This Grade 1 reading programme for South Africa grows from single sounds to blending, sight words and reading short sentences on their own — CAPS-aligned phonics.
Start with single vowel sounds, blend them into words, then build up to reading and writing your first sentences and a short story.
- 1Vowels & First Words0/5
- 2Building Words0/4
- 3Trickier Sounds0/5
- 4Reading & Writing0/4
- 5Consonant Blends0/7
- 6Word Families0/7
- 7More Sight Words0/7
- 8Reading Longer Stories0/7
Vowels & First Words
Short vowel sounds, CVC blending and your first sight words
Blend It: CVC Words
Consonant-Vowel-Consonant words
Sight Words: Set 1
he, she, we, me, my, you, are, was, said, have
Recap: Vowels & First Words
Review before your first test.
Stage Test: Vowels & First Words
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Building Words
Word families and reading your first sentence
Word Families: -an, -in, -og
Build the family
Reading My First Sentence
Simple 3-word sentences
Recap: Building Words
Review before the test.
Stage Test: Building Words
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Trickier Sounds
Digraphs, more sight words and the magic silent e
Digraphs: sh, ch, th
Sounds made by two letters together
Sight Words: Set 2
they, with, his, her, do, did, but, not, all, one
Long Vowel: Silent E
The magic e makes the vowel say its name
Recap: Trickier Sounds
Review before the test.
Stage Test: Trickier Sounds
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Reading & Writing
Read a short story and build your own sentence
Reading a Short Story
A simple 5-sentence illustrated story
Build a Sentence
Word scramble: rearrange 3-4 words
Recap: Reading & Writing
Review before the final test.
Stage Test: Reading & Writing
Pass this test to finish the path.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Consonant Blends
Blend two letters together and read a blends story
Consonant Blends: fr, st, pl, sl
Two letters that blend into one smooth sound
Build It: flag
Blend f-l-a-g to build the word
Build It: stop
Blend s-t-o-p to build the word
Read: The Frog and the Crab
Read a story full of blends
Read & Answer: The Frog and the Crab
Answer questions about the story
Recap: Consonant Blends
Remember how blends work before the test.
Stage Test: Consonant Blends
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Word Families
Build words that belong to the same rhyming family
Build It: hat (-at family)
Build a word in the -at family
Build It: top (-op family)
Build a word in the -op family
Rhyming Families
Match words that rhyme
Match the Word to the Picture
Read the word and find its picture
Read: The Cat on the Mat
Read a story full of the -at family
Recap: Word Families
Words in a family rhyme and share letters.
Stage Test: Word Families
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
More Sight Words
Learn more everyday words and read them in a story
Sight Words: Set 3
come, some, who, what, when
Sight Words: Set 4
there, here, little, big, play
Sight Words: Set 5
good, new, from, want, then
Match the Meaning
Match each word to what it means
Read: Come and Play
Read a story using your sight words
Recap: More Sight Words
Read these words fast, without sounding them out.
Stage Test: More Sight Words
Pass this test to unlock the next stage.
Stage Test · Pass 70%
Reading Longer Stories
Read longer stories on your own and answer questions
Read: Sam's Red Kite
Read a longer story on your own
Read & Answer: Sam's Red Kite
Answer questions about Sam's kite
Read: At the Pet Shop
Read a story about a trip to the pet shop
Read & Answer: At the Pet Shop
Answer questions about the pet shop
Build a Sentence
Put the words in the right order
Recap: Reading Longer Stories
You can read whole stories now!
Stage Test: Reading Longer Stories
Pass this test to finish the path.
Stage Test · Pass 70%Reading Books
Grade-appropriate readers that put your child's new skills to work — real books to read, with a quick check at the end of each one. Browse the full family readers library.
The Fat Cat
A cat, a mat and a nap.
Level 1 · CVC words
Big Red Bus
Hop on the bus with Sam.
Level 1 · CVC words
The Wet Dog
Rex jumps in the mud!
Level 2 · Short vowels
Ten Red Hens
Count the hens on the farm.
Level 2 · Short vowels
The Ship Trip
A sea trip with sh and ch sounds.
Level 3 · Digraphs
The Lost Sock
Where can the red sock be?
Level 3 · Sight words
Fun in the Sun
A day at the park.
Level 4 · Simple sentences
The Cake Mistake
Silent e saves the day!
Level 4 · Silent e
The Pin and the Bin
Word family fun: -in!
Term 2 · Word families
The Black Flag
Blends bl, fl and sl on the beach.
Term 3 · Blends bl/fl/sl
The Fish Wish
Sh at the end: fish, wish, splash!
Term 4 · Digraph endings
One Hen, Two Hens
Plurals: add s and es!
Term 4 · Plurals
Where Is My Hat?
Practise sight words: where, my, said.
Stage 7 · Sight words
The Snail Mail
A little letter, a long, slow trip.
Stage 8 · Longer sentences
Ride the Bike, Mike!
Silent e makes i say its name.
Stage 8 · Silent e
The Best Nest
A little bird builds a big home.
Stage 8 · Story reading
The Duck and the Truck
ck endings quack along!
Level 17 · ck endings
The Bee and the Moon
Long -ee and -oo words.
Level 18 · -ee/-oo words
The Ball by the Wall
The -all and -ell families.
Level 19 · -all/-ell families
The Queen's Quilt
Quick qu words at the palace.
Level 20 · qu words
Zola's Rabbit
Two-syllable words hop along.
Level 21 · Two-syllable words
A Week with Gogo
The days of the week sight words.
Level 22 · Days of the week
What Is in the Box?
Reading fun question sentences.
Level 23 · Question sentences
The Big Braai Day
A revision story with all our sounds!
Level 24 · Revision story