Beginning blends magnet mats with digraphs included for hands-on literacy centers! Children use alphabet magnets to build the blend or digraph that matches each picture.

Blends are two or more consonants that keep their own sounds when read together, such as the fr in frog. Digraphs are two letters that make one new sound, such as the ch in chick. Each mat has three pictures for each blend, so children hear the same beginning sound in several words before they build it. Use the mats as full pages or cut them apart to mix and match.

With these beginning blends magnet mats, you get

• Alphabet magnet mats for beginning blends and digraphs
• Three pictures for each blend
• Color and black and white versions
• Full pages you can also cut apart to mix and match

Grab your alphabet magnets and start building blends!

What's Included

• Pages 4-28: Alphabet Magnet Mats in color
• Pages 29-53: Alphabet Magnet Mats in black and white
• Three pictures for each blend

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

Why Teachers Love It

• Hands-on phonics: Moving magnetic letters keeps children busy while they listen for beginning sounds.
• Three pictures per blend: Children hear the same blend in three different words.
• Flexible format: Use full pages or cut the mats apart to mix and match blends and digraphs.
• Color or black and white: Print in color or save ink with the black and white version.
• Reusable: Print on card stock, laminate or slip the pages into page protectors.

Skills Students Practice

Primary Academic Skills

• Beginning blends: Children listen for the blended sounds at the start of each picture name.
• Digraphs: Children build digraphs such as ch and connect them with their sound.
• Letter-sound connections: Children choose the letters that spell each blend or digraph.
• Phonemic awareness: Saying each picture name helps children hear the first sounds in words.
• Fine motor skills: Picking up and placing magnets builds hand control.

Secondary Life & Learning Skills

• Following directions
• Working independently
• Maintaining attention
• Making and checking predictions
• Building confidence during group participation

How to Use It

Step 1: Print the mats on card stock and/or laminate them for durability. You can also place them in page protectors so they are reusable.

Step 2: Use the mats as full pages or cut them apart to mix and match the blends and digraphs you want to practice.

Step 3: Children say each picture name, listen for the beginning sound and use alphabet magnets to build the blend or digraph that matches.

Materials You'll Need

• Alphabet magnets
• Card stock, laminating supplies or page protectors

Easy Differentiation

Children come to blends and digraphs at different stages. These mats are easy to adjust for each learner.

For Children Who Need More Support

• Start with one blend family, such as l blends
• Say each picture name together and stretch out the beginning sound
• Set out only the magnets needed for each mat

For On-Level Practice

• Build the blend for each picture on full-page mats
• Cut the mats apart and mix blends for review
• Rotate new blends and digraphs into centers each week

For an Extra Challenge

• Mix blends and digraphs together
• Ask children to name another word with the same blend
• Have children write the blend after building it with magnets

For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support

• Practice target blends and digraphs with the pictures
• Use the pictures to build vocabulary
• Use magnets for fine motor practice during OT sessions
• Give extra processing time and model each mat first

Perfect For

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

Standards

These beginning blends magnet mats 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.1.3.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 1.2.A.ii: Recognize groups of words that begin with the same spoken onset, such as three pictures with the same blend.
• TEKS ELAR 1.2.C.ii: Spell initial consonant blends and digraphs, as when building them with magnets.

Virginia SOL

• VA SOL English 1.FFR.3.A: Encode the blends and digraphs at the start of short vowel words.

Add the Beginning Blends Magnet Mats to your cart and give your students a hands-on way to hear, build and learn blends and digraphs. Grab your alphabet magnets and watch phonics skills click into place!

These magnet mats 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

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