1 Decodable Reading Passage
A short, decodable story embedding compound words words. Students read the passage then highlight all the target words.
Today is a big day for Pip the pig. It is his birthday! His friend Kate the squirrel wanted to give him a sweet treat. She baked a tall stack of walnut pancakes.
Kate put them in her backpack and set off for the farm. She went past the red mailbox and the wooden sandbox. Soon, she reached the muddy pigpen. Pip was running in the mud.
"Happy birthday, Pip!" Kate called out. She stepped into the pen, but she slipped. The warm pancakes fell out of the backpack and into the dark, wet muck.
"Oh no!" said Kate, looking down at the muddy mess. "Your birthday pancakes are in the mud!"
"It is ok," said Pip with a kind smile. "We can make more."
Pip and Kate went to Kate's house. They walked uphill to the hilltop where Kate lived. Kate unlocked the gate, and they went up to the house.
Inside the kitchen, they set to work. Kate got a big bowl and began mixing. Pip helped her stir the batter. They put it into a hot pan. "These will be the best," said Pip. They took turns flipping the pancakes. Soon, the room smelled like sweet walnuts.
When the pancakes were done, Pip wanted a special spot for the birthday meal. "We can eat out by the big tree," said Kate. By the big tree, they found an old bathtub in the yard. It was turned over and flat on top.
Pip used a brush to sweep off the dust and cobwebs. Now the bathtub was a perfect, clean table! Kate and Pip sat next to the bathtub table. They ate the warm pancakes together.
"This is a perfect birthday meal," Kate said with a smile.
Pip grinned. "This is a wonderful birthday," he said. "Next time, I will come out of the mud to get my pancakes!"
They stayed on the hilltop and played games until sunset.
This story is part of Level 5. Get all 25 Level 5 illustrated mini-books in one print-ready file ($14) →
2 Word Sort
Cut out the word cards and sort them into the correct columns: Compound Words vs One Small Word.
3 Phrasing Practice Cards
Practice reading these phrases for fluency. Cut out the cards and read them quickly and smoothly.
4 RAN Chart (Rapid Naming)
Read each word in the grid as quickly as you can. Time yourself and try to beat your best time!
5 Word Search
Find and circle the compound words words hidden in the grid. Words go across, down, and diagonally — a fun way to reinforce compound words word recognition.
📖 More Compound Words Stories
A new decodable story with the same compound words sounds — each comes with its own set of worksheets.
