Shop
Grade workbooks
Classroom · Phonics · Vowel teams · 1st and 2nd grade
ai and ay words worksheets
A free seven-page pack for the vowel teams ai and ay: 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
52 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 A I and A Y words, step by step.
- 0:04 Say each word, and listen for the sound. Snail, train, rain.
- 0:10 Say the picture name, and circle the sound you hear. Snail. You hear A I.
- 0:15 Draw a line from each picture to its word. The snail goes with the word snail.
- 0:21 Write the missing letters in the box, then write the whole word. Snail.
- 0:27 Read each word, and write it in the box where it belongs. Paid goes under A I.
- 0:32 Read each word aloud, then trace it.
- 0:38 Read each sentence, and circle the words with A I or A Y. The snail is in the rain.
- 0:45 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.
The picture words
- snail
- train
- rain
- chain
- sail
- paint
- crayon
How to say it
How to say itAi and ay both make the long a sound, as in rain and play. A handy rule: ai is used inside a word (rain, tail) and ay at the end (day, play).
Watch for
Watch forWriting ai at the end of a word, as in "plai". Remind children that English words almost never end in i, so the end of the word gets ay.
More words to read
ai
raintailwaitpaid
ay
playdaysaystay
Read the sentences
- The snail is in the rain.
- We play all day.
- Wait for the train.
What the worksheets look like
Common questions
What are ai and ay words?
Words where two vowels team up to make one vowel sound (the long a sound), such as snail, train, rain, chain.
How do I teach ai and ay words?
Ai and ay both make the long a sound, as in rain and play. A handy rule: ai is used inside a word (rain, tail) and ay at the end (day, play).
What mistake should I watch for?
Writing ai at the end of a word, as in "plai". Remind children that English words almost never end in i, so the end of the word gets ay.
Is there an answer key?
Yes. Page 7 has every answer, the circled words for each sentence, and a teaching tip.
Mix all the vowel teams
Mix all the vowel teamsVowel team detective, sort by vowel sound, an answer key and a Vowel Team Champion certificate.
