Going on a word search (also known as a word hunt) is one of my absolute favorite activities to do with a book after reading it. Word hunts not only give beginning readers a reason to re-read text, but also help them to see how phonics patterns, such as word families, are applied to reading and spelling.
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A word search works particularly well with phonics-based books, like the BOB Books. We used our BOB Books Rhyming Words set, the newest set in the BOB Books collection, for this activity this time (read more about this set here).
Let’s Go on a Word Search
Before going on your word search, it is important to read the book with the child first. This ensures that the child knows how to read the words and comprehend the text, when appropriate.
Once you have read it, either on the same day or a subsequent day, tell your child, “We get to go on a word hunt!” If you are using the BOB Books Rhyming Words set, I have created free printable word search templates that correlate with them. You can download them all HERE.
Ahead of time, print off (or create your own) one of the word family word search charts. Tell your child that you’re going to re-read the book and search for words that fit that particular word family. (We used the -ed page.) I also printed off our re-reading eyes and attached it to a popsicle stick, from our Simple Writing Lessons Series, to make re-reading a little more fun.
Once the child finds a word that fits the word family pattern, ask him to write it in the chart. This is a great way for readers and spellers to see that words that rhyme are often times spelled similarly. Be picky about spelling. There is no excuse to misspell the word! 🙂
After all the words are written from the text, see if you and your child can think of more word family words that would fit the pattern and write them in the chart. Try to stick with words that are spelled using the same word pattern, as sometimes rhyming words are not spelled exactly the same (red and head). Talk about this with your child and point out the differences.
Find more FREE BOB Books Rhyming Words printables HERE.
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~Becky
hat
I just bought the BOB books at Costco, this box would go nicely with the collection sets!
I didn’t know Costco has BOB books. How much do they run?
Hat 🙂
CAT
chat! Love them for my daughters and my classroom too!
Just saw the BOB books in our school book order! Was hedging on whether we could budget for them right now but this would be a great thing for us to win!
RAT!
Secretariat! 🙂
Thank you for taking your precious time to create such great FREE printables!
I enjoy your new and fresh ideas.
Fantastic website, love it
This looks fun!
Sat!
That fat cat sat. 🙂
Love these printables. Printing as I leave a comment. Thanks
Drat!
bat I love the Bob Books!
Fat
Mat
Cat!
Sat
I’m searching for BOB abc books.. thought that would be a nice start for my kiddies to begin reading!
BAT!
Rat!
Pat!
Oh, and hello 🙂
Splat!
The cat and the rat sat on the dark brown mat waiting to hear if they won the BOB Book before falling over asleep–splat!
I love the BOB Books! I use them in my special ed classroom with one or two of my very low readers to build up their confidence.
Flat
Matt
flat, hat, sat, Matt, that, fat. When I taught school my kids loved rhyme time. Of course, now my own child does too!
chat
mat
Sat
The flat rat was afraid of the cat.
Cat
Vat
Gnat!
splat!
scat
flat
Love bob books!!
These look awesome!
and a rhyming word: scat
Hello! Would love to win these for my Kindergartener! Thank You!
We love BOB books in our house.
rat
mat / hello 🙂
Cat. I would love to have this set, thanks!
drat
Hello!!–Cat in the Hat-my favorite!!
Sweat. 🙂
Thank you for the giveaway.
This is great, thanks for the opportunity. I have a few new readers that could totally benefit!
CAT! And hello 😉 We are halfway through Set 1, loving these books!
Cat. 🙂
An awesome give away, I am sure everyone wants to be a winner.
Scrat
Fat rat, Tat, sat.
The Katz family would love this.
: )
thanks for the awesome job u do!
there was a bat that fell on a cat who ran over the rat who lived in the hat!
Sat
drat
Hello!
Drat!
Starting out homeschooling! What a blessing!
Cat! 🙂
This is fantastic!
Bat! Hi there!
Mat! and Hello
Drat
Love your freebies & give aways. So appreciate you!!!
That. 🙂 Thanks!
I can’t wait to use the BOB books with my students!!!
Mat! I love your printables, thank you!
Bat!…we love bats:)
sat
Loooove this idea! We so this without the extra fun stuff can’t wait to try
Cat
THAT!!! Hi, I’m looking forward to do all THAT with my daughter!!
Extremely helpful to use in conjunction with the Bob Books, especially for kids with reading problems and issues! I’ll use them during tutoring sessions with my online students. Thank you! 😀
Yes, they are! I’m so glad you can use it! 🙂