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S-blends worksheets

Printable s-blend practice for 2nd grade: a picture chart of sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st and sw words, picture cards, add-an-s word pairs, write-the-blend, sorting and sentence sheets.

The worksheets

  1. See it allS-Blend Picture Chart for 2nd grade (s-blends), free printable

    S-Blend Picture Chart

    All seven s-blends (sk, sl, sm, sn, sp, st, sw) on one page, each with picture words and the blend shown in blue.

  2. S-Blend Picture Cards for 2nd grade (s-blends), free printable

    S-Blend Picture Cards

    Nine picture cards with the blend in blue and a blend tag on each card. Each version mixes in different words, so printing a few versions gives you a bigger deck.

  3. Add an S! worksheet for 2nd grade (s-blends), free printable

    Add an S!

    Six picture pairs, like nail and snail or top and stop, where adding an s makes a brand new word. Includes an answer key.

  4. Missing S-Blends worksheet for 2nd grade, free printable

    Missing S-Blends

    Ten pictures with the end of each word printed. Kids write the s-blend in two big boxes. Includes an answer key.

  5. Sort the S-Blends worksheet for 2nd grade, free printable

    Sort the S-Blends

    A picture bank of nine words and three blend columns with big writing lines. Includes an answer key.

  6. S-Blend Sentences worksheet for 2nd grade (s-blends), free printable

    S-Blend Sentences

    Seven real-life sentences, each with two s-blend pictures to choose from. Includes an answer key.

Print the whole packet

One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).

For the parent or teacher

What it is

An s-blend is an s sound joined to another consonant at the start of a word, like sn in snake, st in star and sw in swing. Both sounds are said, with no stop in between. Many children can say s by itself but leave it out of blends (nake for snake, top for stop), or add a little vowel between the sounds (suh-nake). Practicing s-blends helps with clear speech, and it also helps with reading and spelling, because kids learn to hear both sounds at the start of the word. Common Core links this to reading and spelling blends (RF.2.3), but the speech practice itself has no Common Core code.

What comes next

Try three-letter blends like str (string), spr (spring) and spl (splash), or use the S articulation set for more practice with s alone.

How to teach it

  • Start with a long s, then slide right into the next sound with no break. Say sssss-nake, then make the s shorter until it's just snake.
  • Use the add-an-s pairs. Saying nail and then snail shows your child that the s really changes the word.
  • Practice one or two blends at a time before mixing them.
  • Go from words to sentences. When the blend is clear in words, read the sentences out loud.
  • If your child is working with a speech-language pathologist, start with the blends they are practicing.

Common mistakes

  • Dropping the s (nake for snake). Go back to a long sssss before the word.
  • Adding a vowel (suh-nail). Keep the s and the next sound touching, like a train with no gap between the cars.
  • Writing only one letter of the blend (sake for snake). Say the word slowly and listen for both sounds.
  • Thinking sc and sk are different sounds. Scarf and skate both start with the same sk sound.
  • If your child is hard to understand or not improving, ask a speech-language pathologist for a check.