R-Controlled Vowels Worksheet for Kids

Let's solve this step by step.

Task Overview:

The goal is to identify r-controlled vowels in the sentences and sort them into the correct categories based on their ending patterns:
- -ar
- -or
- -er
- -ur
- -ir

An r-controlled vowel is a vowel that changes its sound when followed by the letter r. Examples include:
- "ar" as in *car* → /ɑːr/
- "or" as in *for* → /ɔːr/
- "er" as in *her* → /ɜːr/
- "ur" as in *turn* → /ɜːr/ or /ʌr/
- "ir" as in *bird* → /ɜːr/

We need to go through each sentence, find words with r-controlled vowels, and then record them under the correct category.

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Step 1: Read Each Sentence and Identify Words with R-Controlled Vowels

1. It is not hard to play a sport.
- hard → ends in -ard → belongs to -ar (since "ar" is the r-controlled pattern)
- sport → ends in -ort → belongs to -or

2. The girl had a new skirt on today.
- girl → ends in -irl → belongs to -ir
- skirt → ends in -irt → belongs to -ir

3. The bird flew over the church.
- bird → ends in -ird → belongs to -ir
- over → ends in -er → belongs to -er
- church → ends in -urch → belongs to -ur

4. It is dark out when I see the stars.
- dark → ends in -ark → belongs to -ar
- stars → ends in -ars → belongs to -ar

5. I see her eat the corn with a fork.
- her → ends in -er → belongs to -er
- corn → ends in -orn → belongs to -or
- fork → ends in -ork → belongs to -or

6. The dog has curly fur.
- curly → ends in -urly → belongs to -ur
- fur → ends in -ur → belongs to -ur

7. Wash your hands or you might share germs.
- your → ends in -our → belongs to -or
- share → ends in -are → belongs to -ar
- germs → ends in -erms → -er

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Step 2: Categorize the Words

Now let’s list the words under their correct r-controlled vowel endings:

#### -ar
- hard
- dark
- stars
- share

#### -or
- sport
- corn
- fork
- your

#### -er
- over
- her
- germs

#### -ur
- church
- curly
- fur

#### -ir
- girl
- skirt
- bird

> Note: Some words like “her” and “over” are spelled with -er, but they are pronounced with the r-controlled /ɜːr/ sound. Similarly, “church” and “fur” have -ur endings.

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Final Answer (Fill in the Chart):

```
-ar -or -er -ur -ir
hard sport over church girl
dark corn her curly skirt
stars fork germs fur bird
share your
```

> You can write up to three words per column. Since we have more than three in some columns, just pick the first three or list all if space allows.

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✔ Summary:

- R-controlled vowels are identified by the presence of r after a vowel.
- The key patterns are -ar, -or, -er, -ur, -ir.
- Words are sorted by their spelling pattern, even if pronunciation varies slightly.

This activity helps students recognize common spelling patterns in English words.