Free K-5 printables
Skip to content

Classroom · Phonics · R-controlled vowels · 1st and 2nd grade

ar words worksheets

A free seven-page pack for the r-controlled vowel ar: picture words, which sound do you hear, picture match, missing letters, a word sort, read and trace with short sentences, and an answer key.

Watch it solved

49 sec · with voice and captions

A 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
  1. 0:00 Let's practice A R words, step by step.
  2. 0:03 Say each word, and listen for the sound. Car, star, jar.
  3. 0:09 Say the picture name, and circle the sound you hear. Car. You hear A R.
  4. 0:14 Draw a line from each picture to its word. The car goes with the word car.
  5. 0:20 Write the missing letters in the box, then write the whole word. Car.
  6. 0:25 Read each word, and write it in the box where it belongs. Bark goes under A R K.
  7. 0:31 Read each word aloud, then trace it.
  8. 0:36 Read each sentence, and circle the words with A R. A star is in the dark sky.
  9. 0:43 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

The picture words

  • car
  • star
  • jar
  • shark
  • yarn
  • scarf
  • cart
  • arm

How to say it

When r comes after a, the a changes its sound. Ar sounds like the name of the letter r, as in car and star. Children can remember it as the pirate sound: arr!

Watch for

Reading the a as short, as in "cat" for cart. Point to the r: when a is followed by r, the two letters make one new sound together.

More words to read

-ar

carjarfarstar

-ark

parkdarkbarkshark

-art

cartpartdartstart

Read the sentences

  1. A star is in the dark sky.
  2. The car is in the park.
  3. I see a shark!

What the worksheets look like

ar words worksheet, page 1
Page 1: meet the words and how to say them
ar words worksheet, page 4
Page 4: fill in the missing letters

Common questions

What are ar words?

Words where the r changes the vowel sound in front of it (the ar sound), such as car, star, jar, shark. Teachers often call it bossy r.

How do I teach ar words?

When r comes after a, the a changes its sound. Ar sounds like the name of the letter r, as in car and star. Children can remember it as the pirate sound: arr!

What mistake should I watch for?

Reading the a as short, as in "cat" for cart. Point to the r: when a is followed by r, the two letters make one new sound together.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 7 has every answer, the circled words for each sentence, and a teaching tip.

Mix ar, or, er, ir and ur

Bossy r detective, sort by vowel sound, an answer key and a Bossy R Champion certificate.