Hear it and read it: what children learn
Children hear a short word, such as sat or fish, and find the written word. It links what they hear with the letters they are learning in phonics.
Tap a Listen card to hear a word. Then sound out the written words and choose the one that matches.
This topic links to an early learning goal in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for England (Word Reading). Children at the expected level of development will: “Read words consistent with their phonic knowledge by sound-blending”. Reception children are usually aged 4–5.
There is no direct equivalent in the US Common Core State Standards.
How to play
Pick a card on the left, then the card on the right that matches it. Each game has 4 pairs. Wrong matches are counted as mistakes, and you get three stars for a game with no mistakes.
Step by step
- Turn the sound on. Each Listen card plays a recorded word. Tap it as often as needed.
- Sound out each word. Say each sound, then blend: s-a-t, sat.
- Choose the match. Pick the written word that sounds the same.
- Say it again. Read the matched word aloud together.
Worked examples
Example 1: Listen: sat
Working: s-a-t blends to sat.
Answer: sat
Example 2: Listen: fish
Working: f-i-sh: the sh is two letters, one sound.
Answer: fish
Example 3: Listen: ring
Working: r-i-ng: ng is one sound.
Answer: ring
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Guessing from the first letter only Sound out every letter, left to right.
- Splitting sh, ch or ng Point out that these two letters make one sound.
- Missing a sound Use fingers: one finger per sound.
Activities to try at home
- Say a word in sounds (c-a-t) and ask your child to blend it.
- Point to short words on packets and signs and sound them out together.
- Write three words and say one; ask which one you said.
Ideas for the classroom
- Use sound buttons under words on the board.
- Play phoneme frames with magnetic letters.
- Use the game as a quick end-of-phonics session check.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Which sounds does it use?
Simple letter sounds and some digraphs, such as sh, ch, th and ng. They are taught early in most phonics programmes.
Is this the same as phonics at school?
It is practice that fits alongside your school's phonics programme, not a replacement for it.
Does my child need to read the Listen cards?
No. Each Listen card plays a recorded word when tapped, so children can play by ear. Turn the sound up and tap a card as many times as needed.