Description

Download and print all 18 decks of our child-sized (5 X 6.5cm) basic code playing cards for fun reading practice. Cards contain mostly one-syllable words, with just a few longer words. Words are printed facing both directions, so they can be read from either side of a table.

Most decks, especially decks 7-12, have many words which look very similar (e.g. lost-lots, grids-grips, twist-twits), so learners must pay close attention to every letter, and letter order, to read words accurately. Decks 7-12 also help kids learn which consonant combinations are permissible in syllables in English (as adjacent consonants or blends), both before and after vowels. This knowledge helps with managing syllable boundaries in longer words.

Sound-spelling relationships and word/syllable types (V=vowel, C=consonant) in these decks are as follows:

These spellings and word types best fit into the Sounds-Write teaching sequence, Dandelion/Phonic Books and Forward With Phonics/Drop In Series teaching materials, but can be used with many other phonics teaching sequences.

We suggest printing the cards on 200gsm cardboard, available in A4 packs at stationers, and if expecting to use them a lot, laminate them. We highly recommend that children practise their scissor skills by cutting them up, rounding the corners if a more professional look is sought. We store ours (and the other decks, which will soon be available) like this:

These cards can be used to play any card game requiring a typical deck of playing cards, but players must read the cards’ words as they play them. We’ve made some videos of example games to get you started:

• California Speed
• Spit
• Snip Snap Snorum
• War
• Beggar Thy Neighbour
• Slapjack
• Snap
• Mancala, for which you’ll also need to download our Mancala board.

We hope you enjoy using them!