ear Sound Words Phonics Game – Free Printable

As your first grader continues to navigate phonics, to learn to read and spell, they will come accross the ear sound words. To help kids understand how /ear/ makes the “er” sound, they need practice with phonics ear words. This fun domino style ear words phonics game is a fun way for grade 1 students to practice! Simply print the  ear phonics activity, cut apart, and you are ready to play this FREE printable phonics game!

ear Sound Words

This ear sound words game is based on the rules of dominoes and is a great way to practice reading “ear” words that make the “er” sound. Use this phonics activity for 1st grade and 2nd grade students who are learning phonics ear words. Because we all know the best way to get something to stick is to make it fun! Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler – you will love this phonics ear words game!

FREE Printable Phonics Game

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _____  <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie.

“ear” making the “er” sound:

Some readers have no problem with certain letters making very different sounds. Then we have other readers, that need lots of exposure to the words from each group. It is often best that sounds are introduced separately, so they can focus just on one sound at a time. If children are at the level where they can read the word “ear”, they may assume that all words with “ear” in them make the sound as the word ear.

And that holds true for many words. Hear, fear, and nearly are just a few examples.

But sometimes the letters “ear” make the sound similar to the word air.  Examples: pear, wear, tear, and bear.

BUT there is one more sound the “ear” can make, and that is the “er” sound. If your child has studied r-controlled vowels, then they probably know that the “er” sound can be made with the letters “er”, “ir”, or “ur”. Today, though, we get to introduce them to another way of making the “er” sound and that is with the letters “ear”. Here are a few examples: learn, yearn, earn, and pearl.

This “ear” game will help your readers work on reading “ear” words that make the “er” sound.

phonics ear words

• • First, print off two copies of each page on card stock paper
  • Next, Cut out the dominoes
  • Finally, Laminate for extra durability if desired

Now you are ready for some fun

ear words phonics

The rules for this game are very similar to regular dominoes.

• First, shuffling the dominoes
• Second, have each player draw six dominoes, the player with the double six goes first. If no one has that, then find the next highest domino. (five-six, five – five, and so on) When they put down their domino, they should read the word out loud.
• The next player should then find one of their dominoes that has a number that matches any of the ends. (Doubles can be played on all four sides.) If a player, can not make a match, they much draw from the dominoes left in the pile. If there aren’t any dominoes left in the pile, the player loses their turn.

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ear phonics

• Every time a domino is put down, the word on that domino should be read out loud.
• The game ends when a player is able to get rid of all the dominoes in their hand.
• If there comes a time when all dominoes have been removed from the pile, and no one can play, it is time for some counting. Each player counts how many dots they have in their hand. The person with the lowest total wins.

This “ear” game is a fantastic way to get in some extra reading practice on the letters that make the “er” sound.