Sl Blend Words Worksheet: Read, Identify, and Circle!
Reading and circling words that begin with the 'sl' consonant blend helps children ages 4-6 hear that two consonants pressed together, like s and l, still form one connected sound at the start of a word. This is a more advanced phonics skill than single-letter sounds, since children must blend two consonants smoothly rather than separating them. Recognizing blends like 'sl' in words such as 'slide' or 'sled' builds the decoding fluency needed to read longer, less predictable words independently.
Part of the pack
Month 6: Holistic early learning activities | Ages 5-6Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Read each word on the page aloud together first, exaggerating the 'sl' sound at the start so your child hears both letters blending into one sound. Have your child point to and read each word themselves, sounding it out slowly if needed. Ask them to circle only the words that begin with the 'sl' blend, leaving the other words unmarked. Once finished, go back through the circled words together, having your child say each one aloud one more time.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Brainstorm a list of other 'sl' words together, like 'slow,' 'slip,' or 'slug,' and write them on paper.
- •Draw a simple picture for each 'sl' word your child names to connect the sound to a visual meaning.
- •Play a sliding game — literally sliding down a slide or sliding a toy across the floor — while saying 'sl' words aloud.
- •Sort a mixed pile of word cards into 'sl' words and non-'sl' words.
- •Practice writing a few 'sl' words from memory after reading them together several times.
Tips for parents and teachers
Consonant blends are genuinely tricky because children often want to say each letter separately rather than gliding them together, so model the smooth blended sound slowly and repeatedly. If your child circles a word that only contains an 's' or only an 'l,' point out that both letters need to appear right at the start together. Keep sessions short, since sounding out blended words takes real concentration at this age.
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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