ER, IR & UR: Phonics Activities for Older Students - Task Cards & Digital Slides

Phonics activities and resources for 4th and 5th graders with phonics gaps can be difficult to find. These phonics task cards are intended to fill that need by offering a way to review and strengthen basic phonics skills upper elementary students with gaps in their knowledge.

The task cards are an effective tool for this purpose, and their content and design are specifically tailored to be appropriate for fourth and fifth graders.

About the Phonics Task Cards

This set reviews the three r-controlled vowels that make the /er/ sound: er, ir, and ur.

There are 16 task cards. Each task card includes the following:

• A carefully written sentence that includes 2-3 words with the focus phonics pattern(s)
• A question that allow students to show their understanding of the sentence

Example Sentences and Questions:

• The female turtle dug a deep burrow in the dirt to bury the eggs she laid.
• Why did the turtle dig a hole?

• When the teacher asked what my perfect meal was, I quickly answered a hamburger with curly fries.
• What does the person like to eat with the hamburger?

• The expert was concerned about people saving energy.
• Why was the expert worried?

Also included is a teaching poster and phonics notes for teachers.

About the Digital Phonics Activities

The task cards are also available digitally, ready to assign in Google Slides. The content is exactly the same as the printable version, but has been reformatted for optimal digital use on a variety of devices.

Two digital versions are included:

1. Each slide includes the sentence, the question, and moveable circles to identify words with the target vowel sound. (Best for whole group and verbal discussion of question.)
2. Each slide includes the sentence, the question, moveable circles to identify words with the target vowel sound, and an editable text box. (Best for independent practice since students can type their answers in the text boxes given.)

You can use these phonics skills task cards for:

• small group instruction
• independent practice (use the word list to preview the words beforehand, if needed)
• whole group warmups using the digital slides

Want More Phonics Activities and Resources for Upper Elementary?

• Multisyllabic Word Practice - Syllable Types - Science of Reading w/ Digital