Shop
Grade workbooks
Classroom · CVC words · CCSS RF.K.3b
CVC words worksheets
20 short u CVC words in 6 word families, with a free seven-page worksheet pack: meet the words, tap and blend with sound buttons, picture match, write the word, sort the families, read and trace, and an answer key.
Watch it solved
48 sec · with voice and captionsA pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.
Read what the video says
- 0:00 Let's practice short u words, step by step.
- 0:03 Say each word, and listen for the middle sound. Sun, bus, cup. They all have the short u sound.
- 0:10 Touch each dot, and say each sound. Then blend the sounds, and write the word. Sun.
- 0:17 Draw a line from each picture to its word. The sun goes with the word sun.
- 0:22 Say the name of each picture, and write one letter in each box. S, u, n. Sun.
- 0:29 Read each word in the word bank, and write it under its ending. Run rhymes with sun, so it goes in that column.
- 0:36 Read each word aloud, then trace it.
- 0:42 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.
The picture words
- sun
- bus
- cup
- bug
- mug
- nut
- tub
- hut
Short u word families
-ug word family
bug, mug, rug, hug, tug
-un word family
sun, run, fun, bun
-ut word family
nut, hut, cut, but
-ub word family
tub, rub, cub, sub
-up word family
cup, pup
-us word family
bus
What the worksheets look like
Teaching short u
Teaching short uShort u is the sound at the start of umbrella, a short, relaxed "uh" with the mouth barely open. It is often the easiest short vowel to hear, so it builds confidence.
Watch for: Writing short u as o (sun as "son"). Point to the picture and say the middle sound slowly.
Common questions
What are short u CVC words?
Three-letter words with a consonant, then the short u vowel, then a consonant, such as sun, bus, cup, bug. The vowel makes its short sound, as at the start of "umbrella".
How do I teach short u CVC words?
Short u is the sound at the start of umbrella, a short, relaxed "uh" with the mouth barely open. It is often the easiest short vowel to hear, so it builds confidence.
What mistake should I watch for?
Writing short u as o (sun as "son"). Point to the picture and say the middle sound slowly.
Can I copy these worksheets for my class?
Yes. The PDF is free to print and photocopy for classroom and home use, in color or in the black-and-white ink saver. Please link to this page rather than re-uploading the file.
Mix all five vowels
Mix all five vowelsMissing-vowel pictures, a vowel sort, an answer key and a CVC Word Champion certificate.
