Learn Spelling Rules: 'i' Before 'e' Except After 'c' (7-11 years) - Activity Pack (2)

For children aged 7 to 11, Challenge 13 of the 'Learn Spelling Rules' Activity Pack focuses on a tricky aspect of English spelling: words with silent letters. Zoggy, the friendly guide, encourages learners to be particularly mindful of these sneaky characters that are heard not in speech but must be remembered when writing. The challenge includes wrestling with words where the knees and wrists might be easily pronounced, but the 'k' and 'w' remain hushed on paper.

In this challenge, attention is drawn to the silent 'o' found in certain word patterns. Learners are prompted to read and spell words like 'countryside', 'famous', and 'tourist', where the 'ou' combination is used, but the 'o' stays quiet, leaving the 'u' to take on an 'oo' sound. The activity also includes a 'Read Copy Cover & Spell' section, which lists words such as 'knowledge', 'wrist', and 'thumb', all featuring silent letters that must be memorised. To reinforce understanding, students are then tested on their ability to identify silent letters in words like 'sign' and 'calm', underlining the silent components to demonstrate their grasp of this spelling rule.