Onset and rime worksheets

c + at = cat: the first sound and the rest

Make an onset and rime worksheet. The onset is the sound or sounds before the vowel, like c in cat or fr in frog. The rime is the vowel and everything after it: at, og. Your child says the two parts and puts them together to write the word, or says a word and writes its onset and rime in two boxes. Every row has a picture of the word.

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Choose each part yourself

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Your worksheet:

Watch: how the free worksheet makers workA short lesson. Three steps, and every maker works the same way.

How to make your worksheet

  1. Choose “Put the parts together” or “Split the word”.
  2. Choose the words: short words, words that start with two consonants, or words like ship and chick.
  3. Choose how many pages to print.
  4. Print. Press “New version” for other words.

Why onset and rime

Hearing a word in two parts is an easier step than hearing every sound. A child who can join c and at is ready to join c, a and t.

Say it, then write it

Have your child say the onset, pause, say the rime, then say the whole word quickly before writing it.

Good questions

What is the onset in ship?

sh. The onset is everything before the vowel, so it can be one letter, two letters for one sound (sh, ch, th), or a blend (fr, st).

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Turn on “Answer key page”.

Can I print in black and white?

Yes. Choose “Black and white” under “Print in”. The page uses very little ink.

Is it free?

Yes, with no sign-up and no limit.

Make another kind of sheet

Word family houses makerWord family houses: a plain house for each ending, such as -at and -an, and word cards to read and glue in the right house.Sound box mat makerSound boxes: a hand-drawn picture and an empty box for each sound, or blank mats with 2 to 5 boxes. Type your own words.Diphthong worksheetsDiphthong pages for oi, oy, ou and ow: circle the pair, sort the words, or color by sound.Sound wall printableSound wall cards and charts: each sound with a child’s mouth, its letters and a key picture, and the vowel valley.
See all 356 free makers

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