Blend Blast Slides Phonics Power Lesson Grades K–2
Blend Blast!
Master Beginning Blends with Short /ĭ/ & Short /ĕ/ Sounds
1
Slide 2 sounds smoothly
2
Spot the vowel sound
3
Read in a snap!
Phonics Rule #1
What is a Beginning Blend?
Listen & Slide
Two Letters Slide Together!
In a blend , each consonant keeps its own sound, but they slide smoothly together!
Not a digraph: You hear BOTH sounds!
/s/ + /l/
= /sl/
/s/ + /t/
= /st/
/d/ + /r/
= /dr/
Say them out loud: /sl/ /st/ /dr/ /fl/ /tr/ /sp/ Keep both sounds clear!
Listen Close
Vowel Showdown: Short I vs. Short E
Watch the Mouth!
i Short /ĭ/
Like "itch"
Mouth slightly open, gentle smile, chin stays high: /ĭ/ /ĭ/
slid past tense of slide
drip water drops
spin round and round
e Short /ĕ/
Like "edge"
Mouth opens wider, jaw drops down slightly: /ĕ/ /ĕ/
sled rides on snow
dress fancy clothes
step take a stride
Compare Minimal Pairs: slid vs sled spill vs spell trip vs trek
Choral Blending Practice
Tap, Slide & Read!
Tap 1 Dot Per Sound
s
l
i
p
"slip"
s
t
e
p
"step"
c
l
i
p
"clip"
f
l
e
d
"fled"
Teacher Tip: Point to each dot as the class says each sound, then sweep finger! 4 sounds = 1 word!
Word Ladder Game
Sound Switch Challenge!
Change 1 Sound
Follow the chain as one sound changes each step:
slid
start
sled
change vowel!
fled
change blend!
flip
vowel & end!
clip
change blend!
Quick Switch Question:
If you change the /e/ in STEP to /i/, what word do you get?
"STIP" (or "STOP"!)
Fluency Sprint
Sentence Blitz!
Read Smoothly
1
The red sled can slip down the slick hill.
2
Fred took a big step and had a quick swim.
3
Can you spin and skip in your warm vest?
Turn & Talk: Read each sentence to your partner with great expression! Fluency check ✓
Quick Exit Check
Which Vowel Do You Hear?
Vowel Victory
Signal A
Short /ĭ/
Point finger UP to the sky!
swim trip slid twig
Signal B
Short /ĕ/
Touch your hands to your CHEST!
sled vest step fled
Great Blending! Ready for independent practice on your Blend Blast Worksheet!
You're Phonics Stars! ★
Blend Blast Worksheet Blend Blast Practice
Beginning Blends with Short /ĭ/ & Short /ĕ/
Name:
Date:
1
Tap, Blend & Write
Tap each dot for 1 sound, blend together, then write the word!
s l i p
/sl/ + /ĭ/ + /p/
s t e p
/st/ + /ĕ/ + /p/
c l i p
/cl/ + /ĭ/ + /p/
s l e d
/sl/ + /ĕ/ + /d/
2
Sound Sorter: Short /ĭ/ vs. Short /ĕ/
Sort the 8 blend words into the correct vowel box.
Word Bank
trip sled swim vest drip fled twin step
ĭ Short /ĭ/ Words (like pig)
ĕ Short /ĕ/ Words (like bed)
Turn the page for the Mystery Blend Builder & Fluency Sketch! Page 1 of 2
Blend Blast Phonics • Page 2
Name:
3
Mystery Blend Builder
Choose the blend that completes the word, then write it.
Water falling slowly:
dr or tr
__ __ i p ➔
To lift foot & walk:
st or fl
__ __ e p ➔
Paddle in a pool:
sw or tw
__ __ i m ➔
Fast ride on snow:
sl or bl
__ __ e d ➔
4
Read, Match & Sketch
Read the sentence out loud, then draw a picture in the box!
Sentence 1
"The fast red sled can slip down the slick hill."
Draw sled on the hill
Sentence 2
"Fred had on a warm vest and took a big step."
Draw Fred in his vest
Star Reader Self-Reflection
I can blend 2 sounds!
I hear /ĭ/ vs /ĕ/!
I read smoothly!
Excellent job decoding beginning blends! Page 2 of 2
Blend Snap Task Cards Center Cards
Blend Snap Task Cards • Set 1 (Cards 1–8)
Cut along dashed lines • Grades K–2
1 Tap & Blend
Tap each sound dot, then slide to read:
s l i p
Write the word:
2 Missing Vowel
Which vowel makes the word "step"?
st ? p
e
i
3 Sound Switch
Start with "sled". Change the blend sl to fl:
sled ➔ ?
New word:
4 Vowel Detective
Circle the word with the short /ĭ/ sound:
vest
drip
fled
Hint: Listen for the sound in "pig"
5 Tap & Blend
Tap each sound dot, then slide to read:
t w i g
Write the word:
6 Missing Vowel
Which vowel makes the word "swim"?
sw ? m
e
i
7 Rhyme Match
Which blend word rhymes with "bed"?
drip
sled
swim
Same ending sound: /ĕd/
8 Speed Read
Whisper read all 4 words to your partner:
swim trip sled vest
Partner Check: 4 of 4 read!
Blend Blast Literacy Set • Cut cards and store in an envelope or ring clip Page 1 of 2
Center Cards
Blend Snap Task Cards • Set 2 (Cards 9–16)
Cut along dashed lines • Grades K–2
9 Tap & Blend
Tap each sound dot, then slide to read:
s k i p
Write the word:
10 Missing Vowel
Which vowel makes the word "vest"?
v ? st
e
i
11 Blend Detective
What beginning blend starts the word "drip"?
br
dr
tr
Two letters: /d/ and /r/
12 Sentence Sprint
Read this sentence out loud 2 times:
"The red sled did not flip on the hill."
Blends in sentence: sled, flip
13 Tap & Blend
Tap each sound dot, then slide to read:
s p i n
Write the word:
14 Missing Vowel
Which vowel makes the word "fled"?
fl ? d
e
i
15 Vowel Check
Does the word "twin" have short /ĭ/ or short /ĕ/?
Blend Blast Teacher Guide Blend Blast Teacher Guide
Instructional Roadmap, Auditory Drills & Complete Answer Key
Grades K–2 Phonics
Science of Reading Aligned
Recommended Mini-Lesson Architecture (35 Min Total)
5 MIN Auditory Warm-Up
Minimal pairs drill
10 MIN Direct Instruction
Blend Blast Slides
12 MIN Guided Practice
Student Worksheet
8 MIN Centers & Check
16 Snap Task Cards
Auditory Minimal Pair Drill
Say word pairs aloud without showing text. Students show 1 finger for word 1 or 2 fingers for word 2:
• pin vs. pen/ĭ/ vs /ĕ/
• slid vs. sled/ĭ/ vs /ĕ/
• spill vs. spell/ĭ/ vs /ĕ/
• trip vs. trek/ĭ/ vs /ĕ/
Articulation & Mouth Cues
Short /ĭ/ (Itchy Chin):
Mouth is relaxed, slight horizontal smile. Chin stays elevated; tongue is high in the middle.
Short /ĕ/ (Edge of Chair):
Jaw drops down about one finger width; tongue is mid-low and mouth opens wider.
Targeted Differentiation & Scaffolding
Support (Tier 2 / EL):
Have students place hands on their collarbones or hold hand mirrors to feel jaw drop on /ĕ/ vs. /ĭ/.
On-Level Routine:
Continuous blending: stretch the blend into vowel without stopping (/ssslllliiiip/).
Extension / Challenge:
Ask students to build 3-blend words or write an original silly sentence using 3 target blend words.
Complete Answer Key
Worksheet & Task Cards
Blend Blast Worksheet
Part 1 (Tap & Write): slip, step, clip, sled
Part 2 (Vowel Sort):
• Short /ĭ/: trip, swim, drip, twin
• Short /ĕ/: sled, vest, fled, step
Part 3 (Blend Builder): 1. drip (dr) | 2. step (st) | 3. swim (sw) | 4. sled (sl)
Part 4 (Sketches): Drawing sled on hill; drawing Fred in vest
Task Cards (1–16)
1: slip
2: e (step)
3: fled
4: drip
5: twig
6: i (swim)
7: sled
8: swim, trip, sled, vest
9: skip
