ou Words

What’s Included?

The worksheet is organised into two neat columns:

• ou – as in loud, found, shout, mountain

• ow – as in cow, how, brown, flower

Each column features decodable words with clear spelling patterns, allowing students to see how the /ou/ sound is represented in different ways.

 

Why Teach the /ou/ Sound This Way?

The /ou/ sound appears frequently in everyday words, but the spelling can be confusing for young learners. This worksheet helps students:

• Recognise that the same sound can be spelled in more than one way

• Improve decoding skills through pattern recognition

• Build a strong foundation for spelling and reading fluency

• Develop confidence when writing unfamiliar /ou/ words

 

Classroom and Home Uses

There are lots of easy and engaging ways to use this worksheet:

• Sound Sorting: Have students cut out the words and sort them into the correct column.

• Highlight the Grapheme: Let students use coloured pencils to highlight the ou and ow digraphs in each word.

• Word of the Day: Pick one word from each column to focus on in a daily warm-up.

• Illustrate and Match: Students draw pictures for each word to reinforce meaning and understanding.

 

Extend the Learning

To deepen understanding and get even more value from the resource, try these extension activities:

• Write a Story: Ask students to write a short story or paragraph using at least one word from each column.

• Phonics Scavenger Hunt: Look for /ou/ words in books, signs, or around the classroom.

• Partner Practice: Students quiz each other on reading and spelling the /ou/ and /ow/ words.

 

Download the Free /ou/ Words Worksheet

Phonics instruction should be fun, focused, and effective—and this worksheet ticks all the boxes. Whether you’re in the classroom or supporting learners at home, our /ou/ Words worksheet is a valuable tool for teaching one of the most common vowel sounds in English.