Foundation · English · Literacy
Blending and segmenting simple words
Pushing sounds together to read short consonant–vowel–consonant words, and breaking spoken words into their sounds to spell them.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Blend three sounds together to say a word.
- Break a short spoken word into its separate sounds.
- Count the sounds in a three-sound word.
Success looks like
- I can push sounds together to say a word.
- I can tap out each sound in a short word.
- I can count how many sounds are in a word.
The big idea
Reading words means turning letters into sounds and blending them into a word. Writing words means segmenting: hearing the sounds in a word and writing a letter for each one.
The easiest words to start with have three sounds: a consonant, a vowel and a consonant. These are often called CVC words. Examples: cat, sun, pig, top, bed.
To blend, say each sound and then say them faster and faster until they join: /s/ /u/ /n/ … s-u-n … sun. Stretchy sounds such as /s/, /m/ and /f/ are the easiest to blend because you can hold them.
To segment, say the word slowly like a robot and tap one finger for each sound. 'Mop' becomes /m/ /o/ /p/: three taps, three sounds.
A puppet can help. Tell your child the puppet only talks in 'robot sounds' and they have to work out what it is saying.
Worked examples
Blending a word
Blend the sounds /p/ /i/ /n/.
- Put a finger under each letter: p, i, n.
- Say each sound: /p/ /i/ /n/.
- Say them closer together: p-i-n.
- Run them together smoothly: pin.
Answer: The word is 'pin'.
Segmenting a word
How many sounds are in 'dog', and what are they?
- Say 'dog' slowly like a robot.
- Push a cup forward for each sound: /d/ … /o/ … /g/.
- Count the cups you pushed: 1, 2, 3.
Answer: 'Dog' has 3 sounds: /d/ /o/ /g/.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Blend the sounds /c/ /a/ /t/. What word do they make?
cat — /c/ /a/ /t/ blends to 'cat'.
Which word has the sounds /s/ /u/ /n/?
sun — /s/ /u/ /n/ blends to 'sun'.
What is the middle sound in 'hop'?
/o/ — 'Hop' is /h/ /o/ /p/. The middle sound is /o/.
What is the last sound in 'bed'?
/d/ — 'Bed' is /b/ /e/ /d/. The last sound is /d/.
Which word does NOT have three sounds?
a — 'A' has only one sound. 'Map' and 'leg' each have three.
Blend /p/ /i/ /g/. Type the word.
pig — /p/ /i/ /g/ blends to 'pig'.
How many sounds are in the word 'sat'? Type a number.
3 — 'Sat' is /s/ /a/ /t/: three sounds.
Blend /r/ /e/ /d/. Type the word.
red — /r/ /e/ /d/ blends to 'red'.
Watch out for
- Saying the sounds correctly but then guessing a different word. Slow down, point to each letter again and blend while still looking at the letters.
- Leaving out the middle vowel sound when segmenting (writing 'ct' for 'cat'). Stretch the word so the vowel is easy to hear.
- Thinking letters and sounds always match one-to-one. That is true for these simple words, and children will meet two-letter sounds such as 'sh' later.
Tips for parents
- Use stretchy first sounds (s, m, f, n) before bouncy ones (b, d, t) because they are easier to blend.
- Say 'robot words' during the day: 'Can you get your h-a-t?' Children love decoding instructions.
- Praise the effort of blending, not just the right answer.
Go further
- Make word ladders by changing one letter: cat, hat, hit, hot, hop.
- Write CVC words on paper fish and 'catch' them with a magnet or a peg, reading each one.
- Draw a picture for each word your child can read and staple them into a little book.