Printable Mailbox Nonsense Word Building Card Game
For Kindergarten and First Grade Literacy Center
Build, Write, and Read nonsense words in this free printable card game.
Bonus: Also includes color matching game!
Nonsense Words are words that follow the patterns of real words with no real meaning. I tend to not use them in our everyday classroom. That being said, nonsense words are a great way to test a child’s ability to blend letter sounds and can help gauge where they are in their reading skill level. Here is an article I found with more information.
I actually made this activity for a different reason. I have a “word guesser”. She has decided that every word is a sight word and if it starts with a certain letter it is a certain word such as every word that starts with “T” is “the”. I dug out this activity I made ages ago and updated it a bit to work with her on looking at the word instead of just the first letter and decoding the word based on the letter sounds and not just what she thinks the word is.
There is tons of research into why nonsense words work and how to use them as well as a lot of controversy and opposing opinions. I am not going to weigh in on either side. I think they are like most things, if used properly they are just another one of the many tools that help our littles learn to read. While overuse of them defeats their whole purpose.
Instructions:
- Cut out each card and fold in half. Glue or laminate the cards together.
- Draw a consonant, vowel, consonant card set.
- Write the word and then read it on the recording page.
There may be real words formed at times as well. Do they know the difference? Can they spot which words are real and which words are not?
A few other things you can do with these cards:
- You can use them as letter flash cards.
- Play a name that vowel game. Turn all the vowel cards over and let them name the letter when you flip it face up.
Suggestions, requests, questions, corrections, or comments?
Use our worksheets or activities?
Send a picture to be featured in a future post!
Email to: miniaturemasterminds@gmail.com
This download is mostly color and free to use for any daycare, church, school, personal, co op, or home school use.
We all make mistakes sometimes, if you happen to find one of mine feel free to email me and let me know so I can correct it!
TERMS OF USE:
All activity images, printables, and games are free to download and/or use as you choose, with the exception of claiming as your own, modifying, or redistributing as your own. Please feel free to use in any classroom setting! Feel free to link to this page but not to the download or image itself, if you would like to share downloads or ideas. All shares are appreciated. Permission to use 1 image of your choice is given. Thank you for respecting these guidelines.
