We LOVE dinosaur activities and this is the perfect time of year to bring them out! Your dinosaur-loving students will have fun reading CVC words with this free printable Dinosaur Short Vowel Word Sort. They will strengthen their decoding skills as they sort the words according to short vowels. It’s the perfect activity for using in small groups or literacy centers!
*Pair with our CVC Word Centers and Activities for Early Learners!

Dinosaur Short Vowel Word Sort
Short vowel knowledge is important before moving on to long vowels. Identifying vowels in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words is one of the earliest skills a reader needs to decode a word correctly. This can happen automatically for some readers, but other students might need some extra practice.
This Dinosaur Short Vowel Word Sort Activity is the perfect way to get your students excited to practice reading and sorting CVC words!
How to Prep
Prep for this activity is easy! Simply print and laminate the dinosaur word cards and printable sorting mat. Cut out the cards and they are ready for use in small groups or add them to your literacy centers!
There are six cards per vowel for the most commonly used CVC words, making it 30 dinosaur word cards, altogether.
If using this word sort in our literacy centers, I like to also include a small basket for placing the cards inside.

How to Play
Confident CVC word readers can use this activity independently while some readers might need help decoding the words, in which case a small group setup may be best.
To play, students pick a dinosaur word card. If working in small groups, we sound the word out together before deciding where to place the card on the sorting mat. Students working independently can read the word to themselves to identify the short vowel sound before sorting.
Teacher Tip: Have students color or highlight the vowel in each CVC word to make it easier to visually identify for sorting.

Another Way to Play!
Another fun idea for how to use this dinosaur short vowel word sort is to turn it into a game!
Start by printing extra sorting mats (one for each player). Six players can play with one “pack” of cards.
Place the dinosaur word cards face-down in the middle of the players. Then they take turns picking up a card, reading it, and placing it on the correct short vowel box on their sorting mat.
The first player to fill all 5 short vowel boxes on their mat wins!

Grab Your FREE Copy
Ready to start sorting CVC words with your students? Get your free copy of the Dinosaur Short Vowel Word Sort by clicking the large, yellow download button at the end of the post!
Want unlimited access to even MORE of our activities and resources?
Then be sure you request your invite so that you can be the first to hear when the doors open again for our Print and Play Club
With instant access to hundreds of printables by topic and skill (no more scouring the internet!), every TKC resource, video lessons, a digital games vault, “Super” Sunday Surprises, and much more – your planning time just got easier.
Request your invitation below for more info!
- Dinosaur Digraph Activity - May 4, 2022
- Dinosaur Short Vowel Word Sort - May 2, 2022
- Farm Animal Twenty Frames Math Mats - April 21, 2022