Interactive worksheet teaching open and closed syllables with word examples and definitions.

Let’s go step by step to figure out whether the first syllable of each word is open or closed, using the rules given:

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Rules Recap:

- Open Syllable:
1. Has 1 vowel.
2. Vowel has NO consonant after it (in that syllable).
3. Vowel says its long sound (like “a” in “apron” = /ā/).

- Closed Syllable:
1. Has 1 vowel.
2. Vowel HAS a consonant after it (in that syllable).
3. Vowel says its short sound (like “e” in “met” = /ĕ/).

We only care about the first syllable of each word.

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Let’s break down each word:

#### 1. apron → first syllable: a
- Syllables: a-pron
- First syllable: “a” — just one vowel, no consonant after it → open
- Sound: long “a” (/ā/) → matches open rule ✔
→ open

#### 2. insect → first syllable: in
- Syllables: in-sect
- First syllable: “in” — vowel “i”, followed by consonant “n” → closed
- Sound: short “i” (/ĭ/) → matches closed rule ✔
→ closed

#### 3. robot → first syllable: ro
- Syllables: ro-bot
- First syllable: “ro” — vowel “o”, no consonant after it in this syllable → open
- Sound: long “o” (/ō/) → matches open rule ✔
→ open

#### 4. unit → first syllable: u
- Syllables: u-nit
- First syllable: “u” — just vowel, no consonant after → open
- Sound: long “u” (/yoo/ or /ū/) → matches open rule ✔
→ open

#### 5. pillow → first syllable: pil
Wait — let’s check syllables carefully.
Actually: pil-low? Or pi-llow?

Standard division: pil-low → first syllable “pil”
- Vowel “i”, followed by consonant “l” → closed
- Sound: short “i” (/ĭ/) → matches closed rule ✔
→ closed

*(Note: Some might think “pi” but “pill” is one syllable with short i — yes, “pil” is correct for first syllable.)*

#### 6. frozen → first syllable: fro
Syllables: fro-zen
First syllable: “fro” — vowel “o”, no consonant after it in this syllable? Wait — “fro” ends with “o”, then next syllable starts with “z”. So “o” is not followed by a consonant *within* the syllable → open
Sound: long “o” (/ō/) → matches open rule ✔
→ open

#### 7. dentist → first syllable: den
Syllables: den-tist
First syllable: “den” — vowel “e”, followed by consonant “n” → closed
Sound: short “e” (/ĕ/) → matches closed rule ✔
→ closed

#### 8. spider → first syllable: spi? Wait — actually: spi-der? No.

Correct syllable division: spi-der? Actually, standard is spi-der — but let’s check phonics.

Actually, “spider” = spi-der → first syllable “spi” — vowel “i”, followed by nothing? Wait — “spi” ends with “i”, and “d” starts next syllable.

But “spi” — is that valid? Actually, in English, we often split between consonants: sp-i-der? That doesn’t make sense.

Better approach: Think of how you say it: “SPY-der” → so first syllable is “spy” — which is spelled “spi” but pronounced with long “i”.

So: first syllable = “spi” → vowel “i”, no consonant after it in the syllable → open
Sound: long “i” (/ī/) → matches open rule ✔
→ open

*(Note: Even though it’s spelled “spi”, the “i” is at the end of the syllable and makes long sound — so open.)*

#### 9. absent → first syllable: ab
Syllables: ab-sent
First syllable: “ab” — vowel “a”, followed by consonant “b” → closed
Sound: short “a” (/ă/) → matches closed rule ✔
→ closed

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Final Answers:

1. apron → open
2. insect → closed
3. robot → open
4. unit → open
5. pillow → closed
6. frozen → open
7. dentist → closed
8. spider → open
9. absent → closed

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Final Answer:
1. open
2. closed
3. open
4. open
5. closed
6. open
7. closed
8. open
9. closed