Students will
Learning objectives
- Identify pictures whose names have the short a sound.
- Write a to complete a three-letter short a word.
- Read a sentence made of short a words and show its meaning in a drawing.
Short A Worksheet
Students pick out pictures with the short a sound, write a to finish four picture words, and read and draw two short a sentences.
Format
- Colour PDFThe full-colour resource, ready to print or projectAvailable
- PrintablePrinter-friendly, uses less inkAvailable
- Fillable PDFStudents type answers right into the fileAvailable
- Google ClassroomAssign and share digitallyComing soon
Only the colour PDF is ready for this resource so far. The other formats are on the way.
At a glance
- Years
- 1–2
- Pages
- 2
- A4
- Type
- Worksheet
- Includes
- Answer key
Last updated
Page 1 of 2
Hearing, writing and reading the short a sound
Children listen for, write and read the short a sound. First they name six pictures and pick out the four with short a, so they have to listen for the vowel. Next they write the missing a in van, fan, bag and pan, tying the letter to the sound they just said. Last they read two sentences such as "A rat naps on a mat.", draw each one and reread it up to three times. The answer key marks every picture and describes what each drawing should show.
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From the creator
Teaching tips
1
Run the warm-up from the key before the picture check: say van, pig, nap, sun and fan, and have children tap their chin only on the short a words.
2
Ant is the one picture where short a comes first rather than in the middle. If a child leaves it unchecked, say "a-a-ant" slowly so they hear the vowel at the start.
3
Check the drawings for the details in the words: the second sentence needs a tan van with Dad inside, not just any car.
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Skills covered
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Differentiation
Meet every learner.
Ways to adjust the short a page for different learners.
Support
Hear it before writing
- Say each of the six picture names with them, stretching the vowel: r-a-a-t.
- Write the a in van together, then let them finish fan, bag and pan.
- Read each sentence to them first, then have them read it back with you.
On level
Teach as written
- All three sections, starting with the chin-tap warm-up from the key.
- Students reread each sentence three times and check a box each time.
Extension
Write short a sentences
- Write a third sentence using at least three short a words, then draw it.
- List the short a words from both sentences and sort them by their last letter.
Curriculum alignment.
Each one is checked against the official document. Where the resource covers only part of a standard, the note says so.
EYFS and England NC English · Years 1–2
Year 1Reading - word reading
Students pick out pictures whose names have the short a sound and read short a words in two sentences. Only the short a sound is practised.
Year 1Writing - transcription: Spelling
Students write the missing a to finish van, fan, bag and pan. The other letters are printed for them.
Reception ELGLiteracy - ELG: Word Reading
Students read two short sentences made of short a words ("A rat naps on a mat.") and draw them. This is an end-of-Reception goal, so it suits children at the younger end.
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