Short Vowels — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Change the o in 'hot' to an i. The new word is hit.
Swapping o for i turns hot into hit. Both are short vowel CVC words, showing how one vowel swap creates new meaning.
2. Change the a in 'cat' to a u. The new word is cut.
Cat with short a becomes cut with short u. The first and last letters stay the same; only the middle vowel changes.
3. Change the i in 'pig' to an e. The new word is peg.
Pig becomes peg when we swap short i for short e. Both short vowels sit between the same consonants.
4. Change the u in 'bug' to an a. The new word is bag.
Bug turns into bag when short u becomes short a. The -g ending stays the same across the swap.
5. Change the e in 'net' to a u. The new word is nut.
Net becomes nut when short e is swapped for short u. First graders see how different vowels make different words.
6. Change the a in 'map' to an o. The new word is mop.
Map becomes mop when short a is swapped for short o. The /o/ sound replaces the /a/ sound between m and p.
7. Change the o in 'dog' to an i. The new word is dig.
Dog becomes dig when short o is swapped for short i. The -g ending stays the same.
8. Change the i in 'bit' to an a. The new word is bat.
Bit becomes bat when short i is swapped for short a. Word-making games build Grade 1 phonics power.
9. Change the u in 'sun' to an i. The new word is sin.
Sun becomes sin when short u is swapped for short i. First graders learn that changing one letter changes everything.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
hat → swap a for o
→ hot
hot
pin → swap i for a
→ pan
pan
cub → swap u for a
→ cab
cab
log → swap o for e
→ leg
leg
Swapping the vowel makes a brand new short vowel CVC word. Hat→hot, pin→pan, cub→cab, log→leg.