This word study activity can be used to sort words for a variety of patterns, but we choose to use it for our long vowel units. It is basically a picture sort.

Inside a mini treasure chest is a collection of pictures that all have common long vowel sounds. In the photo of the activity shown here, all of the pictures are long a words that fall into one of the long a patterns: a_e, ai, ay, eigh.

The words are actually written on the back of the pictures, but students are asked to look at the word AFTER they make a spelling prediction for the object shown on the picture. The word is then added to the correct column on the recording sheet. The game is called "Trash or Treasure?" because students will also find five words that are not long a words that must be recorded in the "trash" column.

Download the long a "Trash or Treasure" recording sheet [link to ] and long a word sort pictures.