Create worksheets with pictures of familiar items that begin with the short vowel sound you are studying. For instance, if you're teaching "a," include a picture of an apple, an ant and an alligator. At the bottom of the page, include some traceable "a" letters so that the kids can practice forming the letter as they say the names of the items. Your students can have fun coloring the pictures as they learn. The next worksheet should be pictures of items that have the short "a" in the middle--for example, "bat," "cat" and "man."
Use picture cards showing items with a variety of short vowel sounds, such as a pig, a cat, a sun, an egg and a top. Make sure that there are several examples of each vowel sound. Ask your students to sort the pictures according into five piles according to their vowel sounds.
Include short vowel words in a word search grid. Use a separate grid for each vowel sound. Include a list of the included words at the bottom of the page so that even beginning readers can search for them. Ask the students to circle the words as they find them.
Ask your students to move about the classroom and find three things that include a short “a” sound. When each student has found three, have the class sit down while you call on each student in turn to give their three items. Write them down on the board as they’re called out to show the printed word that matches the object. Do this scavenger hunt for each vowel.