Blend it — tap a word
Tap a card: you hear the first sound, then it joins -am to make the word. Say the whole word together.
▶ Watch
Wake Up! Phonics — the class reads each -am word aloud and wakes up the Mill. About 4 minutes.
🎮 Play — free
Find the hidden -am words in the picture, sing along, then try a short quiz. Works on a phone or the classroom screen.
🖨️ Print
Free sample pages (color + black-and-white), or the full set: 12 color pages, 12 black-and-white pages, the game and the video for $4.
A 10-minute -am lesson
- Watch the video together and read each word with the class.
- Tap the cards above: say the first sound, then -am, then the whole word.
- Play the game — children shout the word when they find it.
- Finish with one worksheet page: read, trace and match.
Questions about the -am word family
What are the -am word family words?
The -am word family is a group of short a words that all end in -am: ham, jam, yam, dam, ram and Sam. They are CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant), so a child who can read -am can read every word in the family by changing only the first sound.
How do I teach the -am word family to a kindergartener?
Say the ending first (/am/), then put one first sound in front and blend: h + -am = ham, j + -am = jam, y + -am = yam. Point to a picture for each word, then let the child try a new first sound on their own. Short daily practice works better than one long lesson.
What age is the -am word family for?
Most children are ready for word families around ages 4 to 6 (pre-K to first grade), once they know their letter sounds. It also works for English learners (ESL/ELL) of any age who are starting to read.
Are the -am word family worksheets free?
Yes, there is a free sample of the -am worksheets (color and black-and-white) on Teachers Pay Teachers. The full set with 12 color pages, 12 black-and-white pages, a game and the video costs $4.
What word family comes after -am?
After -am, try -ag. Our short a order is -at, -an, -ap, -am, -ag, -ad.
Short a word families