Vowel Digraphs & Diphthongs — Answer Key
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
1. Sort each OW word by its sound. Choose long-O (like snow) or cow-sound (like now).
long-O sound
snowgrowlowslow cow-sound /ow/
cowhowbrownnow Sorting by sound helps build phonics awareness.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The white snow fell on the tree.
Snow uses OW with a long-O sound, like grow and low.
2. A cow says moo on the farm.
Cow uses OW with the /ow/ sound you hear when hurt.
3. Plants grow bigger in the sun.
Grow uses OW with a long-O sound, like snow and slow.
4. Can you tell me how to bake?
How uses OW with the /ow/ cow-sound, like now.
5. The turtle walked very slow.
Slow uses OW with the long-O sound, like snow.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. The word snow has the same OW sound as cow.
True False
Snow has long-O; cow has the /ow/ sound, so they are different.
2. The word grow rhymes with low.
True False
Grow and low both use OW as long-O, so they rhyme.
3. The word brown has the cow-sound /ow/.
True False
Brown uses OW with the /ow/ sound, just like cow and now.
4. OW always makes a long-O sound in every word.
True False
OW can sound like long-O (snow) or /ow/ (cow), so not always.