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OU OW Diphthong – Phonics Activity Packet

Students read, spell and sort ou and ow words through picture matching, poems, sentence work and puzzles, then use the vocabulary in writing.
Grades
K–2, Elementary
Pages
44
File type
PDF
Preparation
Print ready

Updated Sep 27, 2026

Subject
ELA, Phonics, Language Development, Spelling, Vocabulary, Creative Writing, Writing
Topic
Words, Phonics
Resource types
Writing Prompts, Worksheets & Printables, Word Searches, Worksheets, Crosswords Puzzles
Preparation
Print ready
Standards
RF.1.3.b

Product description

From the author

Teach Phonics Skills with the Diphthong OU OW Vowel Sounds Activity Packet
This phonics resource helps students in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade strengthen skills with the vowel diphthongs ou and ow. Created by experienced educators for both classroom teachers and homeschoolers, these printables provide varied practice; prepare scissors, glue and any two-sided cards before use. The packet includes fun worksheets, games, and activities focusing on phonics, spelling, reading comprehension, grammar, and creative writing. Teachers can use these versatile materials for whole-group lessons, small groups, independent work, homework, or assessment. With multiple levels built in, the packet allows learners to work at their own pace while mastering the complex ou and ow sounds. By actively applying their new knowledge, students can practise reading and writing the target words.

In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

  • Read and spell one-syllable and two-syllable words containing the ou/ow diphthong

  • Compare the spelling examples on the anchor chart, including ow before a final n

  • Write original stories that incorporate as many target diphthong words as possible

Teaching tips

  • Have scissors and glue ready: the picture-match and word-half matching pages for both spellings are cut-and-paste tasks

  • Print the picture-and-word card pages back-to-back so each card carries the word on its reverse for self-checking

  • Keep the anchor chart posted or in folders while students work — use its examples alongside the additional ow-before-n pattern in clown

Skills covered

  • Diphthong spelling patterns — the anchor chart models common uses of ou (beginning or middle: ouch, couch, scout) versus ow (word end: cow, chow; before final n: clown), and every activity practises those spellings.

  • Handwriting and word tracing — students trace each target word once and rewrite it on the {ou} and {ow} tracing pages.

  • Sentence-level decoding — fill-in-the-word pages use word banks to complete sentences such as 'The umpire yelled, "You're ______!"'

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

Are the poems just for reading aloud, or do students work with them?

Look What I Found! and Cinderella Went To Town are reading poems packed with target words, while Sliding Down to the Ground doubles as an activity: students highlight the ow words in one colour and the ou words in another.

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Curriculum

Standards, concepts & topics

Standards

  • RF.1.3.b

Core concepts

  • Diphthongs

  • Phonics

  • Spelling patterns

  • Vocabulary

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