DIY Word Family Sliders

Teaching students to identify chunks in words is an important step in learning to

read. Identifying these chunks helps to build fluency as the student will not have to stop
and blend each individual sound. Word families are groups of words that share the same
ending. For example, the words: can, Dan, fan, man, pan, ran, tan, and van all belong to
the -an word family. Learning these chunks and patterns within words also helps
students spell when writing words. Word Sliders and Word Wheels are helpful when
introducing word families. Try this little freebie when teaching word families in your
classroom.
To assemble the word family sliders you will need:

6 8 1/2x 11 full sheet labels (Avery 48165)

18 Glidden 35 paint sample cards (if you want to color coordinate your pictures, I
listed the paint sample colors on the last page of the pdf)

4 sheets of cardstock.

1. Print pages 1-6 of the attached pdf on the full sheet labels and pages 7-10 on cardstock.

Click HERE to download the pdf of the cards and letter

strips
2. Cut word cards along the dotted line and cut out the letter strips
3. Peel the backing from the word cards and place over color coordinating paint sample.

4. With an Exacto knife, cut a line on the dotted lines on the cards.

5. Weave the corresponding letter strips though the slits. The colors of the strips should
match the card and the word family is typed toward the bottom.

When you assemble this activity, you will have 18 Word Family Sliders to use during your
small group intervention!