English · Tracing and writing worksheet
CVC Words: Free KS1 Phonics Tracing Worksheet
This free, printable CVC words worksheet helps children aged 5 to 6 practise reading and spelling simple three-letter words made from a consonant, a vowel and a consonant, such as cat, sun, pig, hat, bus and dog. Children colour the picture, trace each word to build neat letter formation, then sound out and write a word for each object.
It is completely free to print, use and share, at home or in the classroom. Just hit print, or save it as a PDF.
CVC Words: Read, Trace and Colour
Free English worksheet · Ages 5 to 6
Trace the words
Say each sound out loud, then trace over the word. For example, say c-a-t and then read the whole word: cat.
Sound it out and write
Look at each picture. Say the word slowly, listen for each sound, then write the word on the line. Use the word bank to help you check your spelling.
Write the word for the animal that says meow.
Write the word for the bright thing in the sky in the day.
Write the word for the pink farm animal that says oink.
Write the word for the thing you wear on your head.
Write the word for the big vehicle that carries lots of people.
Write the word for the pet that says woof.
CVC Words: Read, Trace and Colourowee.worldAnswer key
- Write the word for the animal that says meow. — cat
- Write the word for the bright thing in the sky in the day. — sun
- Write the word for the pink farm animal that says oink. — pig
- Write the word for the thing you wear on your head. — hat
- Write the word for the big vehicle that carries lots of people. — bus
- Write the word for the pet that says woof. — dog
What is on the worksheet
One clear, friendly line drawing of six everyday objects that name common CVC words: a cat, the sun, a pig, a hat, a bus and a dog. There is a tracing task with the six words shown in a clear, traceable style, and a short writing task with a word bank and lines to write each word.
The picture has bold, even outlines and plenty of white space, so it is comfortable for small hands to colour and a pleasure to display afterwards.
How to use it at home or in the classroom
Print the worksheet, or open it on a tablet and print from there. Start by letting your child colour the picture however they like, which is a relaxed, low-pressure way in.
Next, move to the tracing task. Encourage your child to say each sound as they trace, for example c-a-t, and then blend the sounds together to read the whole word. For the writing task, look at each object and help your child sound out the word before writing it, using the word bank to check their spelling. In a classroom, it works well as an independent phonics activity, a guided-group task, or an early-morning starter.
What your child will learn
By the end of the activity, your child will have practised blending sounds to read CVC words and segmenting words into separate sounds to spell them. These two skills sit at the very heart of early phonics.
A CVC word is a simple word built from a consonant, a vowel (a, e, i, o or u) and another consonant, like cat or dog. Because each letter usually makes just one sound, CVC words are the perfect first words for children to read and write confidently on their own, and a vital stepping stone towards reading longer words and short sentences.
A note for teachers
This worksheet supports the Year 1 word reading and spelling expectations, where pupils blend taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences to read unfamiliar words and spell words containing the phonemes already taught. The six target words use only single-letter graphemes and the short vowel sounds, so they suit early Phase 2 and Phase 3 phonics.
There is no log-in, no watermark and no catch. You are welcome to print copies for your class and to link to this page from your school website or newsletter.
Frequently asked questions
What are CVC words for Year 1?
CVC words are simple three-letter words made from a consonant, a vowel and a consonant, such as cat, sun, pig, hat, bus and dog. Because each letter usually makes a single sound, they are the first words children learn to read and spell independently in Reception and Year 1.
What age or year group is this worksheet for?
It is designed for children aged 5 to 6, which is Year 1 (Key Stage 1) in England. Confident children in Reception and older children who need extra phonics practice will benefit from it too.
Is this CVC words worksheet free to print and share?
Yes. It is completely free to print, use at home or in class, and share. There is no sign-up and no watermark. You are welcome to link to this page from a school website or newsletter.
How do I help my child read CVC words?
Ask your child to say each sound in turn, for example c-a-t, then blend the sounds together to read the whole word. To spell, do the reverse: say the word, break it into its separate sounds, and write a letter for each sound. This worksheet gives gentle practice at both.
How do I print or save the worksheet?
Press the Print button on this page, or use your browser's print option. To keep a copy, choose 'Save as PDF' as the destination in the print dialog.
Curriculum links
- KS1 Year 1 English, Word reading (statutory): 'apply phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decode words'
- KS1 Year 1 English, Word reading (statutory): 'read accurately by blending sounds in unfamiliar words containing GPCs that have been taught'
- KS1 Year 1 English, Spelling (statutory): 'spell words containing each of the 40+ phonemes already taught'
- KS1 Year 1 English, Writing transcription (statutory): 'form lower-case letters in the correct direction, starting and finishing in the right place'
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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