Free Phonics Fun: Word Hunters!

I love things that are free, fun, and no-assembly required!

I have a quick little idea for you that is all of these things!

We in first grade THRIVE on phonics. As much as I have drilled and killed patterns into my babies’ brains, nothing gives me more delight than when they read a word and say “LOOK IT’S AN L-BLEND!”

tears people. tears. In those moments I feel so accomplished {even if they can’t read it, at least the recognize it}!

My kids and I do TONS of phonics work: blending powerpoints, cut/paste worksheets, sorts…but I love this activity the most because it’s an easy extension/early finisher/center activity.

This activity is simple. All you need are books and whiteboard markers.

I just write the phonics pattern on the board and they go at it!

As you can tell, we’ve been working on r-blends 🙂

& YES they write on their desks. An added incentive 😉

This occupies ALL my students. SERIOUSLY, every single little bug was working. EVEN that little one who just doesn’t do a darned thing. He was all up in it looking {and maybe copying from his neighbor, but I don’t care because he was working}!

While they work, I can give extra help to my lows or walk around and ask students to read me their words to check for understanding.

Another thing I love about this activity, you can basically hunt for ANYTHING you want. I did adjectives, nouns, and tons of grammar skills last year. At the beginning of the year I do period/capital letter searches. It basically works for anything 😉 It’s a great filler activity!

Do you use hunts in your classroom?

Here’s another similar idea from Catherine at The Brown Bag Teacher about a Word Collecting Board.