Free printable · 1st grade phonics

Silent e: add an e, change the word

Watch kit turn into kite. Your child adds an e to four words and draws each new one, then picks the right word in four sentences.

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How to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Show the change. Say, “This says kit. Watch what happens when I add an e. The e is silent, but it makes the i say its name: kite!”
  2. Add e and draw. Say, “Read the short word. Add the e, write the new word, and draw it in the box.”
  3. Pick the word. Say, “Read the sentence with each word. Which one makes sense?”

Tip. Cover the e with a finger to read the short word, then lift your finger to read the long one. Kids love the trick, and it makes the rule stick.

The sheet and its answer key

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1st grade · Phonics

Silent e: add an e, change the word

For youHow to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Show the change. Say: “This says kit. Watch what happens when I add an e. The e is silent, but it makes the i say its name: kite!”
  2. Add e and draw. Say: “Read the short word. Add the e, write the new word, and draw it in the box.”
  3. Pick the word. Say: “Read the sentence with each word. Which one makes sense?”

Tip. Cover the e with a finger to read the short word, then lift your finger to read the long one. Kids love the trick, and it makes the rule stick.

Add an e. Write the new word, then draw it.

cap+e=
Draw it
kit+e=
Draw it
cub+e=
Draw it
pin+e=
Draw it

Circle the word that fits

  1. The kitkite is up in the wind.
  2. A cubcube naps by its mom.
  3. The dog had a bath in the tubtube.
  4. I got a pinpine cone.
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 1 · arborhomeschool.com
Free printableFor the grown-up

1st grade · Phonics

Answer key

Silent e: add an e, change the word

Add an e. Write the new word, then draw it.

  • cap + e = cape
  • kit + e = kite
  • cub + e = cube
  • pin + e = pine

Circle the word that fits

  • The kite is up in the wind.
  • A cub naps by its mom.
  • The dog had a bath in the tub.
  • I got a pine cone.

If it’s hard

  • If your child reads kite as kit, point to the e and ask, “What does the e do?” Then read it again.
  • Read each pair aloud together before drawing. The drawings are the fun part, so save them for last.
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 2 · arborhomeschool.com

Have Arbor plan your child’s whole year

Reading, math and every subject you choose, planned for the year and written out lesson by lesson for you to teach, at your child’s level, with the records kept as you go. Free for 14 days.

Plan my child’s year