CVC Word and Picture Matching Worksheet 31: Short u

The digging picture uses dug, the printed past-tense form, rather than dig. Hug describes the embrace. Bug names the insect, and tub identifies the shallow container. Establish those exact labels before children read the choices independently.

The short u word and picture matching worksheet page contrasts final b and g as well as the beginnings. Bug starts with the letter that ends tub, giving a useful opportunity to notice letter position.

What is included?

• Four printed word choices: tub, bug, dug, hug.
• Four pictures down the left side, ordered dug, tub, hug, bug.
• A matching activity on page 1 and a separate answer key with the correct connections on page 2.
• The four-page PDF also contains a thank-you page and terms of use.

Teaching this worksheet

Read tub together and locate its container picture second on the left. Blend t-u-b, then compare bug by listening to both the beginning and ending.

For short u word and picture matching worksheet, describe the digging scene with a sentence using dug. Read d-u-g from the choices, then contrast hug and identify the embracing figures.

Use the answer key after all four connections are attempted. Ask pupils to say the matched label while tracing each line. If dug is read as dig, point back to the printed u before changing the connection.

Picture-word activities

• Build bug and dug with tiles and compare their first b and d.
• Read tub beside bug and locate b at different ends.
• Say dug and hug in short spoken sentences to reinforce their different meanings.

Teaching notes and quick assessment

On this CVC word picture matching worksheet 31, notice whether the pupil reads the whole word or matches from the shared ending and picture position. Ask for the difference between tub and bug before accepting either line.

A secure reader blends all four labels, identifies the distinguishing grapheme and checks the connection for hug by rereading it. This follows the decoding emphasis in the Department for Education reading framework. Keep the answer page hidden until all four choices are explained.

Support and next steps

Introduce dug orally if the learner says digging. For hug, name the action rather than the people. A child uncertain about b and d can compare those shapes before reading bug and dug again.

After short u word and picture matching worksheet, dictate tub and hug on spare paper. Ask for each whole spoken word before writing, since the two share only their middle vowel.

Worksheet 31 answers

The answer page shows the correct connections. Reading the activity pictures from top to bottom:

1. dug matches word 3 in the right-hand column.
2. tub matches word 1 in the right-hand column.
3. hug matches word 4 in the right-hand column.
4. bug matches word 2 in the right-hand column.