Beginning blends (bl, cr, st) worksheets

Consonant blends are two-letter teams where both sounds survive: bl, cr, st, and their many cousins. First graders sort words by their blend family (l-blends, r-blends, and s-blends), training their ears to catch two sounds riding together.

By grade

What students need to know

A blend is two consonants that work side by side, and you can still hear both: bl in black, cr in crab, st in star.

This skill runs from 1st grade through 2nd grade. Pick a grade above for level-matched sentences, teaching notes, and worksheets.

Beginning blends (bl, cr, st) across the grades

1st grade

Consonant blends are two-letter teams where both sounds survive: bl, cr, st, and their many cousins. First graders sort words by their blend family (l-blends, r-blends, and s-blends), training their ears to catch two sounds riding together.

2nd grade

Second graders read and spell blend words fluently and can explain the difference between a blend (two sounds, crab) and a digraph (one new sound, chip). Sorting by family keeps the patterns organized while spelling catches up with reading.

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