Read and Match Game
Read and Match is a free early reading game. Children read a short decodable phrase or sentence, such as “a big red hat” or “The cat is on the box”, and tap the picture that matches. The other pictures differ by just one detail, so every word counts.
Read and Match
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- Ages
- 5–7
- School years
- Foundation–Year 2
- Skills
- Reading CVC words by blending the sounds (decoding), Reading common sight words such as the, is, two and little, Reading for meaning, not just guessing from the first word
- Time
- 5 minutes a game
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Read and Match
- Choose a level and press Play. Level 1 uses short words you can sound out, Level 2 adds sight words, and Level 3 has sentences about where things are.
- Read the words at the top. Then look at the pictures and tap the one that matches exactly. You can also press 1, 2, 3 or 4 on a keyboard.
- The pictures are nearly the same, but one thing is different in each: the thing, its colour, its size, how many there are, or where it is. Read every word!
- If you pick the wrong picture, the word that tells them apart lights up, so you can read it again and try once more. Stuck on a word? Press Hear it to hear the sentence.
What your child learns
- Reading CVC words by blending the sounds (decoding)
- Reading common sight words such as the, is, two and little
- Reading for meaning, not just guessing from the first word
- Understanding describing words: big, little and colour words
- Understanding position words: on, under, in and next to
- Noticing small details and checking every word
About Read and Match
Read and Match checks the most important early reading skill: does the child understand what they read? Each phrase is built from words a beginner can sound out, then sight words, then position words. The pictures are designed so that only careful reading works. In “a big red hat”, one picture shows a small red hat, one a big blue hat and one a big red cap, so the child has to read the size, the colour word and the thing itself. This is a good fit for Foundation and Year 1, and for children in Year 2 who still need practice reading for meaning.
The sentence is not read aloud automatically, because reading it is the point, but a Hear it button is there for any word that is still too tricky. When a child taps the wrong picture, the game gently highlights the word that shows the difference and says what that picture shows instead, so mistakes turn into teaching moments. There is no timer, and every sentence ends with the right picture found.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Foundation | Level 1: CVC phrases such as a big red hat and six red pens |
| Year 1 | Level 2: sight words such as the, two, blue and little, then Level 3 sentences with on, under, in and next to |
| Year 2 | Level 3 for practice in reading every word carefully |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a decodable sentence?
A decodable sentence uses words a child can sound out with the phonics they know, such as cat, big and red, plus a few sight words they have learnt, such as the and is. Level 1 uses only short CVC words, so a beginner can read every word.
Why are the pictures so similar?
Each wrong picture changes just one thing, such as the size, the colour, the number or the position. That means children cannot guess from one word or from the picture. They have to read the whole phrase, which builds real reading comprehension.
Does the game read the sentence aloud?
Only when your child presses Hear it. The aim is for children to read the words themselves. Hearing the sentence is a good support for a tricky word, and the game reads the sentence out after the right picture is found.
What are sight words?
Sight words are common words that children learn to recognise quickly, often because they are hard to sound out, such as the, are, two and yellow. Level 2 mixes them with easy CVC words.
Which level should my child start on?
Start on Level 1 if your child is just beginning to blend sounds into words. Move to Level 2 when they know common sight words, and Level 3 when they can read short sentences.
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Help your child shine in English
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