Teacher: say the first sound in sun. Which letter matches?
- m
- s
- n
Explanation and discussion
Sun begins with /s/. The letter s represents that sound here; m and n represent different sounds.
Can you find the same sound at the start of sit?

Listen to your teacher, match letters and blend short words.
Match printed graphemes and simple words within a declared taught sound set; teacher supplies sounds.
Year 1 · 5–6 years · 30 challenges
Match printed graphemes and simple words within a declared taught sound set; teacher supplies sounds.
Use only after teaching s a t p i n m d g o c k e u r h b f l (short vowels; c/k as in cat). Teacher reads all prompts and voices pure sounds; do not use device speech for phonemes. Model left-to-right blending. Match your school phonics sequence; this does not assess pronunciation.
Give everyone time to think and discuss before one pupil acts at the board. The class explains and confirms together; hints and explanations stay until you move on.
Use an up-to-date browser on a computer connected to a whiteboard or shared display. Touch, mouse and keyboard; optional audio and reduced motion. No pupil accounts or personal devices.
Choose from 5 challenges up to the full activity. Discussion determines the duration: you set the pace.
Sun begins with /s/. The letter s represents that sound here; m and n represent different sounds.
Can you find the same sound at the start of sit?
Log and leg have the same first and last letters. Their middle vowel changes from o to e.
Point to the letter that stays at the end.
Tap is the action the sentence asks for. Tip changes the vowel and lap changes the beginning.
What sounds stay the same in tap and lap?
Common exception wordsYear 1 · FreeRecognise taught Year 1 common exception words in short meaningful sentences.
Word endingsYear 1 · FreeRead -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est in familiar words without untaught graphemes.
Choose a decoding strategyYear 1 · FreeDistinguish sounding/blending from guessing by initial letter or picture.