Grade 1 · lesson 1 of 4

Divide a two-syllable word

Say the complete word, mark the vowel sounds and try the indicated division. Blend the two spoken parts back into a word.

About 15 minutes, plus any extended practice

Download the grade pack

Supplied materials

  • Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
  • Worked case: Word: sunset. Base walk in walks. Tricky word: said. Sentence: I can walk.
  • Primary check: Word: picnic. Base jump in jumped. Tricky word: was. Sentence: Was it fun?
  • An adult may read every direction and answer choice aloud; learners may respond by speaking, pointing or drawing.

Learn the idea

Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel.

Say the complete word, mark the vowel sounds and try the indicated division. Blend the two spoken parts back into a word.

Example to read or listen to: Word: sunset. Base walk in walks. Tricky word: said. Sentence: I can walk. The answer is sun/set. The relevant input states: Word: sunset. This fits sun/set. Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel. Do not divide every pair of letters.

  1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
  2. Say the complete word, mark the vowel sounds and try the indicated division. Blend the two spoken parts back into a word.
  3. Check the worked solution: sun/set. The relevant input states: Word: sunset. This fits sun/set. Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel. Do not divide every pair of letters.
  4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.
Worked example

See the method in action

Word: sunset. Base walk in walks. Tricky word: said. Sentence: I can walk. Solved: sun/set. The relevant input states: Word: sunset. This fits sun/set. Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel. Do not divide every pair of letters. Say the complete word, mark the vowel sounds and try the indicated division. Blend the two spoken parts back into a word.

Your turn

Check your reasoning

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Helpful tips
  • Listen to vowel sounds, not just letters.
  • Do not divide every pair of letters.
Word: picnic. Base jump in jumped. Tricky word: was. Sentence: Was it fun? Which division shows the supplied word as two spoken syllables?

Feedback appears here after you check. This is practice, not a graded school assessment.

See the answer and explanation

pic/nic

The relevant input states: Word: picnic. This fits pic/nic. Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel. Do not divide every pair of letters.

Take it further

Optional extra practice: Adult-assisted reading: At sunset, one robot was resting. Divide sunset and robot, find -ing, notice one and was, and read the sentence twice with a natural finish. Explain that the robot was resting, rather than racing. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: Each spoken syllable has a vowel sound. Some syllables end in a consonant and have a short vowel; an open syllable can have a long vowel.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.

More practice: try new cases

Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.

More practice: try new cases
1. Word: robot. Base look in looking. Tricky word: one. Sentence: One robot won! Which division shows the supplied word as two spoken syllables?
Need a hint?
  • Listen to vowel sounds, not just letters.
  • Do not divide every pair of letters.
2. Word: music. Base play in play. Tricky word: does. Sentence: He does play Which division shows the supplied word as two spoken syllables?
Need a hint?
  • Listen to vowel sounds, not just letters.
  • Do not divide every pair of letters.
3. Word: picnic. Base rest in resting. Tricky word: said. Sentence: She said yes. Which division shows the supplied word as two spoken syllables?
Need a hint?
  • Listen to vowel sounds, not just letters.
  • Do not divide every pair of letters.

Your choices are temporary. Feedback appears after you check all the answers.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. Keep your own notes or download them before leaving. The score describes these questions; it does not certify subject mastery.

Check the subject sources

These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.