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January 14, 2018 by Jenae - 32 Comments
This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.

Word Family Game With A Letter Dice

word family game

Fun Word Family Game

What Are Word Families?

Teaching children word families is a phonemic awareness technique that helps children see patterns in reading. This is an important language development skill because it allows children to begin “reading” by grouping sets of letters within a word. To put it simply, word families (sometimes called “chunks”) are groups of words that rhyme. The first part of a word is called the onset and the last part of the word is conveniently called the rime. Word families share a similar “rime” as the onset changes.

Letter Dice Word Family Game

This fun family word game using a letter dice is perfect for children who already know their letter names, letter sounds, and are starting to put sounds together to form words (probably around ages 4.5-5). Obviously, this is not a game that I have tried out with either of my kids…but I plan to pass it along to my nephew who will start kindergarten in the fall. I currently only have two sets of word families, but plan to add more so be sure to check back!

Materials Needed:

  • cardstock 
  • printed copies of the game which can be downloaded here,
  • (2) 1-inch wooden blocks
  • a permanent marker
  •  laminator (optional)

Instructions for Letter Word Game:

word family game
1. Download and print the documents I created here. Laminate if you’d like.
word family game
2. Cut out the letter and word pictures.
word family activity
3. Write the letters for the beginning of the word pictures on the two different wood blocks.
word family game
4. Arrange the word pictures above the word family mat.
word family game
5. Let your child roll the letter dice on the mat and then find the matching picture.
word family game
Continue with the other word family group!
Store in a sandwich baggie for next time!
This post was first published 2011. Updated 2018.

Click here for more fun letter games & activities:

30+ Fun Word Family Activities

Word Family Game: Snowball Toss

Word Family Activity with Duplo Blocks

Word Family Game:  Fishing 

Awesome Sight Word Activities for Kids

Fun Learning Activities For 3 to 5 Year Olds

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lindsay says

    March 21, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    Very fun game! My son will be 4 next month and has just started to want to read some words. I think he would love this game!

    Reply
  2. Kelly says

    March 21, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Love it (as I do all your posts) but wouldn't the correct term be RIME? :)

    Reply
  3. Jenae says

    March 21, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Kelly,

    Ha, ha! You are so right…I've been out of the classroom for way too long. :)

    I made the necessary correction.

    Reply
  4. Cathy says

    March 22, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Thanks! This looks great for my going-to-kindergarten-in-the-fall daughter. We'd play it today if I had anything to make the die. I recently found your blog and have really enjoyed the ideas, so much for both my daughter and two-year-old son. Looking forward to more!

    Reply
  5. huana says

    March 22, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    So great idea! Tnx for sharing,we'll try!

    Reply
  6. Joyce Grant says

    March 23, 2011 at 7:06 am

    This is a great game!
    On my blog, I've got a contest where I'm looking for great literacy activities and games. I'd love it if you entered this one! To enter, just put a link to this game in our "Comments" area. The prize is one of three puzzles from Hasbro.
    Cheers,
    Joyce Grant
    http://www.gkreading.com (Getting Kids Reading)

    Reply
  7. Melissa says

    March 25, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    great idea! I was just looking for a game to have at home that was working with word families.

    Reply
  8. ChildTalk says

    March 27, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    How fun!! My 6 year old is learning to read, and I have a feeling he would love this activity!

    Reply
  9. Michelle says

    March 28, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    This is so clever! I am a new follower and I would love if you would link this up to my Made by Little Hands Monday linky party!
    Have a great day!
    Michelle
    http://www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. favouriteworkofart says

    April 15, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Great idea, great game but I can't download the files :(

    Reply
  11. Kristin @ Preschool Universe says

    August 16, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    This is great! I’m doing a post on word families and will be linking here. I was actually looking for one of your posts I saw on facebook a few weeks ago – the paper towel roll and paint stirrer thingies? – it says “page not found?”

    I love that you included free printables with this – it makes things so much easier ;)

    Reply
    • Jenae says

      August 16, 2011 at 6:37 pm

      Here it is: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/06/word-family-pull-out-activity/

      Where were you looking so I can update it? Since switching over from Blogger to WordPress, a few things have gone missing. :)

      Reply
  12. Kristin @ Preschool Universe says

    August 16, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Thanks! I was just returning here to tell you I found it in your search results. I had clicked through google reader.

    Would it be ok to include one picture of each of the posts along with a link back? I’m not posting directions or anything, just a short description….

    Reply
    • Jenae says

      August 16, 2011 at 7:04 pm

      Sure! Thanks for asking!

      Reply
  13. Emily O. says

    December 12, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    This is a great idea! I’m pinning it so I can use it when my son’s a little older. I’ve found a lot of creative ideas for him through your blog- thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  14. robyn says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    great game I added it to our literacy center thanks for sharing.

    family daycare

    Reply
  15. Heather says

    July 10, 2012 at 11:22 am

    I was having trouble downloading the cards. It sent me to a strange site. Do you have a pdf file for this?

    Thanks,
    Heather

    Reply
  16. Rose says

    July 16, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Great idea! Where can I find a wooden cube like this?

    Reply
  17. Lori says

    January 26, 2013 at 7:49 am

    I just wanted to let you know that I linked back to this blog post in my blog and used one of your pictures for the word families game. I’m new to linking blogs and usually take my own pictures. If you want me to change anything please let me know. I want to give proper credit and not step on any toes.

    Thanks for the great ideas.

    Lori

    Reply
  18. Deb says

    February 8, 2013 at 10:24 pm

    Hi Jenae: This is great! I wanted your permission to use one of the photos. This is for my ED 123 Reading strategies class. Our assignment was to find and post a word families activity, and I just love this one. Since citing sources is very important in this class, I will certainly cite your blog and first name.
    Thank you in advance for your help.
    Deb

    Reply
    • Jenae says

      February 8, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      You must certainly have my permission. Thanks!

      Reply
  19. Deb says

    February 8, 2013 at 10:29 pm

    Oh No! I cannot open the link to print the cards. Says, “Page Not Found.” Is it posted elsewhere?

    Reply
    • Jenae says

      February 8, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      I just uploaded it to my server (instead of the 4Shared). Try the link again and it should work. :)

      Reply
  20. farhana says

    April 17, 2013 at 8:51 am

    Thank you so much sharing the word family game. It’s fantastic!

    Reply
  21. SHIRLY says

    May 3, 2013 at 12:26 am

    Wow Nice idea!
    MOmmys will definitely Love it!

    Reply
  22. Diane Hurst says

    May 20, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    This game looks fun to play! I like the way you used dice with letters– that makes it more interesting than just choosing letters to go at the start of word families, and is also great for tactile variety.

    Reply
  23. [email protected] says

    March 1, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    Love this site! I was wondering if your ebook has more games than are posted on the blog? Thank you!

    Reply
  24. tawfek says

    October 31, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    I have another game but how to post it

    Reply
    • Alike says

      November 15, 2015 at 1:48 am

      Hi,I write from Ghana.I am establishing a reading club that will help everyone especially children learn to read.Currently i am collecting reading games .Id be glad if you could share your game with me through my e mail.

      We’d make sure you get your credits on our website and other relevant stuff.
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Joe Solomon says

        April 15, 2019 at 3:32 pm

        Good evening. I just stumbled into your superb article on teaching kids how to read with lots of funfilled activities. I can’t wait to try them out. Thanks.

        Reply
  25. Steph @MisplacedBrit says

    January 26, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    This is fantastic!! I’ll be printing it this weekend.
    Thanks for a lovely, resourceful share :-)

    Reply
  26. Gabriela says

    May 29, 2016 at 11:56 am

    I just stumbled onto your page looking for the solar oven and I love your site. You have so much resources and activities that I can try with my children. I love this word family game and I can’t wait to try it out with my daughter.
    Thank you again!

    Reply

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