Same letters, different sounds

For grown-ups: this lesson in words

Years 1 and 2 · English

Same letters, different sounds: I can read letters that make two sounds.

1. Cow and owl: the letters o and w make /ow/.

   Bowl and snowman: the same letters make /oa/!

   Same letters, two sounds!

   Picture: Sorting into 2 groups: /ow/, /oa/. /ow/: cow, owl. /oa/: bowl, snowman.

2. Your turn: Here is the word snow. Is it /ow/, like cow, or /oa/, like bowl?

   Picture: Sound tiles s, n and ow blend into the word "snow".

   Choose one:

   • /ow/, like in cow: cow
   • /oa/, like in bowl: bowl

   Answer

   The answer: /oa/, like in bowl

   snow has /oa/, like in bowl.

   Picture: Sound tiles s, n and ow blend into the word "snow".

3. Read this word. The e and a make one sound.

   /h/ /e/ /d/

   head! Here e and a make /e/.

   Picture: Sound tiles h, ea and d blend into the word "head".

Words to know

spelling:

The letters we use to write a sound or a word.