Phonics
Name ______________________________________ Date _______________
Phonics Sort—Hard C and Soft C (Initial Consonant)
The letter “c” can have a hard
sound, like in the words coat
and cat.
The letter “c” can have a soft
sound, like in the words cent
and cereal.
Soft c sounds like the letter “s”.
REMEMBER: When “c” is followed by “e”, “i”, or “y”—it OFTEN has a soft
sound—but not always!!
DIRECTIONS: Read each word. If it has the hard c sound, write it in
on the lines under the car.
If it has the soft c sound, write it in on the lines under the cereal.
cable
cities
center
centimeter
celebrate
cylinder
hard c
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
careful
coffee
collect
castle
calendar
circus
soft c
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
CHALLENGE: There is one word above that has both sounds of “c”. Which word is
it?________________ Can you think of any others?
©2005abcteach.com
Phonics
Name ______________________________________ Date _______________
Phonics Sort—Hard C and Soft C (Middle/ Final Consonant)
The letter “c” can have a hard
sound, like in the words
cupcake and doctor.
The letter “c” can have a soft
sound, like in the words rice
and pencil.
Soft c sounds like the letter “s”.
REMEMBER: When “c” is followed by “e”, “i”, or “y”—it OFTEN has a soft
sound—but not always!!
DIRECTIONS: Read each word. If it has the hard c sound, write it in
on the lines under the raccoon.
If it has the soft c sound, write it in on the lines under the mice.
electric
braces
octopus
face
Mexico
lettuce
hard c
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
police
decide
popcorn
factory
soccer
receive
soft c
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
CHALLENGE: There is one word above that does NOT exactly fit the “REMEMBER”
pattern. Which word is it?______________ Do you know why?
©2005abcteach.com
Phonics
Name ______________________________________ Date _______________
PAGE 1--Answer Key – Initial Consonants, Hard and Soft
(under car)
cable
calendar
castle
coffee
collect
careful
(under cereal)
celebrate
center
cities
cylinder
centimeter
circus
CHALLENGE: “Circus” has an initial “soft c” and a middle “hard c”. Other examples
include “circle” and “cycle.”
PAGE 2--Answer Key – Middle/Final Consonants, Hard and Soft
(under raccoon)
electric
Mexico
octopus
soccer
popcorn
factory
(under mice)
face
police
braces
decide
receive
lettuce
CHALLENGE: “Soccer” does not exactly fit the rule (the second “c” is followed by “e”).
Doubling the “c” makes the word keep the “hard c” sound.
©2005abcteach.com