Step-by-step English Level 1 · Letter sounds: m, d, g, o, c, k · Lesson 2.3

Step-by-step English Level 1: The sounds of c and k

Part of the Step-by-step English Level 1 letter sounds: m, d, g, o, c, k chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

2.3

The sounds of c and k

Level 1
Know c and k can both make /k/, Find the picture for the sound /k/

The letter c makes the sound /k/ in cat, cup and cow.

The letter k makes the same sound, /k/, in kite and kettle.

So the sound /k/ can be written with c or with k. Look at the letter to find the first letter, and remember that c and k can share a sound.

Key ideas

c makes the sound /k/, as in cat, cup and cow.
k makes the sound /k/, as in kite and kettle.
Both c and k can give the same first sound.
The first letter of the name tells you which letter to write.

Worked example 2.3.1

Which picture starts with the sound /k/? Look at the first letter of each name.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
ink: i cat: c mat: m
Find the name that starts with the sound /k/. That is the picture you need.
cat starts with c
Write the answer.
cat

Check. Only cat starts with c. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Worked example 2.3.2

Look at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: c, a, s

Method. Say the name, then pick its first letter.

Say the name of the picture slowly. Find its first sound.
cat
Find the first letter of the name. The first letter stands for the first sound.
cat starts with c
Write the answer.
c

Check. c is the first letter of cat. ✓

Watch out. Use the first letter only.

Worked example 2.3.3

Which picture starts with the sound /k/? Look at the first letter of each name.

Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the right letter.

Look at the first letter of each name. The first letter gives the first sound.
ant: a cup: c goat: g
Find the name that starts with the sound /k/. That is the picture you need.
cup starts with c
Write the answer.
cup

Check. Only cup starts with c. ✓

Watch out. Look at the start of each name, not the end.

Watch out

Watch out: cat and kite start with different letters, but they start with the same sound, /k/.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the /k/ sound at the back of the mouth, with no "uh". Ask the child: which letter starts the name?

Exercise 2C Practice: the sounds of c and k

FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: c, s, a

Done

FWhich picture starts with the sound /k/? Look at the first letter of each name.

Done

FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: a, s, c

Done

FWhich picture starts with the sound /k/? Look at the first letter of each name.

Done

FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: k, a, s

Done

FWhich picture starts with the sound /k/? Look at the first letter of each name.

Done

FLook at the picture. Which letter does its name start with? Choose from: s, k, a

Done

PSWhich picture does not start with the same letter as the others?

Done

RSam says that cat starts with s. Is Sam right? Explain how you know.

Done