Today I’m excited to share my newest project: 15 easy-prep games to help your child or students master CVC words!
Games for teaching CVC words
How to play
1. Print the game you’d like to play. You can choose a game that features short short a, e, o, i, or u words. Or you can print a game that features a combination of short vowels. So many possibilities in this pack of 15 games!
2. Get a playing piece for each player. Our colorful transparent counting chips were perfect.
3. Take turns rolling the die. Move ahead and read the word you land on. There’s no penalty for reading a word incorrectly – but the other player should help if there’s a mistake.
4. If you land on a leap pad, you have to go back three spaces.
5. The first to the pond wins!
And the instructions are printed on each game board in case you forget. 🙂
P.S. In response to a reader request, the last game in the file is blank so you can add your own words.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS PRACTICAL BOOK!

Looking for an easy-to-read guide to help you reach all readers? If you teach kindergarten through third grade, this is the book for you. Get practical ideas and lesson plan templates that you can implement tomorrow!

Get your free cvc word games!
CVC WORD PASSAGES

Decodable Passages: CVC Words
$12.00
Get our collection of simple passages for reading CVC words! Kids will get blending, fluency, and comprehension practice on a single page!
Rivky Porgesz
Hi,
I’m looking for fun activities to practice basic reading. I did some of your activities, however, I found that most of them are board games. I’m wondering if you have any other ideas for me.
Thank You so much for your great ideas!
Kate Dowling
Hi Rivky!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. Here are some early reading comprehension passages you might find helpful: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/reading-comprehension-passages-for-early-readers/
All the best!
Gracia
Hola! Ya me suscribí a tu página y me llegaron dos correos pero en ninguno obtuve el link para imprimir este freebee, he perdido mucho tiempo y no obtuve lo que estaba buscando.
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello! Please look for an email from me about this!
Natasha
Hi Anna
I was hoping to get the printables “Teach CVC words with 15 free games!” but after clicking the link and entering my email, the email that actually came through was about your podcast (I’ve checked my spam folder too).
How can I get the CVC printable?
Thanks
Natasha
Kate Dowling
Hi Natasha!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. That is very strange! It may have been a coincidence that an email about the podcast was sent at the same time you were trying to receive the games. I just tested the link, and had a set of games sent to myself. It worked. Please give it another try and let us know if you still have trouble!
Lisa Walsh
Hi! I love the activities! I am also trying to download Race for the Pond and am having difficulty.
Lisa
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Hello Lisa! I sent you an email about this!
Eufrasia
This is a great resource that I would love to try, but for some reason when I try to click on the “free download” button for all of the books nothing happens. Please help. Thank you!
Kate Dowling
Hi Eufrasia!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. Please turn off your adblocker for the download box to work. You may also try using Google Chrome as your browser. Thanks!
Maria Elena
Hi Anna,
The activities and games are amazing. I am impress as how my Special Ed students are having fun. They are actually reading 3 letter words. Thanks for sharing.
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Maria!
Anabia
Thank you Anna it is really helpful
Diana
Hi,
I can’t seem to locate this free printable anywhere. I’ve used the code to access subscriber printables but don’t know which item is the 15 games for CVC words.
Please let me know how I can download it.
Kate Dowling
Hi Diana!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. This set of 15 games is not in the Subscriber Library. Please click the green box on this page that says “CLICK HERE TO GET THE FREE PRINTABLE,” and then enter your email address. The file will be sent to you right away, so you can check your email for it. If you don’t see it in your inbox, check your spam/trash/junk/promotions folders. Thanks!
Heidi Snell
I have download this amazing resource when I was in a different district. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find it. I attempted to download it again, but it presented me with a box for my email and name. Once I enter it, it brings me to a sale you’re having on short vowel word family games. It won’t actually allow me to download the game.
Thank you for providing such wonderful teaching tools! Your site is bookmarked on every computer I use!
Kate Dowling
Hi Heidi!
This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. Once you enter your email address, the file will be sent to you immediately. If you don’t find it right away in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folder. Thanks for giving it another try! 🙂
Kelly Marshall
Anna, I LOVE YOUR STUFF! I am so grateful for all the things you freely share.
I was playing this game Race to the Pond (short o version) and my student and I noticed that the word “cat” was listed twice in the middle of the board. Was this a mistake or just testing us?
Anna G
Ah, sorry about that! I had “cat” on the template in every space but missed replacing it a few times. Hopefully you can just write in a different word. :P!
Lindsay
Oh, I just LOVE this. I have a 5th grader that has trouble reading even these words. I am hoping this will make it a little more fun to read. Do you have any CVC words with long vowels?
Anna G
Hi Lindsay! By definition, CVC words are consonant-short vowel-consonant. I do have some long vowel word games, though, and you can find them beginning here: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/print-2/#silent-e-words
Michelle
Thank you so much for all of these wonderful resources! I am a SPED resource teacher (K-3) and my kiddos just love them. As a first year SPED teacher these resources are a time saver! So engaging and I”m able to provide fun activities for all of my students to help them meet their goals!
Anna G
You’re welcome, Michelle!
Shannon
I cannot tell you how incredibly helpful you have been to me as a first year teacher. You have created so many wonderful, engaging activities and printables for me to use with my special needs students. The resources and teaching advice you provide are invaluable and are really helping me to deliver the absolute best instruction I can to my kids. Thank you for providing them for free – you really are doing a great service to so many children.
Anna G
Thank you SO much for your kind comment, Shannon – such a day brightener! I’m so happy that my resources are helpful for you and your students.
Brenda
Thank you so much for sharing these fantastic resources! How can you be so creative!
I am sure my kids will love these activities and will learn a lot from them.
Anna G
You’re welcome, Brenda!
Suzytr
Thank you! Love your resources~
It’s very helpful for my kids!
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Suzytr!
Renee
What a wonderful resource! I will be using it with my Kindergarteners to begin blending words. Thank you!
Anna G
You’re welcome, Renee!
Divya
Thankyou so much for providing all this help in regard to phonics and the ideas are so child friendly.
Thanks once again
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Divya!
Christi
These are terrific! Thank you so much for sharing!
Anna G
You’re welcome, Christi!
Katie
I recently found this game, and all of your Four in a Row activities and I absolutely love them! In fact several of my students are doing them today with a sub. I noticed that each has a blank template, but I was wondering if you happened to have an editable digital version? As a Title 1 teacher I serve 15 groups of students each day, and I’d love to be able to quickly modify it to each groups instructional level based on known letters/sight words.
Thank you,
Katie
Anna G
Yes! It’s part of the subscriber library. If you sign up for my free newsletter, you’ll get access to a library of bonus printables, and editable reading games is one of them. 🙂
Kathy
Again, thank you for these resources, I tutor young children from my home using the Orton-Gillingham method and am always looking for something special for my struggling readers. Many of them enjoy games so much and yours are well done and thought out.
Anna G
I’m so glad to hear it, Kathy!
Jamie
Thank you SO much for sharing all of these wonderful resources. As a teacher who works with struggling readers, I appreciate you sharing these fun activities and games for me to use with my students. These games will be a hit with my scholars! Thanks for your creativity and willingness to share
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Jamie! I’m glad you like them!
Winnie
Hi, Anna
Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful teaching ideas. I love these printables. It is great looking at my students practicing words and work with classmates happily. So thank you, thank you.
Winnie
Anna G
You’re very welcome, Winnie!
Kyna
I’m a little confused on your wonderful “Race to the Pond” game. In looking at the example that you have printed on this page, if a child rolls a three, says “got” properly, do they then move ahead on space, land on a lily pad then have to move back three spaces? I’m probably overthinking this, but would just like a little clarification.
Thank you for all of your wonderful work!
Anna G
Hi Kyna!
To begin a turn, a child rolls the die. Then he moves forward. If he lands on a word, he reads it. If he lands on a lilypad, he goes back three spaces and then reads THAT word. Make sense?
Ms. A
Your activities are very creative and its engaging for children. This is just so fantastic, I find it simple for kids ,yet interesting! Thank you !
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome!
Pam
Hi, I have recommended you to so many friends who are parents of children with Down’s syndrome. Your resources are brilliant. Thank you.
Anna Geiger
Thank you SO much for that, Pam!
Heather Tedford
I can’t wait to use these games with my “K” kids! Thank you so much for sharing:)
Anna Geiger
I’m so glad you can use them, Heather!
verna
Thank you.
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Verna!
Angelina
I love working with these games, but wondered if you have a blank template of Race to the Pond so that I can create a version that targets specific vowel sounds for my students. Overall, a wonderful product! Thank you!
Anna Geiger
Thank you for your patience, Angelina! I did finally add a blank template at the end of the download.
Suesan
I am teaching in Asia where English is the second and third language. Your resources are very very useful for my students.
Thank you very much for sharing your materials.
Anna Geiger
I’m so glad you can use them, Suesan!
Tasha
I am a librarian and manage a reading club and this will definitely be very useful in helping me to create a reading culture in kids.
thanks
Anna Geiger
I’m so glad you can use this, Tasha!
Gabriela
Dear Anna, I am so happy I ‘fell’ on your website today, so much interesting stuff, to help our children. It will even improve my english (since it’s not my mother tongue). I love the games thank you for sharing this. Have a lovely day.
Anna Geiger
Hello, Gabriela! I’m thrilled you found my site too! I hope you’ll find many things you can use here. 🙂
Sam
I want to thank you very much for your generosity to some of us that teach young children.
May your creative juice not run dry.
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Sam! So far my creative energies are high; it’s just time I struggle to find! 🙂
Katie
Thank you so much for creating all these fantastic resources! This one will be great practice for my 4.5 year old daughter, and my 6 year old will have fun playing too!
I just wanted to let you know that I noticed the word “cat” two times in the middle of the short o board.
Anna Geiger
Thanks for the edit, Katie! I fixed it.
Emily
Thank you very much, these resources are fantastic.
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Emily!
Janel Shuler
We are a group of Kindergarten teachers who love your VCV games. We are making a packet for our parents and would love to add this resource. We of course would not alter the games in anyway. Could we have your permission? Inman Elementary
Anna Geiger
You are very welcome to print and distribute these games, unedited, to your students’ parents, Janel. Thank you for asking!
Janel
Thank you!!
ameera
thank you so much for helping its lovely ideas to play and learn
Anna Geiger
Thank you – I hope you can use them!
amira
thank you so much your ideas is great
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Amira!
L Davies
Anna I love your work. I use so may of your resources. Have a look at board 12 b** might need to be removed.
Anna Geiger
I’m feeling a little dense and couldn’t figure out the offending word. 🙂 Maybe you should e-mail it to me? It’s anna@themeasuredmom.com
Anna Geiger
Thanks – I’ve got it fixed now!
clara lauber
I love everything that you do. I am clapping for you! Your creativity and your willingness to share without my continuing to spend MORE MONEY is wonderful!
Thank you,
Clara Lauber
Anna Geiger
Thank you, Clara – your comment was a real day brightener. 🙂 I really enjoy what I do here and love the chance to share it!
Penken
Thank you so much! I am amazed at your creativity and I so appreciate your generosity. I am a Kindergarten teacher, but I also have several friends who homeschool. I passed your blog on to them! Blessings!
Anna Geiger
Thanks so much for passing on my blog! I really appreciate it. 🙂
Quincy Russell-Greene
Thank you so much for making this available for someone like me. I am a behavior interventionist and my friends need fun and different ways to stay engaged. I do not have an expense account so any time I can find something that helps and is “free” to use I am very grateful.
Again, thank you so much for your work and for making it available, my little buddy loves it.
Anna Geiger
I’m so glad to hear that these games can help your student! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Fatima
Thank you so much Anna for this wonderful resource of yours!
its amazing what you could create to engage kids and on your way help people like me to do the
same…
keep up the good work!!!
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Fatima! Thank you for the encouragement. 🙂