1st grade spelling words

8 weekly lists of 1st grade spelling words, each built around one spelling pattern, plus a list of tricky words. Pick a list below to print it as a worksheet or a spelling test, or edit the words first.

Activity

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Preview

1st grade spelling: Short a (-at, -an, -ap)

Name ____________________   Date __________

Trace each word, then write it two more times.

1.cat  ____________  ____________
2.hat  ____________  ____________
3.sat  ____________  ____________
4.man  ____________  ____________
5.can  ____________  ____________
6.fan  ____________  ____________
7.map  ____________  ____________
8.cap  ____________  ____________
9.nap  ____________  ____________
10.ran  ____________  ____________

All 1st grade spelling lists

ListPatternWords
1Short a (-at, -an, -ap)cat, hat, sat, man, can, fan, map, cap, nap, ran
2Short e (-et, -en, -ed)pet, net, wet, hen, ten, pen, bed, red, fed, leg
3Short i (-it, -ig, -in)sit, hit, big, pig, dig, pin, win, fin, lip, six
4Short o (-ot, -op, -og)hot, pot, dot, top, mop, hop, dog, log, fox, box
5Short u (-ug, -un, -ut)bug, hug, rug, sun, fun, run, cut, nut, cup, bus
6Digraphs sh, ch, thship, shop, fish, wish, chin, chop, much, this, that, with
7Blends (st, fl, gr)stop, step, fast, flag, flat, frog, grab, grin, clap, drum
8Silent e (a_e, i_e, o_e)cake, make, game, bike, like, time, home, bone, rope, cute
—Tricky wordsthe, said, was, you, they, are, come, have, of, what

How to use the lists

Teach one pattern a week. On Monday, read the words together and sort them by sound; midweek, use the missing-letters or unscramble worksheet; on Friday, give the spelling test. Add two or three tricky words each week, since they have to be memorized rather than sounded out.

Other grades: 2nd grade spelling words, 3rd grade spelling words, 4th grade spelling words, 5th grade spelling words. Have your own list? Use the spelling worksheet maker.

Questions

What spelling words should a 1st grader know?

By the end of first grade, most children practice the patterns on this page (short a (-at, -an, -ap), short e (-et, -en, -ed), short i (-it, -ig, -in) and more) plus common words that break the rules, like the, said, was, you. Your school's curriculum may order them differently.

How many words should a weekly list have?

Eight to ten words is typical in first grade, often with one or two tricky words added.

Can I print a spelling test?

Yes. Pick a list, choose Spelling test and print. You get a numbered answer sheet and a separate page with the words to read aloud.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes, free and unlimited with no sign-up. They're made in your browser.