Snowman R-Controlled Vowel Syllables Activity (Free Printable)

Looking for a fun way to work on r controlled vowel syllables this winter? This vowel r syllable words activity is a great way to get practice with ar, or, and er (which can be spelled er, ir, or ur) sounds. Use this winter theme r-controlled vowel activities as a fun snowman activity with first graders during January! Simply print r controleld vowel sort to play and learn with with free snoman printable phonics activity!

r controlled vowel syllables

Looking for engaging ways to enhance your first graders’ phonics skills this winter? Try our vowel r syllable words activity! It’s an exciting and educational way for young learners to practice ar, or, and er sounds (including all the variations like er, ir, and ur).

This winter-themed activity makes learning fun as students build their snowman while sorting r-controlled vowel words. Not only does this help reinforce their understanding of vowel patterns, but it also promotes critical thinking and collaboration among peers. Kids will love the hands-on approach, and you’ll love seeing their confidence grow!

To get started, simply print our r-controlled vowel sort, which is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly. This printable activity is completely free and offers a playful twist that fits perfectly into your January lessons. Let the snowman-themed phonics fun begin and watch as your students light up with excitement while they learn!

We have lots more winter activities and r controlled vowels worksheets to choose from! Plus don’t miss some educational activities for January like winter grammar worksheets, free penguin life cycle worksheets, winter teaching coin identification, and winter word searches.

vowel r syllable words

What are r-controlled vowel syllables? R-controlled vowel syllables are vowels that have an r after them. When a vowel is followed by an r, the vowel doesn’t make a short vowel sound or a long vowel sound. In fact, you do not hear the vowel sound anymore. It is said that the r controls the vowel and makes it own sound. YOu may have also heard this be called the Bossy r.

r-controlled vowel syllables

There are three main types of r-controlled sounds.

• Ar – makes the sound that you hear in car. Other “ar” words star, bark, scar, large, and depart.
• or – makes the sound that you hear in the words for. You can also hear it in words like stork, thorn, scorn, and forgive.
• er – this one actually has three ways to make this sound. You can make it with an “er”, “ir” or “ur”. There really aren’t any rules for which letter to use when the “er” sound is in the middle of the word. For this reason, it is important to give our little ones lots of opportunities to read and see these words often.

And that is what today’s activity is all about.

r controlled syllable

First, print off the snowmen on card stock paper.

Next, cut off the bottom part of the snowman. The part with the word written on it.

And that is it. You are ready for this activity.

r-controlled syllable

The activity is quite simple. Have your little one pick up one of the words and read it out loud. You can remind them that “er”, “ir” and “ur” all make the same sound. Sometimes I have circled the two letters that make the “er” sound and above them write “er” to help her remember that the “ur” and the “ir” make the “er” sound too.

Once the word is read, all she has to do is look for a picture that matches the word she just read aloud.

And that’s it….a fun, wintery way to review those r-controlled vowels.