Do you have kids struggling to blend and segment syllables? Start with compound words. This interactive compound words activity is perfect for developing basic phonological awareness skills. Students will gain confidence, fluency and feel successful when they practice segmenting and blending compound words using the real-life pictures in this resource.

Teach Phonological Awareness with Compound Words

Once students understand that sentences are made up of individual words, they are ready to start blending and segmenting syllables. That’s where compound words come in. Compound words are made of two smaller words, combined to make a new word with a new meaning.

This makes them perfect for teaching young children the concepts of blending and segmenting – a basic phonological awareness skill.

If your students find blending, segmenting and manipulating syllables difficult, you need to take a step back and work with compound words. It is much easier for students to blend and segment compound words than it is to blend and segment syllables.

When they have mastered blending, segmenting and manipulating compound words, they can progress to syllables and, eventually single sounds or phonemes.

Oh - It’s great for vocabulary development as well.

Why Use Compound Words with Pictures?

Phonological awareness is about recognising and manipulating the spoken parts of sentences and words. It does not include written words and letters – that’s phonics!

Always avoid resources heavy with text when teaching phonological or phonemic awareness. That's why I designed this resource using only pictures to illustrate the compound words. Your students will practise HEARING the words (phonemic awareness) rather than thinking about the letter-sound correlations of phonics.

This picture-based compound word activity is designed with young learners in mind. There’s no complicated clipart – just easy-to-recognise real life photos so your students can easily identify them. The use of real-life pictures also makes learning more engaging for young children.

Talk about engaging! My kids love these flip cards.

How To Use These Pictures of Compound Word Flip Cards

Your students can use these cards to practice both blending or segmenting compound words. Each card has 2 sides. One side has a compound word picture, and on the other side, there are 2 pictures illustrating the 2 parts.

Use These Compound Word Picture Cards 2 Ways

1. Students practice hearing the 2 word parts of the compound word and then blending these parts together to make the complete compound word.

2. Students practice hearing the complete compound word and then segmenting it into the 2 parts.

They love working with a friend to practice, but it also makes for a great independent activity as well.  The hands-on nature of flipping and manipulating the cards adds an interactive element that will keep students interested and motivated.

How My Students Independently Practice Blending and Segmenting with These Compound Word Picture Cards

1. First the kids pair up with a buddy.

2. If I want them to work on blending, they look at the card showing two pictures and say out loud the two words so that they blend them together to make a new compound word. If I want them to practice segmenting, they look at the picture card showing a compound word and say out loud the two smaller words that come together to make the word in the picture.

3. Their buddy listens and if they think it was done correctly, they will say, “Flip it!"

4. Now the card is flipped over to reveal the matching picture on the back. I love that these cards are self-correcting. No more kids interrupting my small group literacy instruction lessons. EMOJI

5. Finally, the kids swap! The listener becomes the blender or segmenter, and their partner has their turn to listen and the activity continues.

There are 40 compound words included in this resource so there’s plenty to keep the kids on task. I’ve included a heap of bonus features for you as well.

This Blending and Segmenting Compound Word Resource Contains:

• 40 Illustrated compound word flip cards for learning to both blend and segment compound words

• A Compound Words Poster to help your students understand compound words

• 3 Learning Prompt Posters in case you want to set up a compound word learning center

• 2 Student Recording Sheets for evidence of learning

• Teacher Assessment Recording Sheets – to keep those essential teacher observations organised

• Task Card Box Label for storing and organising the flip cards

The key to successful phonological awareness instruction is to make it engaging and enjoyable for your students. Incorporating games and hands-on activities like this will capture your students’ interest and motivate them to develop their phonological and phonemic awareness.

Following a bit of guided practice with these cards, your students will be able to remember the routine and practice independently or with a friend. You will be able to use these versatile cards over and over again.

There are even printables included in this compound word PDF that you can use to help you set up a quick and easy literacy center or phonemic awareness investigation area.

This Independent Self-checking Compound Word Activity is Perfect for:

• small group literacy rotations

• guided reading instruction

• buddy reading

• independent reading

• hands-on literacy centers

• homework

• reading stations

• morning tubs

• early finishers

• word work

• reading intervention

• or to inform your assessment grades

An Easy To Prep Compound Word Activity

These cards are super simple to make.

1. Print the cards onto paper and cut out the strips.

2. Fold each strip in half and laminate to make the flip cards. You’ll have a picture on the front and self-checking pictures on the back.

3. Easily hole punch each card using the guide marks included.

4. Thread the cards onto a binder ring.

So, if you have been struggling to find the right tools for teaching basic phonological awareness skills, these interactive compound word flip cards can help you.

Instantly download this resource to help your kids find success and ensure your phonological and phonemic awareness instruction is complete and comprehensive.

Specially designed for kindergarteners and early primary students. They provide a fun and effective way for students to practice blending and segmenting compound words.

Ensure your students have no gaps in their phonemic awareness skills by investing in the targeted practice of segmenting and blending compound words.