Word Family House Building
Draw a house for each word family — the -at house, the -ig house, the -op house — and fill them with words that belong, connecting sounds to reading.
What You'll Need
- 1Large paper or poster board
- 2Markers or crayons
- 3Pencil
What You'll Need
Large paper or poster board
Markers or crayons
A pencil for writing words
How to Play
Draw a simple house on paper. Write "-at" on the roof.
Ask: "What words live in the -at house? They all end in -at."
Start: "Cat lives here! C-A-T!" Write CAT inside the house.
Prompt: "What if we put H in front of -at?" "HAT!"
Fill the house: cat, hat, bat, mat, sat, rat, fat, pat.
Draw a second house: "-ig" roof. Fill: big, pig, dig, wig.
Third house: "-op." Fill: hop, mop, top, pop, stop.
Read through each family. Show how one letter change makes a new word.
Tips
Word families are one of the most effective early reading tools because they teach pattern recognition. Once a child knows "-at," they can read cat, hat, bat, mat, and sat — five words from learning just one pattern.
The house metaphor makes the abstract concept concrete and visual. Words that sound alike live together. It makes perfect sense to a 5-year-old brain.
Let your child write the words inside the house, even if the letters are wobbly. The act of writing reinforces the sound-letter connection.
Hang the word family houses on the wall or fridge. Kids will point to them and read the words spontaneously, which is exactly the practice they need.
Start with three families (-at, -ig, -op). Add new houses over time: -an, -en, -ot, -ug, -in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 25 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: large paper or poster board, markers or crayons, pencil.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 4-6 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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