Skip to content

VC Word Blender

Run the VC Word Blender MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

The VC Word Blender focuses on vowel-consonant combinations—the building blocks of word families. These two-letter endings (-at, -in, -op, etc.) are easier to blend than full CVC words and become the recognizable "chunks" that help children read efficiently. Once mastered, children can quickly recognize -at in cat, hat, bat, and mat.

Features

  • 21 VC Patterns: Common word family endings
  • Animated Blending: Watch letters slide together
  • Audio Support: Hear each sound then the blend
  • Example Words: See real words using each pattern
  • Color Coding: Red vowels, blue consonants
  • Highlighted Endings: Pattern highlighted in example words
  • Progress Tracking: Count of patterns blended

VC Patterns Included

Short A Short I Short O Short U Short E
-at -in -ot -un -et
-an -it -op -ut -en
-ap -ig -og -ug -ed
-ad -ip -ob -up
-ag
-am

How to Use

  1. View the Pattern: See the vowel and consonant separated
  2. Click Blend: Watch the letters slide together
  3. Listen: Hear each sound, then the blended ending
  4. See Examples: Notice how many words use this pattern
  5. Navigate: Use arrows to explore all 21 patterns

Iframe Example

You can include this MicroSim on your website using the following iframe:

1
2
3
4
<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/reading-for-kindergarten/sims/vc-word-blender/main.html"
        height="462px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, students will be able to:

  1. Remember: Recall common VC word family endings
  2. Understand: Explain how word families share the same ending
  3. Apply: Blend vowel and consonant sounds together
  4. Analyze: Recognize VC patterns within longer words

Why Start with VC Blends?

VC combinations are developmentally appropriate because:

  • Simpler than CVC: Only two sounds to blend
  • Build chunks: These endings become recognizable units
  • Word families: Same ending in many words (cat, hat, bat)
  • Success builds confidence: Easier task before harder ones
  • Transfer to reading: Chunk recognition speeds up decoding

What Are Word Families?

Word families (also called rimes) are groups of words that share the same ending:

  • -at family: cat, hat, bat, sat, mat, rat
  • -op family: hop, mop, top, pop, stop
  • -in family: pin, tin, win, fin, spin

Knowing word families helps children: - Read new words by analogy - Recognize patterns quickly - Build vocabulary efficiently

Suggested Activities

  1. Family Hunt: Find all -at words in a book
  2. Rhyme Chain: Say words that end with -op
  3. Word Building: Add different beginning sounds to -an
  4. Sort by Ending: Group picture cards by word family
  5. Blend Race: How quickly can you blend each pattern?

Assessment Opportunities

  • Listen for smooth blending vs. choppy sounds
  • Note which vowel sounds are difficult
  • Track if children recognize patterns in new words
  • Observe transfer to CVC word reading

Differentiation

  • Support: Focus on just 2-3 patterns; repeat often
  • Challenge: Have children generate words for each pattern

Teaching Sequence

  1. Start with -at (most common, clear sounds)
  2. Add -an, -ap (same vowel, different consonants)
  3. Move to -it, -in (different vowel)
  4. Gradually introduce all patterns
  5. Mix and review regularly

Technical Notes

  • Uses p5.js for interactive graphics and animations
  • Web Speech API for phoneme and blend pronunciation
  • Web Audio API for feedback sounds
  • Smooth lerp animation for letter blending
  • Touch and mouse support
  • Responsive design adapts to container width

References