L-Blends Launch Slides Phonics Unit 1 • Lesson 1
Beginning Blends
L-Blends Launch
Two sounds that slide together fast, but each sound keeps its voice!
bl cl fl gl pl sl
Goal: Decode CCVC words with short vowels Say it • Tap it • Blend it
What is a Blend?
Rule of the Day
A Blend = 2 Sounds!
Consonants slide together smoothly, but you can still hear both letters .
c + l = /k/ /l/
"c" says /k/, "l" says /l/ → /kl/
Listen Closely
Blends are not digraphs! Digraphs make 1 sound (sh, ch, th). Blends keep both sounds!
b + l
/bl/
f + l
/fl/
s + l
/sl/
Watch teacher's mouth: No "uh" sound! Say /bl/ not "buh-luh"!
I Do: Tap and Slide
Watch the Phonics Engine
c
/k/
l
/l/
a
/ă/
p
/p/
Slide finger left to right:
/k/ → /l/ → /ă/ → /p/ = clap
4 letters = 4 sounds! The blend /k/ and /l/ slide together to make /kl-ă-p/!
We Do: Sound It Out Together
3 Quick Words
Word 1
flip
/f/ /l/ /ĭ/ /p/
"flip"
Word 2
slot
/s/ /l/ /ŏ/ /t/
"slot"
Word 3
plug
/p/ /l/ /ŭ/ /g/
"plug"
Tap each dot as you say each sound, then sweep your hand across!
Read in Context
Whole Class Choral Read
1
The glad frog can clap on the rock.
2
Plug in the lamp next to the flag.
3
A drop of mud made a big blob on the mat.
Look for the underlined L-blend words! Read smoothly like talking to a friend.
Your Turn: Word Lab
Ready for Independent Work
Step 1: Say
Say each word picture slowly. Listen for both beginning sounds.
Step 2: Map
Push one counter or dot for every sound in the sound boxes.
Step 3: Write
Spell the CCVC word cleanly on the lines and read the sentences.
Open your L-Blends Word Lab Worksheet!
L-Blends Word Lab Worksheet Phonics Lab • Day 1
L-Blends Word Lab
Name:
Date:
Target L-Blends:
bl cl fl gl pl sl
A Blend Detective: Write the missing L-blend to complete each short vowel word.
🚩
Clue: cloth waving on a pole
ag
short a
📎
Clue: wire fastener for paper
ip
short i
🚪
Clue: shut a door hard with a bang
am
short a
🔌
Clue: insert into electrical wall socket
ug
short u
B Sound Box Mapping: Tap each sound dot, then write 1 letter per sound box.
1. Target word: clap 4 sounds
2. Target word: flip 4 sounds
3. Target word: sled 4 sounds
4. Target word: glad 4 sounds
Turn to page 2 for decodable sentence reading and dictation.
L-Blends Word Lab
Decode, Match & Write
Page 2 • Application
C Decodable Reading: Read each sentence. Circle every word that starts with an L-blend.
1
The glad pup will lick the flat pan.
(Find 2 blends)
2
Stan can flip the slim lid off the box.
(Find 2 blends)
3
Glen had a plum and a glass of milk.
(Find 2 blends)
D Dictation Lab: Listen to the teacher's sentences. Tap the sounds, then write cleanly.
Teacher reads aloud. Students write each word using careful CCVC spelling.
Sentence 1 Target words: clap, slam
Sentence 2 Target words: plug, slot
Phonics Star Check:
I said both sounds I mapped all 4 boxes I used finger spaces
Blend Builders Pacing Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide Grades K–1 Phonics / Tier 2
Blend Builders Pacing Guide
Progression
L → R → S → Mixed CCVC
Standard Block: 30 Minutes Core Tier 1
• 12 min: Slide Deck (Mouth modeling, tap-and-blend, continuous sweep)
• 13 min: Word Lab Worksheet (Sound boxes & orthographic mapping)
• 5 min: Decodable Choral Read & Exit Ticket Check
Extended Block: 45 Minutes With Small Groups
• 15 min: Whole-Class Slide Deck & Interactive Decoding
• 15 min: Guided Worksheet & Dictation Sentence Writing
• 15 min: Differentiated Small-Group Centers & Fluency Matrix
Daily 5-Step Instructional Arc
1. Warm-Up 3 min • Sound prep
2. Model 5 min • Slide buttons
3. Guided 7 min • Sweep & blend
4. Word Lab 10 min • Sound boxes
5. Reading 5 min • CCVC story
1 Day 1: L-Blends Launch (bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl)
Materials: L-Blends Slides + Worksheet
Time Component Teacher Facilitation & Scripting Tips Common Misconceptions 00–05m Slide Hook & Rule Present Slides 1–2. Explain: "A blend is two friends holding hands. Each letter keeps its voice!" Contrast with digraphs (ch, sh, th). Calling blends "one sound." Remind students: 2 letters = 2 phonemes. 05–12m I Do & We Do Slides 3–4. Model sound buttons for c-l-a-p . Students tap index fingers on desks for each dot, then sweep across smoothly. Inserting schwa: "kuh-luh-ap". Cue: "Keep the air sliding, /kl-ă-p/." 12–22m Word Lab Worksheet Distribute Page 1. Students say the clue picture, identify the missing L-blend, and write 1 letter per sound box in the 4-box Elkonin grids. Putting "cl" together in 1 box. Insist: 1 box = 1 individual sound. 22–30m Sentence Application Page 2. Choral read decodable sentences. Complete dictation: "Glen can clap and slam the lid." Check Star Self-Tracker. Dropping the second consonant when writing ("cap" instead of "clap").
Turn to page 2 for Day 2 (R-Blends), Day 3 (Mixed Mastery), and Differentiation Strategies.
R-Blends Rally Slides Phonics Unit 1 • Lesson 2
Beginning Blends
R-Blends Rally
Curl that tongue! Roll into the vowel with smooth consonant sounds!
br cr dr fr gr pr tr
Focus: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, tr No Schwa! Say /tr/ not "tuh-ruh"
Mouth Mechanics
Watch the Tongue!
Smooth & Quick
Get your tongue ready for /r/ right as you make the first sound!
/f/ + /r/ = /fr/
Teeth on lip for /f/, curl tongue for /r/ → "fr-o-g"
Schwa Trap Alert!
Don't add extra vowel sounds between the consonants!
❌ "tuh-rap" ✅ "/tr-ap/" (trap)
❌ "duh-rum" ✅ "/dr-um/" (drum)
Keep the blend tight! Two distinct phonemes locked side by side.
I Do: Tap and Slide
Word: TRAP
t
/t/
r
/r/
a
/ă/
p
/p/
Continuous Sweep:
/t/ → /r/ → /ă/ → /p/ = trap
Watch how /t/ and /r/ blend together before connecting to the vowel!
Blend Transformers: CVC → CCVC
Insert the R!
3 Sounds
cab
Add /r/
crab
3 Sounds
tip
Add /r/
trip
3 Sounds
gas
Add /r/
grass
Notice how adding one little /r/ transforms the whole word into a 4-sound blend!
Speed Rally: Choral Read
Read Column by Column
short a
trap
crab
brag
short i
trip
grip
drip
short o
frog
drop
prop
short u
drum
grub
plug*
*Look out! "plug" is an L-blend sneak peek! Don't let it trick you!
Decodable Story Time
Fran the Frog
Fran is a brisk frog on a trip.
She saw a red crab grip a twig.
Drop the twig in the drum, Fran!
Comprehension Question: What does the crab grip? (A twig!)
Ready for the R-Blends Word Lab Worksheet!
R-Blends Word Lab Worksheet Phonics Lab • Day 2
R-Blends Word Lab
Name:
Date:
Target R-Blends:
br cr dr fr gr pr tr
A Blend Detective: Choose the right R-blend from the bank to complete each word.
🦀
Clue: sea creature with claws
ab
short a
🥁
Clue: instrument you tap with sticks
um
short u
🐸
Clue: green hopper by the pond
og
short o
🧳
Clue: vacation journey or travel
ip
short i
B Sound Box Mapping: Tap each sound dot, then write 1 letter per sound box.
1. Target word: trap 4 sounds
2. Target word: grip 4 sounds
3. Target word: drop 4 sounds
4. Target word: brag 4 sounds
Turn to page 2 for CVC transformers and decodable writing.
R-Blends Word Lab
Transform, Read & Write
Page 2 • Application
C Word Transformers: Add the letter "r" after the first consonant to make a new blend word.
Start Word
cab
→ add 'r' →
Start Word
tap
→ add 'r' →
Start Word
tip
→ add 'r' →
Start Word
fist*
→ change to →
D Decodable Sentences: Read aloud, then circle the 2 R-blend words in each line.
1. Fran can drop the twig in the drum. (2 blends)
2. The red crab will brag on the wet dock. (2 blends)
E Dictation Writing: Write the teacher's sentence with clean spacing.
Prompt: "Greg can grip the rim of the trap."
R-Blends Rally Check:
No schwa sound ("tr", not "tuh-ruh") Mapped all 4 sounds Capital letter & period
Blend Masters Slides Phonics Unit 1 • Lesson 3
Mixed Mastery & S-Blends
Blend Masters
S-Blends join the crew! Master L-blends, R-blends, and S-blends all together!
L-Blends R-Blends S-Blends
Focus: sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st, sw + Mixed Practice Say it • Sort it • Read it fluently
Meet the S-Blends
Continuous Hiss to Pop
The S-Blend Secret
Start with a continuous snake sound /sss/ , then snap right into the second consonant!
/s/ + /t/ = /st/
Keep the air flowing → "st - o - p" (stop)
The S-Blend Family
Practice each pair with your finger tracing a smooth line:
sc / sk
sm
sn
sp
st
sw
Remember: 2 letters = 2 sounds! Do not swallow the /s/!
Tap and Glide: S-Blends
Word: SWIM
s
/s/
w
/w/
i
/ĭ/
m
/m/
Glide It:
/s/ → /w/ → /ĭ/ → /m/ = swim
4 letters = 4 distinct sounds flowing smoothly into one word!
Blend Showdown: Which Family?
L-Blend • R-Blend • S-Blend
L-Blends
clap
flip
sled
R-Blends
trap
frog
drum
S-Blends
stop
swim
spot
Quick test: Where does "plug" go? (L-Blend!) Where does "crab" go? (R-Blend!)
Rapid Fire Mixed Matrix
Fluency Sprint
short a
clap
trap
snap
brag
short e
sled
fled
step
smell*
short i
flip
trip
swim
spin
short o
clot
frog
stop
spot
short u
plug
drum
slug
snug
Point to any word and read it in 1 second! L, R, and S blends together!
Blend Champions Story
Blend Masters Worksheet Phonics Lab • Day 3: Mixed Mastery
Blend Masters Review
Name:
Date:
Mixed Word Bank (9 Words): Read each word, check the blend, and sort below!
drum clap swim frog flag spin trap plug stop
A The Three Blend Families: Sort each word from the bank into its proper column.
L-Blends (bl, cl, fl, pl...)
R-Blends (br, cr, dr, fr, tr...)
S-Blends (sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st...)
B Orthographic Sound Mapping: Write 1 letter per box for each mixed CCVC word.
1. S-Blend: swim 4 sounds
2. L-Blend: clap 4 sounds
3. R-Blend: trap 4 sounds
4. S-Blend: stop 4 sounds
Turn to page 2 for decodable story comprehension and original sentence writing.
Blend Masters Review
Story Fluency & Sentence Lab
Page 2 • Mastery
C Decodable Story: Read the passage. Circle 6 words that begin with blends.
Fran the frog and Stan the crab took a trip to the pond. Stan can swim fast in the cool pond, but Fran had to stop on a flat rock.
A big drop of mud fell from a twig. It hit the rock with a plop, and both pals did a quick clap!
1. Where did Fran stop?
on a flat rock
in a tall tree
inside a red box
2. Who can swim fast in the pond?
Stan the crab
Glen the dog
Plum the cat
D Sentence Superstars: Choose any 2 blend words from your bank. Write 2 complete sentences.
Sentence 1 My blend word: ______________
Sentence 2 My blend word: ______________
⭐ Blend Master Badge Earned!
L-Blends Mastered R-Blends Mastered S-Blends Mastered