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Help your early learners strengthen their phonics skills with this hands-on Beginning Sounds Clip Card Activity focused on CVC words with the short “a” sound. Designed with differentiation in mind, this resource supports children of varying ability levels while promoting fine motor development through the use of clothes pegs.

How it works:

Each clip card features:

• A picture of a CVC word with the ending letters provided (e.g. _at, _an)
• A missing initial letter, to be completed using the provided button-style initial sound cards

Children select the correct beginning sound and clip it to the card using a clothes peg—helping them practice phonics and build pre-writing motor skills at the same time!

Colour-Coding System for Easy Differentiation:
This visual cue helps children identify patterns and reinforces rhyme recognition

What’s Included:

• A set of clip cards with images and word endings (at, an) and printable initial sound buttons, colour-coded by word ending

Ready to print, cut, laminate, and reuse

Perfect for:

• Phonics practice (beginning sounds)
• Literacy centers and small groups
  -EYFS, Reception, and KS1
• Home learning and targeted intervention
• Pre-writing support through fine motor development

Differentiation Tips:

• For lower ability learners: Use a limited set of 4 cards and 4 buttons to reduce cognitive load
• For higher ability learners: Offer more cards and include distractor initial sound buttons for added challenge

Why it works:

• Reinforces beginning sound recognition and blending
• Encourages decoding through visual and tactile learning
• Supports mixed-ability groups with built-in visual scaffolds
• Enhances hand strength and pencil grip through peg use

Additional resources:

• Clothes Pegs

A simple, effective, and engaging way to combine phonics and fine motor development—all in one! Just print, cut, laminate, and you’re ready to go!

Notes:
If you like this resource, you will enjoy:
- CVC Beginning Sounds Clip Card Bundle – Short Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) | Phonics & Fine Motor Skills

• Beginning Sounds Clip Cards – Short “e” CVC Words | Phonics Activity with Pegs
• Beginning Sounds Clip Cards – Short “i” CVC Words | Phonics Activity with Pegs
• Beginning Sounds Clip Cards – Short “o” CVC Words | Phonics Activity with Pegs
• Beginning Sounds Clip Cards – Short “u” CVC Words | Phonics Activity with Pegs