Sound Detective Practice Sheet
Grade 1 Phonics • Indiana Standards (1.RF.4) Sound Detective Chart
Page 1 • Reference Guide
The Hard /k/ Sound Rules
Become a Sound Detective! Look at the vowel clues to pick C, K, or -CK.
C
🐱 Cat Rule
Use C at the beginning
Before A, O, U
Detective Clue: "Cat curls up with a, o, and u!"
cat starts with a
cot starts with o
cup starts with u
can starts with a
K
🪁 Kite Rule
Use K at the beginning
Before I, E
Detective Clue: "Kites fly high with i and e!"
kid starts with i
kit starts with i
keg starts with e
kiss starts with i
CK
🦆 Duck Rule
Use -CK at the end
After 1 Short Vowel
Detective Clue: "Right after a short vowel sound, end with a quick -ck!"
duck short u at end
sock short o at end
back short a at end
pick short i at end
?
Sound Detective 2-Step Check:
1. Hear /k/ at the start? Look at the vowel! (a, o, u = C | i, e = K) • 2. Hear /k/ at the end after a short vowel? Spell -CK!
Indiana 1.RF.4 Practice Phonics & Word Reading
Name:
Date:
Sound Detective Practice
Use your /k/ sound rules! Check the vowel clue to decode and write each missing sound.
Rules Reminder: c (a, o, u) • k (i, e) • -ck (end)
1 Missing Sound Mystery: Fill in c, k, or ck
Look at the underlined vowel!
🚕
ab
taxi car
🧰
it
tool set
🦆
du
quack quack
☕
up
drink mug
🧦
so
warm foot
🧒
id
young child
2 Word Clue Sort: Sort each word into the right detective box
Word Bank:
cat kid sack cot keg lock can kiss neck
Starts with C Vowels: a, o, u
Starts with K Vowels: i, e
Ends with -CK Short vowel at end
3 Read & Solve: Circle the correctly spelled word, then write it!
1. The yellow ducc / duck / duk swims in the pond.
Clue: Short u sound at the end of the word!
2. Kip flew his big red cite / kite / ckite high in the sky.
Clue: The vowel right after the /k/ sound is i!
Detective Self-Check: I checked the vowel I read every word
Indiana Standard 1.RF.4
