Long and Short o

Helping young learners recognise the difference between long and short vowel sounds is a key part of early literacy instruction. This free printable worksheet focuses on the vowel o, giving Year 1 and Year 2 students the chance to explore how the same letter can make different sounds in different words.

What’s in the Worksheet?

At the top of the page, there’s a table with two columns: one for Short o words and one for Long o

words. Below the table, students will find a selection of cut-out words. Each word contains the vowel o, and students must listen carefully or sound it out to decide which column it belongs in.

They then cut out the words and glue them into the correct column. This interactive task supports both sound discrimination and word structure understanding.

Why Use This Resource?

This worksheet is an effective tool to:

• Build phonemic awareness through hands-on learning

• Reinforce the difference between long and short vowel sounds

• Develop early reading and spelling skills

• Encourage independent thinking and reasoning

• Practise fine motor skills like cutting and gluing

It works well during phonics lessons, literacy rotations, intervention groups, or even for homework practice.

Classroom-Ready and Easy to Use

No prep is needed—just print and go! Teachers can use this as a whole-class activity, a small group task, or for individual learning. It’s a simple and engaging way to strengthen students’ ability to hear and use the long and short o sounds.

Download the Free Long and Short o Worksheet

Make vowel learning fun and interactive with this free resource. Download the “Long and Short o” worksheet today and add it to your phonics collection. It's a practical and engaging way to support your students as they become more confident readers and writers.