Vowel sound "a" worksheet with picture-word matching and missing letter exercises.

Let's solve this phonics worksheet step by step.

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Task 1: Draw lines connecting the vowel sound *a* to the pictures that have the same sound in the middle.

We are looking for pictures where the vowel sound /æ/ (as in "cat") is present in the middle of the word. The target sound is the short "a" sound.

Look at the images:

1. Bag – has the short a sound → ✔
2. Mat – has the short a sound → ✔
3. Cat – has the short a sound → ✔
4. Car – has the short a sound → ✔
5. Fan – has the short a sound → ✔
6. Dog – has the o sound, not a → ✘

Wait — let's check each picture carefully:

- Bag: Yes, "bag" → /bæɡ/ → has short a
- Mat: "mat" → /mæt/ → yes
- Cat: "cat" → /kæt/ → yes
- Car: "car" → /kɑːr/ → Note: In American English, this is often pronounced with a schwa or /ɑ/, but in many phonics programs, it’s taught as having the short a sound. However, strictly speaking, "car" has the /ɑː/ sound, which is different from the short a (/æ/). But in early phonics, sometimes "car" is grouped with short a words. Let's be careful.

But look at the image: it shows a car, and the instruction is to connect to the vowel sound *a*.

Actually, the letter a is shown in the center, so we're looking for words with the short a sound.

Let’s list the pictures and their sounds:

1. Bag → /bæɡ/ → short a ✔
2. Mat → /mæt/ → short a ✔
3. Cat → /kæt/ → short a ✔
4. Car → /kɑːr/ → not short a ✘ (This is a common confusion)
5. Fan → /fæn/ → short a ✔
6. Dog → /dɒɡ/ → no a sound ✘

Wait — actually, there are six pictures:

From top to bottom:

1. Bag (image of a bag) → "bag" → /bæɡ/ → short a ✔
2. Mat (image of a rug/mat) → "mat" → /mæt/ → short a ✔
3. Cat (image of a cat) → "cat" → /kæt/ → short a ✔
4. Car (image of a car) → "car" → /kɑːr/ → not short a ✘
5. Fan (image of a fan) → "fan" → /fæn/ → short a ✔
6. Dog (image of a dog) → "dog" → /dɒɡ/ → no a ✘

So the pictures with the short a sound are:
- Bag
- Mat
- Cat
- Fan

But wait — the car is often misclassified. In most phonics curricula, especially for beginners, "car" is considered to have the short a sound, even though it's technically /ɑː/. So depending on the program, it might be included.

But in this case, let's see: the word "car" is not typically used in short a word lists because the vowel sound is different.

However, in this worksheet, since the letter a is shown and they’re asking for the vowel sound a, we should go with words that have the short a sound.

So the correct pictures to connect to the a are:

✔ Bag
✔ Mat
✔ Cat
✔ Fan

✘ Car — likely not correct (longer vowel sound)
✘ Dog — no 'a' sound

But wait — the image of the car may be intended to represent "car", but perhaps it's a mistake?

Alternatively, maybe the car is meant to be "car" as in "car" with short a, but that's not accurate.

Let’s re-express:

Actually, upon closer inspection:

- Bag → /bæɡ/ → short a ✔
- Mat → /mæt/ → short a ✔
- Cat → /kæt/ → short a ✔
- Car → /kɑːr/ → not short a ✘
- Fan → /fæn/ → short a ✔
- Dog → /dɒɡ/ → no a ✘

So only Bag, Mat, Cat, Fan have the short a sound.

Therefore, draw lines from the a to:
- Bag
- Mat
- Cat
- Fan

But the image shows six pictures, and only four of them have the short a sound.

So the answer for Part 1: Connect the a to:
- Bag
- Mat
- Cat
- Fan

(Not to Car or Dog)

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Task 2: Fill in the missing letter in each word.

Now we fill in the blanks using the short a sound.

Each word has a missing letter, and the word must contain the short a sound.

Let’s go one by one:

1. c _ p → This is cap → missing a → c a p ✔
2. f _ n → This is fan → missing a → f a n ✔
3. b _ g → This is bag → missing a → b a g ✔
4. m _ p → This is map → missing a → m a p ✔
5. b _ t → This is bat → missing a → b a t ✔
6. h _ nd → This is hand → missing a → h a nd ✔

All these words have the short a sound.

So the completed words are:

1. cap
2. fan
3. bag
4. map
5. bat
6. hand

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Part 1: Connect the letter *a* to the pictures that have the short *a* sound:
- Bag
- Mat
- Cat
- Fan

> Do not connect to Car or Dog.

#### Part 2: Fill in the missing letters:
1. cap
2. fan
3. bag
4. map
5. bat
6. hand

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📝 Summary:

This worksheet teaches the short vowel sound /æ/ (as in "cat"). Students practice identifying words with that sound and spelling them correctly.

The key is recognizing that the short a sound is heard in words like cat, bag, fan, map, bat, hand, etc., but not in car (which has a different vowel sound) or dog (no a).

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or further explanation!