Groundhogs are a fun and interesting critter! During the winter they are the hot topic when we’re wondering when spring will finally arrive!
During these chilly months, we find lots of ways to incorporate the winter season with exciting learning activities.
So if we’re able to make a connection between winter and language, our students will enjoy learning and find a love of reading.
We count down the days until “Phil” makes his appearance by reading our stacks of Groundhog Day Books. We study about Groundhogs with our week-long Groundhog Animal Study and we can’t wait to decorate our room with our adorable Paper Plate Groundhog Crafts.
In keeping with our groundhog theme, we work on our number sense with our Groundhog Frist to 20 math game! The belly laughs from our kids while playing and learning is one of my favorite things!
I wouldn’t want it any other way!!
Because playing literacy and math games is a great way to get kids learning without realizing they’re learning.
Sounding out small words is one of the first steps our littlest learners take when learning to read. As students begin to read we have them isolate what they hear, sound by sound.
To connect winter with literacy, we’ve created these Groundhog CVC Puzzles. These consonant, short vowel, consonant words encourage our emerging readers to take unknown words and stretch them out and blend them together.
Using these CVC puzzles helps our students to build their phonemic awareness using single syllable words in a fun way.
Want even more literacy ideas? Be sure to take a look at our Literacy Stations; this is packed with ideas for your centers.
Inside You’ll Find:
- 10 pages of puzzles
- Each page has two different CVC word, covering all five vowels.
I find it best if you print this center on cardstock and laminate it so you can use the center for future classes. Here’s how I like to keep my Language Arts materials organized throughout the year.
Supply list for Groundhog CVC Puzzles:
- paper or card stock
- laminating pouches
- laminator
- Groundhog CVC Puzzles Printable (scroll down to download!)
Using the Groundhog CVC Puzzles
Students will start this CVC puzzle activity by placing all of the pieces on a table or the floor. It may help students to work in small groups the first time they try to complete their puzzles.
They will then pick a groundhog with a picture on it. This student chose a groundhog with a “hen” on it.
They will then search for the consonant letter that the picture starts with. I always encourage my students to say the letter sounds out loud as they find the matching cards.
After the initial sound is found, they will then sort through the letters finding the short vowel and then the ending consonant sound.
To get this freebie, use the ‘click here to download’ button at the bottom of this page.
Here a student started with the groundhog with a net on it and then placed the letters to spell the word “net.”
Once they connect their groundhog picture with their corresponding letters, they can then choose another groundhog and continue building CVC words until all the words are done or their time is up.
If you have younger students or students struggling with this concept that might be overwhelmed with all the pieces at one time, you can differentiate this activity and give them only one puzzle per vowel at a time. Once they master the word you gave them, you can slowly add in more pieces.
To make it simpler, you can also make the puzzle into a two-piece puzzle. Instead of cutting up the letters from one another, have the groundhog with the picture be one piece and the whole word spelled out be the other piece.
To challenge your students, they can build the puzzles and then write sentences with the words they build or they can write a story using as many of the words they built as they can.
Your students can build words all year long with our Word Building Mega Bundle. It has 12 themed word building activities.
Want More Groundhog Ideas?
If you want to extend the groundhog theme across your curriculum, check out our Groundhog Animal Study. This is an exciting research project your students will be fascinated with.
Download Your Groundhog CVC Puzzles Printable Below!
If you can’t find a resource that you would LOVE to have for your classroom, Contact me and I would be happy to make it for you.
Click the button below to download. You will immediately be redirected to the freebie.
Have fun with your little readers with these Groundh0g CVC Puzzles in your classroom.
Jennifer
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Mary says
January 25, 2018 at 8:14 pmThank you! I can’t imagine how these Groundhog Day CVC Puzzles could be any cuter!
Jennifer says
February 5, 2018 at 9:06 amThank you so much! I’m glad you like them!
Hope says
March 15, 2018 at 2:37 pmThank you soooo much! I love your activities – they are so colorful and thematic and just plain AWESOME!!!! Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it!!!! Have a great one
Jennifer says
April 2, 2018 at 9:54 amYou are so welcome!
Thank you for stopping by!
Barbara says
January 26, 2019 at 12:54 pmI love the items on your blogs! These groundhogs are adorable! Buy, I am unable to download them. The “What grade do you teach?” Question comes up. No matter which grade level I choose nothing happens . Do you have any suggestions for me to be able to download this activity?
Jennifer Hamilton says
January 30, 2019 at 12:08 amHi there Barbara! Thank you for reaching out. Once you submit your information you’ll get an email from me with the download. Be sure to check your promotions, spam and others folders. I hope you enjoy!!