4-In-A-Row CVC Word Game And More Activities

You can never have too many CVC word games and activities, so I thought I’d share some favorites today.

I Spy

Let’s start with a simple one: ‘I-spy.’ Sometimes I bring in a few objects to place around the room to make sure I can cover specific sounds, but generally, this game requires no materials or additional prep. Simply say: “I spy with my little eye a m-a-p.” Ask your students to blend the sounds together to tell you what you see. If blending is new, demonstrate. 

Helpful hint: Hold each sound a little bit longer and don’t have a pause between each sound. You can add more pause and decrease the hold on sounds as students get better at hearing these sounds.

To help students practice segmenting as well, let them take turns being the person who says ‘I Spy.’ To avoid a lengthy look around the room to find something, have them choose from objects or pictures of objects that are CVC words. Common CVC words I find in the classroom include hat, cap, pen, mug, cup, sun, mat, bug, and Tim (or another child with a CVC name like Ned, Don, or Val).

Bingo

Bingo is always popular and is another great CVC word game for the whole class or a smaller group. Each student needs a bingo card and markers. I like to laminate bingo cards and have students mark them with a dry erase marker, but you could also use counters or other small objects to mark words as they are called. 

Bingo games can adapt as students gain words. For example, start with cards focused on specific sounds. Then as students gain familiarity or fluency with different sounds and word sets, combine the word/sound lists onto one card.

4-in-a-Row CVC word game

While I Spy helps students segment and blend words orally and Bingo gives practice in reading words they hear, the 4-in-a-Row CVC word game gives students practice reading and writing. This game is played in pairs.

To play the 4-in-a-row CVC word game, students will need:

• a grid for the game board
• a spinner with CVC words
• two different colored pens or narrow markers.

To play, the first student spins the spinner. They read the word the spinner lands on and then writes the word anywhere on the grid.

The next student does the same. Players continue alternating turns until one student gets four in a row anywhere on the board.

You can use the 4-in-a-Row CVC word game for:

• Independent practice in class. Instead of working with a partner, students can simply spin the spinner and use the grid to practice writing and spelling the words that the spinner lands on.
• Part of a literacy station. Demonstrate the game with small groups. Then leave the game as an activity at your literacy station.
• Home practice and consolidation. Copy the 4-in-a-Row CVC word game board for students to take home. They can play the game with their family for consolidation of skills. They can also use the game board at home for independent practice (see above). 

More CVC word games & activities

Bingo and 4-in-a-Row CVC word game are two games included in the CVC Worksheets and Games Bundle. This bundle includes six sets, where each set focuses on different sounds. If you have students struggling with particular sounds, this bundle is ideal for providing intervention through practice and consolidation—and you save 30% over buying each pack separately.

Each pack includes:

1. 24 individual posters for each of the words.
2. 24 word wall cards for each of the words.
3. Ten different worksheets including:

• • 4 x Cut and Match
  • 2 x Draw the Words
  • 4 x Draw and Match
  • 4 x Missing Sounds 
  • 4 x Find the Words
  • 4 x Read and Write
  • 4 x Match the Words
  • 3 x Math the Sentence
  • 3 x Finish the Sentences
  • 1 x Fluency Board

4. Two games including:

• • Bingo
  • 4 in a Row

These are the different sets included: 

Set 1: a, i, m, n, o, p, s, t

Set 2: b, c, g, h

Set 3: d, e, f, v

Set 4: k, l, r, u

Set 5: j, w, x, y, z

Set 6: double consonants ff, ll, ss, zz

It’s easy to be prepared to teach CVC words with the CVC Worksheets and Games Bundle. Get yours here >> https://topnotchteaching.com/downloads/cvc-worksheets/