Find the Missing Letter – Fun Phonics Activity for Kids

Find the Missing Letter is a simple and exciting phonics activity that helps young learners improve spelling, reading, and letter recognition. This activity is perfect for kindergarten and early primary students who are learning CVC words and basic vocabulary.

When children look for missing letters, they practice vowel sounds, consonants, and word patterns. It builds strong foundations in reading and writing.

Why Missing Letter Activities Are Important

Missing letter exercises help children:

• Recognize letter sounds

• Improve spelling skills

• Understand word patterns

• Strengthen phonics knowledge

• Build reading confidence

Short and fun exercises keep learners focused and engaged.

CVC Words – Fill in the Missing Letter

Complete the words below:

1. C _ T

2. D O _

3. B _ G

4. S _ N

5. H _ T

Answers:

1. CAT

2. DOG

3. BIG

4. SUN

5. HAT

Encourage students to say the word aloud after completing it.

Short Vowel Practice

Short A

1. M _ T

2. B A _

3. F _ N

Answers: MAT, BAT, FAN

Short E

1. P _ N

2. R E _

3. H _ N

Answers: PEN, RED, HEN

Short I

1. P _ G

2. S I _

3. W _ N

Answers: PIG, SIT, WIN

Short O

1. D _ G

2. H O _

3. F _ X

Answers: DOG, HOT, FOX

Short U

1. C _ P

2. R U _

3. B _ G

Answers: CUP, RUN, BUG

Beginning Sound Practice

Fill in the first letter:

1. _ at (cat)

2. _ og (dog)

3. _ un (sun)

4. _ at (hat)

5. _ ig (pig)

This improves beginning sound recognition.

Ending Sound Practice

Fill in the last letter:

1. Ca _

2. Do _

3. Su _

4. Ha _

5. Be _

Answers: Cat, Dog, Sun, Hat, Bed

Fun Classroom Activities

1. Missing Letter Race

Write incomplete words on the board.
Students race to fill in the missing letter.

2. Picture Clues

Show a picture of a cat.
Write: C _ T
Students complete the word.

3. Letter Cards Game

Give students letter cards.
Say a word with one letter missing.
They hold up the correct letter.

Sentence Completion Activity

Fill in the missing letter in the sentence:

The c _ t is on the m _ t.
The s _ n is hot.
I have a b _ g dog.

This connects phonics to sentence reading.

Daily Practice Plan

To use Find the Missing Letter effectively:

5 minutes – Review letter sounds
5 minutes – Complete 5–10 missing letter words
5 minutes – Read the words aloud

Short daily practice strengthens learning.

Teaching Tips

• Start with simple CVC words.

• Focus on one vowel sound at a time.

• Encourage children to sound out the word.

• Use colorful worksheets.

• Praise effort and improvement.

Repetition builds confidence.

Benefits of Missing Letter Worksheets

Regular practice helps children:

• Improve spelling accuracy

• Read smoothly

• Recognize word families

• Build phonics confidence

Small activities create strong reading skills.

Final Thoughts

Find the Missing Letter is a fun and effective phonics activity for young learners. It strengthens letter recognition, spelling, and reading fluency.

Keep lessons short, simple, and engaging. With regular practice and encouragement, children will become confident and happy readers.