Grade 1 · English Language Arts · Unit 2 of 13
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.
Ontario Curriculum expectation: B2.3, B2.4 · short vowel sounds and the letters that spell them
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
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.