Evidence-based curriculum for ages 2-8

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Activities

23 Decoding Activities for Early Elementary Children

Reviewed by Dr. Stanley Diih

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Young child reading from a book.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites for Learning Decoding

Hands-On Decoding Activities and Games

Online Decoding Activities and Games 

Decoding Activities Worksheets and Printables

Decoding is one of the quintessential parts of learning to read. It describes the action of sounding out the letters of a word to read the whole. When a child says, “buh-ah-tuh … bat,” that’s decoding.  

As kids continue learning to read, they expand basic letter-sound correspondence with more advanced phonics, learning to pronounce letter blends, vowel combinations, and use rules like “silent-e.” They also tackle high frequency words (also known as sight words), putting all these skills together as they build up their reading fluency.  

Prerequisites for Learning Decoding

Before children are ready to start decoding words, they must master a few key skills first. It’s vital that they feel very comfortable recognizing the letters of the alphabet and are able to identify their corresponding sound or sounds. If they’re still struggling with those skills, spend more time polishing them before you begin work on decoding activities. 

Child and grandmother playing with alphabet letters.

Hands-On Decoding Activities and Games

These hands-on activities and games can make practicing decoding skills even more fun. Read through the list with your child and decide which games you’d like to try.

Reading Wand

Make a special “wand” to use as a pointer while reading. This keeps children’s attention focused on one word or syllable at a time. 

Switch It!

Write out the first and last letter of CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) or CVCe (silent-e) words, leaving a space in the middle. Take turns adding a vowel letter magnet or bead to the middle to see how many words you can create. You can do this by switching out the first or last consonants, too. 

Word Walk

Write out the letters of a word with chalk on the sidewalk, spacing them just a bit apart. Step onto the first letter and say its sound, then walk along saying the sounds of each letter or letter blend. Go back to the beginning and walk a little faster this time, blending the sounds together. Finally, run across the letters and say the whole word all at once! 

Race Across

Write out a word on paper and grab a toy car. Then, use the same process as the one for Word Walk, but drive the car from one letter to the next instead. 

Bead Slide Bracelets

Practice chunking words into individual letter sounds (and later, syllables) with bead bracelets strung on pipe cleaners. As kids pronounce each chunk or syllable, they physically slide a bead further along the bracelet to help them make the body-brain connection. 

Word Ladders

Start by writing a single word at the top of a piece of paper and challenge the next player to make a new word by changing any one single letter. Write the new word underneath, then hand the paper to the next player. Repeat as long as you like, with the only rule being you can’t repeat a word that’s already been used. 

Letter Scramble

Pull a handful of letter magnets or beads from a bag, then see if you can make a word with what you’ve got. Bonus if you can use every letter you pulled in the word! 

Word Journal

Give your child a notebook to carry with them called My Word Book. When you’re out and about, encourage them to look for words they can decode and read on their own. Each time they find a new one, they can write it down in their book, proudly recording their individual reading journey. 

Decodable Books

Look for books designed specifically to allow kids of specific reading levels to enjoy. Read them together with your child, celebrating their achievements. 

Online Decoding Activities and Games 

ABCmouse has hundreds of educational games designed to help grow math and literacy skills and more. Preview a few of the games that are focused on building decoding skills through interactive, digital play. You can check out more of our digital games here. Note: Many of these online games require an ABCmouse subscription to play.

Puffer Fish Party 

Listen carefully to the letter sounds of the spoken word, then find the turtle whose shell has the right word printed on it. 

Screenshot of puffer fish party game on ABCmouse.com.
Screenshot of word lake cleanup game on ABCmouse.com.

Lake Cleanup   

Clean up a polluted lake by selecting the items that match the spoken word.  Children practice letter-sound correspondence and environmental responsibility! 

First Letter in Line  

Get some practice with word families by changing the first letter in each word to match the picture. This is an excellent early decoding activity for young learners.  

Screenshot of first letter in line game on ABCmouse.com.
Screenshot of Austin and Scout: doors of mystery game on ABCmouse.com.

Austin and Scout: Doors of Mystery   

Complete simple three-letter words using picture clues to help adventurers Austin and Scout unlock the Doors of Mystery! 

Tyler’s Vacation  

Practice silent-e words by helping Tyler write a letter to his friend Monica telling her all about his vacation adventures. 

Screenshot of word Tyler's vacation game on ABCmouse.com.
Screenshot of Austin and Scout: search for the crystal cat game on ABCmouse.com.

Austin and Scout: Search for the Crystal Cat   

Austin and Scout need your help again, this time by making words that start with two-letter consonant blends. 

Word Bot’s Sound Sculptures  

Assemble the letters and letter blends on the seashells to make the words represented by the sand sculptures. When you’re done, the waves wash it all away and give you a new challenge. 

Screenshot of word bot's sound sculptures game on ABCmouse.com.
Screenshot of blends with friends game on ABCmouse.com.

Blends With Friends  

Compete in Happy Harrison’s latest game show and earn points by correctly identifying letter blends using picture clues. 

Word Chop Challenge  

Chef Buggyhana needs your help chopping words into syllables! Drag the knife across the word and chop it in two, then choose which speaker icon is saying the word you just chopped. 

Screenshot of word chop challenge game on ABCmouse.com.
Screenshot of secret agent word trap game on ABCmouse.com.

Secret Agent Word Trap   

Rescue your fellow secret agent from the notorious General Claw by adding or removing prefixes and suffixes from root words. 

Decoding Activities Worksheets and Printables

Print out the decoding worksheets that are best suited for your child. They’re great for learning on the go or squeezing in an activity while waiting at restaurants or appointments.

Kindergarten Reading Worksheets 

Find printable worksheets for early decoding activities like word families, missing letter activities, and beginning sight words in this free set. 

Kindergarten reading worksheets.
First grade reading worksheets.

First Grade Reading Worksheets 

Advance your child’s decoding skills with worksheets on vowel sounds, digraphs, consonant blends, and more. 

Second Grade Reading Worksheets 

Continue practicing decoding with these more advanced worksheets for young readers. 

Second grade reading worksheets.

Learn Decoding with ABCmouse’s Reading Program

With thousands of activities to explore, the ABCmouse reading program teaches young children key literacy skills like decoding. The personalized learning path allows kids to progress at their own page, keeping them engaged and motivated. Explore the ABCmouse Reading Program and sign up today! 

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