Blend it — tap a word
Tap a card: you hear the first sound, then it joins -en to make the word. Say the whole word together.
▶ Watch
Read It Out! — the class reads each -en word aloud, and each word comes out of the book in color. About 4 minutes.
🎮 Play — free
Find the hidden -en 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: 14 color pages, 14 black-and-white pages, the game and the video for $4.
A 10-minute -en lesson
- Watch the video together and read each word with the class.
- Tap the cards above: say the first sound, then -en, 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 -en word family
What are the -en word family words?
The -en word family is a group of short e words that all end in -en: hen, pen, ten and men. They are CVC words (consonant, vowel, consonant), so a child who can read -en can read every word in the family by changing only the first sound.
How do I teach the -en word family to a kindergartener?
Say the ending first (/en/), then put one first sound in front and blend: h + -en = hen, p + -en = pen, t + -en = ten. 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 -en 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 -en word family worksheets free?
Yes, there is a free sample of the -en worksheets (color and black-and-white) on Teachers Pay Teachers. The full set with 14 color pages, 14 black-and-white pages, a game and the video costs $4.
What word family comes after -en?
Next in our short e order comes -et (pet, wet, vet, jet, net).
Short e word families