Short e Worksheets and Activities | Short Vowel Worksheets | TPT - Free Printable

This worksheet is designed to help children identify the short E sound in words, based on pictures. The instruction says: *"Which syllable(s) do you hear a short E sound? Draw an X in the box of that syllable."*

We need to:
1. Identify the word associated with each picture.
2. Break the word into syllables.
3. Find which syllable(s) contain the short E sound (like the "e" in "bed").
4. Mark an X in the box corresponding to that syllable.

Let’s go through each image one by one:

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1. Camel

- Word: camel → 2 syllables: ca-mel
- Sounds: /kæm/ + /l/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "mel" — the "e" in "mel" is pronounced like a short E (/ɛ/)
- ✔ Mark an X in the second box

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2. Basketball

- Word: basketball → 3 syllables: bas-ket-ball
- Sounds: /ˈbæs.kət.bɔːl/
- Short E sound? In "ket" — the "e" in "ket" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the second box

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3. Pencil

- Word: pencil → 2 syllables: pen-cil
- Sounds: /ˈpens.əl/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "pen" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the first box

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4. Blender

- Word: blender → 2 syllables: blen-der
- Sounds: /ˈblend.ɚ/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "blen" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the first box

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5. Ketchup

- Word: ketchup → 2 syllables: ket-chup
- Sounds: /ˈkɛtʃ.əp/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "ket" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the first box

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6. Hammer

- Word: hammer → 2 syllables: ham-mer
- Sounds: /ˈhæm.ɚ/
- Short E sound? No — "a" is short A, and "er" is a schwa. No short E
- ✘ No X

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7. Wallet

- Word: wallet → 2 syllables: wal-let
- Sounds: /ˈwɑː.lət/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "let" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the second box

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8. Helmet

- Word: helmet → 2 syllables: hel-met
- Sounds: /ˈhelm.ət/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "met" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the second box

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9. Necklace

- Word: necklace → 2 syllables: neck-lace
- Sounds: /ˈnek.ləs/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "neck" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the first box

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10. Hedgehog

- Word: hedgehog → 2 syllables: hedg-e-hog
- But often pronounced as hed-ge-hog → 3 syllables
- Sounds: /ˈhɛdʒ.hɒɡ/
- Short E sound? Yes, in "hed" — "e" is short E
- ✔ Mark an X in the first box

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11. Daisy (flower)

- Word: daisy → 2 syllables: da-sy
- Sounds: /ˈdeɪ.zi/
- Short E sound? No — "a" is long A, "sy" has a long I sound
- ✘ No X

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12. Mermaid

- Word: mermaid → 2 syllables: mer-maid
- Sounds: /ˈmɜːr.meɪd/
- Short E sound? No — "er" is schwa, "maid" has long A
- ✘ No X

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Final Answers:

Here’s where to place the X:

1. Camel → ✔ second box
2. Basketball → ✔ second box
3. Pencil → ✔ first box
4. Blender → ✔ first box
5. Ketchup → ✔ first box
6. Hammer → ✘ no X
7. Wallet → ✔ second box
8. Helmet → ✔ second box
9. Necklace → ✔ first box
10. Hedgehog → ✔ first box
11. Daisy → ✘ no X
12. Mermaid → ✘ no X

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Summary of X placements:

- Camel: [ ] [X]
- Basketball: [ ] [X] [ ]
- Pencil: [X] [ ]
- Blender: [X] [ ]
- Ketchup: [X] [ ]
- Hammer: [ ] [ ]
- Wallet: [ ] [X]
- Helmet: [ ] [X]
- Necklace: [X] [ ]
- Hedgehog: [X] [ ] [ ]
- Daisy: [ ] [ ]
- Mermaid: [ ] [ ]

> Note: This worksheet is from Tree Valley Academy, likely for early phonics learning. The goal is to reinforce recognition of the short E sound in different syllables.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or a visual guide!