First Grade · Reading · week 13

Silent E with U: Cub to Cube

Extend the silent-e pattern to u_e, reading words where a silent e makes the u say its own name.

You have now met a_e, i_e, and o_e. Today is the last new vowel: u_e. "Cub" has a short u. Add a silent e -- "cube" -- and the u says its name: "you."

Some u_e words say "you" (like cube) and some say "oo" (like June). Either way, the job of the silent e is the same: it reaches back and changes the vowel.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Point out the two ways u_e can sound (cube says "you," June says "oo") so your child is not surprised by the difference.
  • Review all four silent-e vowels learned so far by reading one pair from each: cape, kite, hope, cube.
  • Keep using the cover-the-e trick to show the short word hiding inside the long one.
  • Let your child sort a mixed pile of a_e, i_e, o_e, and u_e cards by vowel.
Talk about it:
  • What are the two sounds you might hear for u_e?
  • Which silent-e word is your favorite so far?
  • Can you name all four silent-e patterns you know now?

Mastery looks like: They read u_e words correctly, recognizing both the "you" and "oo" sounds, and name all four silent-e vowels.

Common stumbles: Expecting every u_e word to sound like "you" and being thrown off by words like "June" that say "oo."

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Silent EAdd a silent E and watch the vowel say its name — cap → cape.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Reading for this learner.
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