Literacy Card Game for CVC short vowels a-e-i-o-u: Plays like UNO!

This beginning literacy game plays like UNO and gives your students repeated practice with 80 different CVC short vowel words (a–e–i–o–u). To play a card, students must correctly read, say, or decode the CVC word printed on it—making every turn an opportunity to strengthen phonics and early reading skills.

Perfect for kindergarten, first grade, and ESL/ELL learners, this fun and fast-paced phonics activity supports: decoding, short vowel recognition, fluency development, and word family practice. Use it during literacy centers, small group instruction, reading intervention, or as an engaging warm-up activity. Teachers love how easy it is to prep—and students love how fun it is to play!

What’s Included

• 80 CVC short vowel cards (short a, e, i, o, u)
• Each card features 1–10 numbers and four card colors
• 4 DRAW TWO cards — next player draws two
• 4 SKIP cards — skip the next player
• 4 REVERSE cards — reverse player order
• 4 WILD cards — change the color

How to Use This Resource

This is a digital download. No physical product will be shipped.

1. Print the cards on cardstock for durability.
2. Lamination is recommended for year-round reuse.
3. Cut out the cards and store them in a box or pouch.
4. Play in small groups, literacy centers, or as a phonics warm-up.

Skills Practiced

• CVC decoding & early reading
• Short vowel identification
• Fluency with simple word families
• Listening & speaking skills
• Turn-taking and cooperative play

Perfect for Teachers Searching For:

• CVC word games for beginners
• Short vowel phonics activities
• Kindergarten reading centers
• Printable phonics card games
• ESL/ELL decoding practice
• UNO-style literacy games
• Hands-on early reading intervention tools
• Low-prep phonics activities

Purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers

Prefer shopping on TpT? Click here to purchase the Literacy Card Game for CVC short vowels on TPT

Pair It With These Hot Chocolate Teachables Resources

For more CVC decoding and fluency practice, pair this card game with:

• CVC Short A – I Have, Who Has? Card Game
• CVC Word Fluency Roll & Read Board Games (Short A–E–I–O–U)

More Phonics Ideas

Looking for additional support for early readers? Check out this blog post featuring fun Sight Word Games that keep students engaged while practicing phonics.