This CVC Crossword Puzzle is sure to make you look twice at teaching decoding words. Its fun to see a different aspect in training students the phonological awareness they need when it comes to fundamental reading. Students will be engaged in dragging letters to form words on a crossword puzzle element. Have fun with your little ones as they see how exciting reading can be.

What is it? In this phonemic awareness activity students will be engaged to search for the letters that formulates the existing picture in the down and across section.

Who is it for? This is primarily for early readers who are just beginning to decode words. Students have acquired the essential skills of letter recognition in the sounds that each letter makes, then this activity is perfect for blending the sounds together to form words.

How to play it? Students will use the picture in the across and down section as clues to determine the words that goes in the crossword puzzle. Once each picture is identified, students will click and drag the Christmas elements with letters (Santa hats, gifts, stockings, ornaments, and peppermint candy) to formulate the CVC words that goes in the crossword puzzle. There are 10 words for each puzzle.

How to set it up?

No Prep – The wonderful thing about using Boom Cards is that you don’t have to worry about setting it up. You are good to go if you have Internet service on your technology device. No need to cut, paste, or laminate countless number of papers. No need to print; even though Boom provides that option.

Immediate Feedback – This is one of the best features of Boom Learning. Once answers are picked, Boom provides quick responses with red circles indicating incorrect answers and green circles for correct answers. Drop zones are indicated by blue boxes to make it easy for students to see where things should be placed.

Self-Grading - Tracking progress on Boom is self-explanatory. Records are stored into the system automatically to make grading a breeze. Everything from the time they started the activity to the incorrect answers; are all in display screen for teachers to view.

How to use it? These digital task cards can be used in the language and reading center. It promotes spelling, phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and picture association. 

To use Boom Cards, you must be connected to the Internet. Boom Cards play on modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge). Apps are available for modern Android, iPads, iPhones, and Kindle Fires. For security and privacy, adults must have a Boom Learning account to use and assign Boom Cards. You will be able to assign the Boom Cards you are buying with "Fast Pins," (a form of play that gives instant feedback to students for self-grading Boom Cards). For assignment options that report student progress back to you, you will need to purchase a premium account. If you are new to Boom Learning, you will be offered a free trial of our premium account. Read here for details: http://bit.ly/BoomTrial.

What is included? 5 Interactive digital task cards. 3 instructional audio, 50 CVC words with matching pictures.

Why is it a great activity? First of all, creating this activity was so much fun. It is quite unusual to see crossword puzzle created with this style. I believe that students will adore dragging and dropping each Christmas objects with letters into the boxes. These engaging Boom Cards promotes reading and listening skills. The most important factor of phonemic awareness is the ability to listen to individual sounds and being able to connect them to other sounds of the letters and then eventually creating words. This definitely will get your kids reading in no time.