# Lesson 42: Read longer words with blends

📖 READING (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Word Power and Vocabulary

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## Objective

Practice reading longer words with blends like bl, cr, st, and dr so sentences sound smoother and clearer.

## Materials

- Word cards with blends (black, brush, crab, street, drink, plant, blanket)
- Short sentences that use blend words (printed or written in a notebook)
- Pencil ✏️ and highlighter (or colored pencil)
- Optional: small timer for 1-minute reading practice

## Mini-lesson — Reading words with blends

Sometimes two consonants stand side by side and work together at the start of a word. We call these blends.

When you see a blend, you do not say each letter alone. You slide the sounds together:

- bl in black
- cr in crab
- st in street
- dr in drink

Watch what happens with the word black:

1. Blend the first two letters: bl.
2. Add the rest: ack.
3. Put it together: bl + ack = black.

Blends also appear in the middle or at the end of words. Knowing them helps you read longer words more quickly.

Today you will:

- Practice reading words with blends.
- Use those words in short sentences.
- Read a tiny story that is full of blend words.

As you read, listen to your voice. Does it sound choppy or smooth? Blends can help your reading sound smooth.

Picture: Blend cards sliding into a word.

## Guided Practice — Blends mini-book

How to use this mini-book:

1. On each page, find and read the blend words (black, crab, street, drink, blanket, plant).
2. Read the page once slowly, then again more smoothly.
3. Have your child point to each blend and say it aloud (bl, cr, st, dr, pl).

After reading, choose one page and highlight all the blend words.

Blend word bank
black brush crab street drink blanket plant

### Mini-Book: A crab on the street

1

The black crab moved fast.

The small black crab came out of the sand. It moved across the warm rock with quick little legs.

2

It crossed the street.

The crab went toward the street. We stood back and watched it cross slowly in the bright sun.

3

We drank and waited.

We sat on a bench with a cool drink. We did not shout or stomp. We let the crab move in peace.

4

A plant and a blanket.

At last, the crab went under a big plant. We packed our blanket and smiled. We liked this tiny street trip.

## Reading Practice — Spot the blend

Choose the best answer for each question, then tap “Check answers”. Focus on the blend at the start of each word.

1) Which word begins with the blend bl?
2) Which word begins with the blend cr?
3) Which word begins with the blend st?
4) Which word begins with the blend dr?
5) Which word begins with the blend pl?
6) What should you do if a blend word feels hard?

## Quick Check (10 questions)

#### 1) What is a blend?

A word with no vowels Two or more consonants that slide together at the start or middle of a word A word you never read aloud

#### 2) Which word has the blend st?

crab black street

#### 3) In the word crab, what is the blend?

cr ab ra

#### 4) Which step helps most when reading blend words?

Skipping the blend and guessing Saying the blend first, then adding the rest of the word Only reading the last letter

#### 5) Which sentence uses two blend words?

The cat ran. The sun was hot. The black crab went across the street.

#### 6) Why do blends make reading smoother?

Because you can say two consonants together quickly Because you skip all the vowels Because you never look at the letters

#### 7) What should you do if you forget a blend word from the story?

Stop reading the story Go back, find the blend, and read the word again slowly Only read the pictures

#### 8) Which pair shows two words that both start with blends?

cat, sun ship, rain black, street

#### 9) What is one goal of this lesson?

To read longer words with blends more easily To avoid all blend words To only read one-sound words

#### 10) What could you practice at home after this lesson?

Only numbers Making a list of blend words and reading them in sentences Reading with no letters

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Reads common blend words (black, crab, street, drink, blanket, plant) accurately Can point to and name blends (bl, cr, st, dr, pl) in words and sentences Shows smoother, less choppy reading when blend words appear in a short passage Can explain in simple words what a blend is

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can read blend words like black, crab, and street 🙂 I need a little more practice with blends 😅 Blend words still feel tricky

#### I will practice…

Reading a list of blend words out loud Underlining blend words in a story Saying blends (bl, cr, st, dr, pl) before reading the whole word
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