CVC Word Building Square Peg Cards: Initial Sounds Phase 2 Phonics Activity

What’s included?

This download includes x2 A4, pdf sheets (portrait orientation).

What’s it for?

This hands-on CVC peg squares activity supports essential early phonics development using only Phase 2 sounds. Learners clip initial letters onto the word squares to complete and read CVC words across the five short vowel families: -at, -et, -it, -ot, and -ut. This multi-sensory resource strengthens phonetic awareness by focusing on initial sound identification and blending to build complete words.

Who’s it for?

This resource has been designed for early years children, pupils in years one and two as well as older students needing additional learning support.

Resource Details

This resource supports early phonics by focusing on CVC word building and initial sound identification.

• The download includes five unique peg squares, one for each short vowel rime family: -at, -et, -it, -ot, -ut.
• Each square features four CVC words with the initial consonant missing.
• Cards and matching missing letters are colour-coded (red, orange, yellow, green, blue) for easy grouping and clarity.
• The text uses the clear, legible Sassoon font.
• Clip-style pegs are required for this activity, used to secure the initial letters and complete the words.

Self-Checking Answer Sheet (included)

To promote independent learning and immediate feedback, this resource includes an easy-to-use answer key.

• Self-Correction: The downloadable includes dedicated answer squares in the same design, which can be cut out and kept with the activity.

• Encouraging Autonomy: Learners are encouraged to use these answer squares to self-check their work once they have completed clipping the initial sound pegs onto the five coloured word squares.

• Reinforcement: By checking their own answers, learners can instantly confirm their successful initial sound identification and blending, reinforcing correct phonic knowledge before moving on.

Words Included (CVC Word Families)

The resource allows learners to build and read a total of twenty CVC words, organised by short vowel rime family.

-at (Red Square, initial letters b, c, h, r):

• bat
• cat
• hat
• rat

-et (Orange Square, initial letters b, n, p, s):

• bet
• net
• pet
• set

-it (Yellow Square, initial letters k, n, p, t):

• kit
• nit
• pit
• tit

-ot (Green Square, initial letters c, d, h, p):

• cot
• dot
• hot
• pot

-ut (Blue Square, initial letters c, g, h, n):

• cut
• gut
• hut
• nut

How to use it?

This activity has been designed for learners to get on with independently though could be used with an adult to reinforce initial sound identification and sounding out CVC words.

Setting Up the Activity

1. Print the sheet onto card and carefully cut along all the dotted lines.
2. Secure each of the coloured initial letters to the opening end of a separate clip-style peg, preferably using blue tack.
3. Place each set of coloured letter pegs with their corresponding matching CVC word squares.

Learner Instructions

1. Select one of the CVC word squares (e.g., the red 'at' square).
2. Look at an image displayed on one of the four sides of the square to identify the word to be built (e.g., an image of a bat).
3. Determine the initial sound needed to complete that word.
4. Find the corresponding peg with the correct letter (e.g., the 'b' peg) from the matching coloured set.
5. Clip the peg onto the designated space on the square to complete the CVC word.
6. Read the finished word aloud to confirm it correctly matches the image shown.
7. Repeat the process for the remaining three words on the square before moving on to the next colour-coded family (square).

Important message

Any issues with this resource please let us know - we are happy to make changes.