OU & OW : Phonics Activities for Older Students - Task Cards & Digital Slides

It can be difficult to find phonics resources and activities that are appropriate for upper elementary students. These phonics task cards are designed specifically for 4th and 5th grade students who have gaps in their phonics knowledge.

The task cards are an effective way to review and strengthen basic phonics skills for fourth and fifth graders. The content and layout of the cards are specifically tailored to engage and interest this age group.

About the Phonics Task Cards

This set reviews the two vowel teams: ou and ow. This set focuses on the diphthong sound made like in ouch and cow.

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 city council had to deal with the crowd’s outrage over higher taxes.
  • Why was the crowd angry?

• The clown dabbed face powder around his eyebrows and mouth.
  • What type of makeup did the clown use?

• The town’s leaking fountain had a crack in its foundation.
  • Why did the fountain leak?

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