Ice Cream CVC Word Match
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Are you looking for a fun way to practice CVC words with your beginning readers? This free Ice Cream CVC Word Match is super engaging and can be played in a variety of ways. Your students will have a blast matching CVC words with the fun pictures and building confidence in their early reading skills along the way!
*Pair with our Summer Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten!
Ice Cream CVC Word Match
I love activities that don’t require a ton of prep time! Simply print out the CVC Word Match cards on cardstock for durability and cut them apart. If you plan to use them over and over, I recommend also laminating them. Now you are ready to play!
This activity is super versatile! That keeps it exciting for my kids, yet saves me from prepping multiple activities. Below are 3 of my favorite ways to use this CVC Word Match in the classroom!
1. Read and Match
Lay the cards face up and allow students to find the picture that matches each word on the ice cream cones. For example, if Johnny reads the word “fox” then he is searching for the ice cream cone that has a picture of a fox on it to make a match.
This is the simplest way to play. Once the kids understand how to correctly make matches you can introduce the other games that can be played with the cards.

2. Memory Match
Another fun way to play is to flip the cards face down and lay them in rows. Then each player takes turns flipping 2 cards over in search of a match.
If they get a correct match they keep it in their pile. If not, they flip the cards back over and it is the next player’s turn.
While it is the other player’s turn, encourage students to watch to try to remember where the cards are for their next turn. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins!

RELATED RESOURCE: Phonics Poems – CVC Word Families
3. Go Fish
Another fun way to play this game is like the classic game “Go Fish.”
Give each player 4 cards then place the remaining cards in a draw pile. Players take turns asking other players if they have a match to one of the cards in their hand.
If they do, they hand it to them. If not, they tell them to “Go fish!” Then they have to draw a card out of the pile. The player with the most matches at the end of the game is the winner!

Grab Your FREE Copy
Are you ready to work on CVC words with your students? Get your free copy of the Ice Cream CVC Word Match by clicking the large, yellow download button at the end of the post!
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What a great idea! Thank you
This was a fun resource to come upon as we approach the end of the school year. We did a different kind of match game. We added the words, I have ____, who has ____? So we had to listen, pay attention, and celebrate as we made the matches. Once a student ran out of cards they had to sit down. We played it two times and I know we could have played it two more times before the kids lost interest.
Sarah! That’s wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing with us. Your version is fantastic! Thank you.