GradeMap

Grade 1 · English Language Arts · Unit 2 of 8

Short Vowels

a, e, i, o, u

What your child practises

Hearing the short vowel in the middle of words like cat, bed, pig, dog and sun, and filling in the missing vowel to spell the word.

Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: CR1.4 · short vowel sounds in reading and spelling simple words

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which word has the short u sound, like “umbrella”?

    • 🐶dog
    • 🐛bug
    • 🥛milk
    Show answer

    🐛 bug

    Hint: Say each word slowly; “bug” has short u: b-u-g.

  2. Question 2

    Which word has the short a sound, like “apple”?

    • 🚐van
    • ☀️sun
    • 🥛milk
    Show answer

    🚐 van

    Hint: Say each word slowly; “van” has short a: v-a-n.

  3. Question 3

    Which letter is missing?

    🦊f_x
    • i
    • o
    • a
    Show answer

    o

    Hint: Say “fox” slowly. Listen for the sound in the middle!

  4. Question 4

    Which letter is missing?

    🚌b_s
    • i
    • o
    • u
    Show answer

    u

    Hint: Say “bus” slowly. Listen for the sound in the middle!

  5. Question 5

    Which word has the short o sound, like “octopus”?

    • 🦇bat
    • 🥁drum
    • 🧦sock
    Show answer

    🧦 sock

    Hint: Say each word slowly; “sock” has short o: s-o-ck.

  6. Question 6

    Which word has the short e sound, like “elephant”?

    • 🔔bell
    • 🐶dog
    • ☀️sun
    Show answer

    🔔 bell

    Hint: Say each word slowly; “bell” has short e: b-e-ll.