CVC Word Family 'an' Worksheet: Read, Cut, and Match!
This cut-and-fold worksheet helps children ages 4-5 read words in the 'an' word family — like 'can', 'fan', and 'man' — and then self-check their reading by revealing a hidden picture underneath. Because every word shares the same 'an' ending, children practice changing just the first letter and re-blending, which builds both decoding speed and confidence. The reveal mechanic gives instant feedback, letting children verify their own reading rather than depending on an adult to confirm each word.
Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Have your child read the first 'an' family word aloud, sounding out the beginning letter and then blending it with the shared 'an' ending. Ask them to guess what picture might be hidden based on the word. Help them cut along the dotted line and fold the flap to reveal the picture, checking if their read matches. Repeat for each word in the family, encouraging them to read a little faster each time since the ending stays the same.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Scissors
Extension activities
- •Build your own 'an' word flashcards using letter tiles, swapping the first letter each time.
- •Write a short silly sentence together using two 'an' words, like 'the man ran with the fan'.
- •Play a rhyming game naming as many 'an' words as your child can think of in one minute.
- •Have your child illustrate their own picture for one of the 'an' words without looking at the worksheet.
- •Sort a mix of word cards into 'an' family words and non-'an' words.
Tips for parents and teachers
Once your child can read one 'an' word confidently, point out that they now basically know how to read every word in the family, which is a great confidence boost. If cutting the small flaps is difficult, pre-cut a couple to keep momentum going rather than letting fine motor frustration interrupt the reading practice. Let the reveal be a genuine surprise — resist telling them the answer before they've had a chance to guess.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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