1st grade · English Language Arts · Unit 1 of 13
Blend It
Put sounds together
What your child practices
Blending sounds into words (s-u-n makes sun), counting the sounds in a word and hearing the last sound. These listening skills are the base of reading and spelling.
Alaska content standards learning standard: RF.1.2 · blending and counting the sounds in words
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Say each sound in the word.
- Push the sounds together to read it: p – i – g, pig.
- To find the last sound, listen to the end of the word.
Example: Which letter makes the last sound in “cat”? Say it slowly: c – a – t. The last sound is /t/. Answer: t
Blend It in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 1 of 13 in 1st grade English Language Arts, before Short Vowels.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
- 1st grade guide for Alaska parents
- Printable 1st grade English Language Arts sheet
- Alaska report cards explained
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Blend the sounds. Which picture is it?
b - u - g
- 🐛bug
- 🦇bat
- 🚌bus
🐛 bug
Hint: Say the sounds faster and faster: b-u-g… bug!
Question 2
How many sounds do you hear in “pie”?
🥧pie- 3
- 2
- 4
2
Hint: Say it slowly and hold up a finger for each sound: p-ie.
Question 3
Blend the sounds. Which picture is it?
c - a - n
- 🕐clock
- 🐱cat
- 🥫can
🥫 can
Hint: Say the sounds faster and faster: c-a-n… can!
Question 4
Which letter makes the last sound?
🥁dru_- n
- m
- b
m
Hint: Say “drum” slowly and listen to the very end.
Question 5
How many sounds do you hear in “bus”?
🚌bus- 2
- 3
- 4
3
Hint: Say it slowly and hold up a finger for each sound: b-u-s.
Question 6
Blend the sounds. Which picture is it?
b - e - d
- 🚌bus
- 🔔bell
- 🛏️bed
🛏️ bed
Hint: Say the sounds faster and faster: b-e-d… bed!