Free Printable Phonics Activities for Early Readers

Early literacy improves when reading is paired with hands-on activities.

Below are printable phonics worksheets you can use at home or in the classroom.

Activity 1 — Rhyming Word Match

Print two columns:
- Bread — Red
- Fun — Bun
- Head — Spread

Children draw lines connecting rhyming words.

Activity 2 — Fill in the Missing Rhyme

"The bread was instead."

Options: red / car / dog

This strengthens rhyme recognition and context prediction.

Activity 3 — Sound Circle Sheet

Provide a worksheet where students circle:
- Words that start with B
- Words that end with -ed
- Words that rhyme with fun

Activity 4 — Draw Your Own Silly Rhyme

Encourage creative phonics:

"Instead of bread, I wore a ___ on my head!"

Kids fill in silly rhymes.

Activity 5 — Word Family Building

Create worksheets for word families:
- -ead family: bread, head, read, spread
- -un family: fun, bun, run, sun
- -ed family: red, bed, fed, led

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FAQ

Q: Are these worksheets free to use?
A: Yes, they are designed for home and classroom use.

Q: What age are these printables for?
A: Ideal for ages 4–7 working on phonemic awareness.

Q: How often should phonics worksheets be used?
A: 2–3 times per week alongside story reading.