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Sight word bingo

Every card different, ready to print for a group or a whole class.

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Your cards

Where the words come from
39 themes, grouped by kind.
24 to 40 from this theme
1 to 120, all different
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Your cardsCard 1 of 12

Sight Word Bingo, card 1

SHOULDWHEREYOUWHICHALWAYSBEFOREFROMABOUTTHISEVERYMANYSAIDFREEWHATTHINKTHEIRUNDERTHEANDLITTLEFIRSTPEOPLECOULDWATERAFTER

Created for free at puzzleandprint.com

Sight Word Bingo, call list

Tick each word as you call it. 40 words in play.

  1. WOULD
  2. YOU
  3. AFTER
  4. THE
  5. BEFORE
  6. AROUND
  7. EVERY
  8. THERE
  9. FIRST
  10. PEOPLE
  11. AND
  12. LITTLE
  13. BETWEEN
  14. FROM
  15. ALWAYS
  16. MANY
  17. WERE
  18. COULD
  19. THIS
  20. HAVE
  21. THROUGH
  22. WHERE
  23. WHICH
  24. ANOTHER
  25. SAID
  26. THAT
  27. NEVER
  28. WHEN
  29. WHAT
  30. UNDER
  31. WITH
  32. THEY
  33. ABOUT
  34. THOSE
  35. BECAUSE
  36. WATER
  37. THINK
  38. SHOULD
  39. WAS
  40. THEIR

Created for free at puzzleandprint.com

Or take a set that is already made

Four sets sized for different groups. Every card within a set is different, and they print two to a page.

Small group6 cards · 5 × 5Download PDF ↓Half class15 cards · 5 × 5Download PDF ↓Whole class30 cards · 5 × 5Download PDF ↓Young children12 cards · 3 × 3Download PDF ↓

Sight word bingo works for a reason that is easy to miss: calling a word out loud forces every child to actually read the words on their card rather than recognise the shape of one they already know. That is a different and more useful exercise than a flashcard round, and it holds attention far longer.

The sets here are built from high-frequency words, the ones that appear constantly and often cannot be sounded out, which is exactly why they have to be recognised on sight. There are four ready-made sets sized for a small group, half a class, a whole class of thirty, and a shorter 3 × 3 version for the youngest children.

The 3 × 3 is worth trying with four and five year olds. Nine squares is short enough to finish before attention runs out, and finishing is most of the point at that age.

If you would rather use the words you are teaching this week, the maker takes your own list. Every card in a set is checked against the others, so no two children ever hold the same card.

Common questions

Why is bingo better than flashcards for sight words?

Because a call forces every child to read every word on their card rather than recognise one they already know by its shape. That is a different exercise from a flashcard round, and it holds attention considerably longer.

What suits a four or five year old?

The 3 × 3 set. Nine squares is short enough to finish before attention runs out, and at that age finishing is most of the point. The 5 × 5 sets are sized for a small group, half a class and a full thirty.

How many words do I need?

At least 24 for a 5 × 5 card, or nine for a 3 × 3. The 5 × 5 needs 24 rather than 25 because the middle square is free. Around 30 to 40 words gives genuinely varied cards.

Are the cards really all different?

Yes. Each card is checked against every card already in the set before it is added, so duplicates cannot slip through. If your word list is too small to make the number you asked for, the tool tells you how many are actually possible rather than quietly repeating.

Is there a free square?

On the 5 × 5 cards, in the middle, as usual. The 3 × 3 cards do not have one, with only nine squares a free one makes the game too short.

How many cards can I make at once?

Up to 40 in a single PDF, which covers most classes and parties. They print two to a page at the standard size.

Can I use my own words?

Yes, choose Write my own and type or paste your list. Guest names, spelling words, vocabulary terms, anything. Your list stays in your browser and is never sent to us.

Do I need an account?

No sign-up, no email, no watermark on the printed cards.