What is a CVC reading passage?

A short story built from consonant, vowel, consonant words like cat, pig and sun, so a beginning reader can sound out nearly every word. A handful of common sight words fill the gaps.

Which sight words are in the stories?

Only 28, all from the Dolch pre-primer and primer lists: a, and, are, come, do, for, go, have, he, here, I, is, look, my, no, said, see, she, the, they, to, was, we, what, where, who, with and you.

Why does my child write the answer instead of circling it?

Writing the word means reading it closely and spelling it. The three choices look alike on purpose (cap, cat, can), so the child has to read every letter.

When is a kindergartner ready for these?

Once they know the short vowel sounds and can blend three sounds into a word. If blending is still hard, start with the CVC words sort and the sound boxes sheet.

Kindergarten CVC reading passages

Kindergarten CVC reading passages worksheets

Kindergarten CVC reading passages: a short story made almost entirely of three-letter words like cat, hen, pig, mop and bus, plus a few sight words such as the, is and said. Four questions follow, and your child writes each answer from three word choices. Answer key included.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.K.4, RF.K.3.b.

Each click picks one of the 14 stories written for this page. Every sheet comes with its answer key. You don't need to sign up.

One page for every short vowel

Each short vowel also has its own 1st grade page of stories, for a child who is ready to stay on one sound at a time.

The kind of passages you'll get

Read the story. Then read each question and the three words under it. Write the word that answers the question on the line.

Rub, Rub, Rub!

Nan had a pup. The pup got in the mud. Nan got the pup. She set it in a tub. Rub, rub, rub! The pup was wet. Dad got a rag. The pup had a nap on a rug.

What got in the mud? pup · tub · rag
Answer: pup
Where did Nan set the pup? tub · rug · bed

Each print picks one of the 14 stories written for this page, and its questions come with it. With 14 to pick from, a second print can land on one you've used, so check the title before you hand it out.

What's on a kindergarten sheet

Kindergarten sheets draw from 14 stories, 33 to 45 words long. None of these stories are on 1st grade sheets. On 1st grade sheets they run 46 to 69 words.

Some of the titles: Tom and Rex, Kim and the Red Hen, Let It Go, A Pig in the Mud, Six Bugs, Meg and Ken.

Read and write. Read the story. Then read each question and the three words under it. Write the word that answers the question on the line. One story per sheet, with four questions to answer in writing.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

How to teach this

Read the title together first and point to each word as you go. Let your child sound out every word in the story, even if it takes a while; the sight words (the, is, said, was) are the only ones to know by heart. Read it twice: once slowly to decode, once smoothly to hear the story. Then take the questions one at a time. Have your child read all three choices aloud, find the answer in the story, and write it on the line.

Watch for: Guessing a word from its first letter. Cat, cap and can all start with c, so the child has to read to the end of the word. Copying the first word in the row of choices. Read all three, then go back to the story to check. Mixing up short vowels, especially e and i. Say the word slowly and listen to the middle sound.

Common questions about kindergarten CVC reading passages

What is a CVC reading passage?: A short story built from consonant, vowel, consonant words like cat, pig and sun, so a beginning reader can sound out nearly every word. A handful of common sight words fill the gaps.
Which sight words are in the stories?: Only 28, all from the Dolch pre-primer and primer lists: a, and, are, come, do, for, go, have, he, here, I, is, look, my, no, said, see, she, the, they, to, was, we, what, where, who, with and you.
Why does my child write the answer instead of circling it?: Writing the word means reading it closely and spelling it. The three choices look alike on purpose (cap, cat, can), so the child has to read every letter.
When is a kindergartner ready for these?: Once they know the short vowel sounds and can blend three sounds into a word. If blending is still hard, start with the CVC words sort and the sound boxes sheet.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Want a different story? Print again. Each print picks one of the 14.

Aligned to Common Core RF.K.4, RF.K.3.b. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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