Beginning blends puzzles in three different styles make phonics practice a hands-on match for your literacy centers! Children fit the pieces together to match beginning blends and digraphs to pictures, such as sn with a snake and a snowflake or st with a star and a stool.

Blends are two or more consonants that keep their own sounds when read together, such as the bl in block. Digraphs are two letters that make one new sound, such as the sh in ship. With three puzzle styles, you can start simple and add a challenge as children grow.

With these beginning blends and digraphs puzzles, you get

• Three puzzle styles for beginning blends and digraphs
• Colorful picture clues on interlocking pieces
• A black and white version of the puzzles
• Built-in ways to differentiate

Print, cut and your puzzle center is ready to go!

What's Included

• Pages 4-12: 3-piece beginning sound puzzles (match the beginning sound to two pictures)
• Pages 14-18: 2-piece beginning sound puzzles (match the beginning sound to one picture)
• Pages 20-24: Match the beginning sound puzzles (match two pictures with the same beginning sound)
• Pages 25-46: Black and white puzzles

For the PH digraph, clip art is limited, so words with a medial PH sound are included.

Why Teachers Love It

• Three levels in one set: Move from 2-piece puzzles to 3-piece puzzles and picture-to-picture matches.
• Hands-on: Children handle and fit the pieces together as they listen for each sound.
• Color or black and white: Print in color or save ink with the black and white puzzles.
• Durable: Print on card stock and laminate for puzzles that last.
• Easy to customize: Set out only the blends and digraphs your students are working on.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Beginning blends: Children hear and match the blended sounds at the start of words.
• Digraphs: Children connect digraphs such as ph with the sound they make.
• Phonemic awareness: Matching two pictures with the same beginning sound asks children to listen closely.
• Letter-sound connections: Children match the letters of each blend or digraph to pictures that begin with that sound.
• Vocabulary: Naming pictures such as a spider, a flyswatter or broccoli builds new words.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Working independently
• Following directions
• Maintaining attention
• Taking turns
• Building confidence

How to Use It

Step 1: Print the puzzles on card stock, laminate them for durability and cut the pieces apart.

Step 2: Choose the puzzle style and the blends and digraphs you want to practice. Name the pictures together before children begin.

Step 3: Children find the pieces that go together and say the beginning sound of each picture as they build the puzzle.

Easy Differentiation

Every class has children at different stages of phonics learning. The three puzzle styles make it easy to meet each child where they are.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Start with the 2-piece puzzles, which match one picture to each beginning sound
• Set out just a few blends at a time
• Say each picture name aloud together
• Show one finished puzzle as a model

For On-Level Practice

• Use the 3-piece puzzles to match each beginning sound to two pictures
• Mix blends and digraphs puzzles in one center
• Say the sound and the picture name for each match
• Use the puzzles in literacy centers or small groups

For an Extra Challenge

• Use the match the beginning sound puzzles with no letters as a clue
• Mix all three puzzle styles together
• Name another word that begins with the same blend
• Write the word for each picture after building the puzzle

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice target blends while naming each picture
• Use the pictures to build vocabulary
• Handle and fit the puzzle pieces for fine motor practice
• Let children point to the match when speaking is hard
• Give extra processing time and model each puzzle first

Perfect For

• Literacy centers
• Small groups
• Partner work
• Phonics intervention
• Independent work
• Speech therapy sessions
• Special education classrooms
• Homeschool

Standards

These beginning blends and digraphs puzzles support kindergarten and 1st grade literacy standards in Common Core, the TEKS (ELAR) and the Virginia English SOL (2024):

Common Core State Standards

• CCSS RF.1.2.b: Orally produce single-syllable words by blending sounds, including consonant blends.
• CCSS RF.1.3.a: Know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs.
• CCSS RF.K.3.a: Connect consonants with their most common sounds.

Texas TEKS

• TEKS ELAR K.2.A.ii: Recognize groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset or initial sound.
• TEKS ELAR 1.2.A.ii: Recognize groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset, such as pictures that start with the same blend.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL English K.FFR.3.G: Decode and encode words with short vowels, including words beginning with a digraph.
• VA SOL English 1.FFR.3.A: Decode and encode short vowel words with blends and digraphs.

Add the Beginning Blends Puzzles to your cart and have three hands-on puzzle styles ready for your literacy centers. Print, cut and watch your students piece together their blends and digraphs!

These puzzles are also included in the Beginning Blends & Digraphs Mega Pack: Check out the Beginning Blends & Digraphs Mega Pack here

Download Details

Please note: This is a digital download that will be available to you directly after purchase. Nothing will be mailed to you.

You will receive a link to the download in three places

• On the 'thank you' page after checkout
• In your email
• Login on the site here: https://lifeovercsstore.com/account