Try it: The dog is big.

Reading at school

In school we read with the teacher. We read with friends. We read alone.

Reading can be quiet or loud.

Every page you read makes you a better reader.

What is your favourite book?

Words that rhyme

Words that sound the same at the end rhyme.

cat and hat

pot and hot

sun and fun

Say "cat, hat". Hear it? Can you find a word that rhymes with "dog"?

Write the word

Reading and writing go together.

Say "cat". What is the first sound? c. Write c.

The middle sound? a. Write a.

The last sound? t. Write t.

cat. You wrote a word! Now try "sun".

Make new words

Use these sounds: s, a, t, p, i, n.

Can you make sat? Can you make pin? Can you make tap?

Mix the sounds. Make as many words as you can.

How many words did you make?

Read it everywhere

Words are all around you.

On the trotro. On a shop sign. On a tin of milk. On a bag of rice.

Look for short words you can read. Stop is a word. Bus is a word.

What words can you see right now?

Read every day

Read a little every day. Even one page.

Read to your mother. Read to your little brother. Read to the cat!

The more you read, the easier it gets.

Reading is a gift you keep forever. Who will you read to today?

You can read!

You can say the sounds. You can blend them. You can read cat, pot, sun, hen and dog.

You can read a sentence!

Give yourself a clap.

What will you read next?

Learn more

• BBC Bitesize KS1 English — phonics and reading activities for young children
• Starfall — free learn-to-read games with sounds and short words
• PhonicsPlay — blending games for early readers
• African Storybook — free picture stories from Africa in many languages
• Oxford Owl — free e-books and reading tips for parents

Watch more

Think about it

1. What are the three sounds in "cat"?
2. Which sound is in the middle of "pot"?
3. Can you say three words that end in "un"?
4. What does a sentence start with? What does it end with?
5. What is one word you can read on a sign near your house?