Set 5 - Long Vowels - Set 5, Book 5 - The Train - Lesson Plan for Short a and Long a (ai)

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan

Printable word study and sight-word activities for early readers centered on long vowel patterns in Set 5, Book 5, The Train. Includes word sorting by short a versus long ai, written sorting, vowel-pattern color coding, word hunting in example sentences, word-and-picture matching, and “write the word” spelling practice. Provides specific directions, guidance for parent/teacher support, and an answer key with sample words and oddballs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Word Sort: Short a / Long a (ai)

Written Sort

Color by Vowel Pattern

Word Hunt

Picture and Word Matching

Write the Word

I Spy Sight Words

Sight Word Bump!

Go Fish Sight Word Game

Quick as a Wink Word Game

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Set 5
Long Vowels

Set 5, Book 5 : The Train | | --- | | 1. Word Sort: Short a / Long a (ai)
2. Written Sort
3. Color by Vowel Pattern
4. Word Hunt
5. Picture and Word Matching
6. Write the Word*
7. I Spy Sight Words
8. Sight Word Bump!
9. Go Fish Sight Word Game
10. Quick as a Wink Word Game
*Answer Key: maid, tail, paid, pail, mail, rain, paint, train, afraid
This printable pack was created for use with your child at home or in the classroom setting. Permission was granted from BOB Books to use their logo and“The End” image.
Created [by Becky @](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[ ](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[www.thisreadingmama.com](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)
©2014 All Rights Reserved. | Written Sort and Generalization Extra Helps Please note that this sort (pg. 3) could be re-sorted every day while reading the text that accompanies it. On day 1, the parent or teacher may take more responsibility to show the child how to sort the words and on subsequent days, the child takes more responsibility to sort it on her own. On one of the days that the child has cut apart and sorted the words by their pattern, ask her to copy the sort by writing each word into the Written Sort chart (pg. 4) . The question at the end of the written sort! This is an important step with word sorts! While sorting, discuss the patterns that the words in the same column share. For example, the words in the short a column only have one vowel (a), while the words in columns two (ai) have a vowel combination that makes the long a sound. While word study doesn’t hinge on rules (because these are so easily“broken”), it does rely on generalizations. Generally speaking, a child can see that when a word has only one a in it and is surrounded by consonants (CVC), it makes the short a sound. In general, a word that has a vowel combination of ai makes the long a sound. By asking your child to answer this question, you are helping him to make some generalizations about how word patterns work. And, she can use these same generalizations for other words in his reading and writing! Note that there are two oddballs: was and said. BOB Books: Set 5, Book 5 ( The Train) Created [by Becky @](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[ ](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[www.thisreadingmama.com](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com) ©2014 All Rights Reserved. Short a/Long a Word Sort Directions: Cut apart the short a and long a trains and use as headers. Cut apart the word cards in the sort. Read each word. Sort under the short a or long a (ai) trains, depending on the vowel pattern. (Oddballs: said, was) Not all of these words are from the text. |
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| | --- | --- | --- | | train | black | paid | | --- | --- | --- | | brass | said | wag | | paint | last | plain | | clack | maid | track | | afraid | than | vain | | brag | rain | shack | | was | blast | tail | The Train ©2014 All Rights Reserved. BOB Books: Set 5 Book 5 Created [by Becky @](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[ ](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[www.thisreadingmama.com](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com) [www.thisreadingmama.com](www.thisreadingmama.com)[ ](www.thisreadingmama.com)©2014 All Rights Reserved . Written Sort: After you have sorted your words, write them here under their correct column. BOB Books: Set 5, Book 5 ( The Train) | a
(short sound) | ai
(long sound) | oddball
(2) | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In general, what do you notice about the words and their patterns? Color by Vowel Pattern tail last paint braid rain black wag pail afraid maid ran train vain less Color short a = red long ai = gray BOB Books: Set 5, Book 5 ( The Train) Created [by Becky @](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[ ](by Becky @ www.thisreadingmama.com)[www.

FAQs

What words should children sort in the Short a / Long a (ai) activity?

Children sort the provided word cards under the short a or long a (ai) trains based on the vowel pattern. The oddballs listed are said and was.

How does the Written Sort activity work?

After cutting and sorting, the child copies the words into the Written Sort chart by writing each word under its correct column.

What is the goal of the Word Hunt section?

Children read the sentences and find all words with the long ai pattern, then circle and optionally dot, underline, or highlight them.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan