A sorting activity for students to practice putting words in alphabetical order up to the third letter.

Print out the resource on cardstock and cut out the cards along the dotted lines. Store the instruction sheet, answer key, and word cards in a resealable bag to be used again and again, year after year!

How to Use This Resource in the Classroom:

• It can be used by individual students as a reading center activity by shuffling the cards and placing them in alphabetical order.
• It can be used by two students as a reading center activity. Each student gets 6 cards and they take turns putting the cards down in alphabetical order. The student to run out of cards first wins.
• It can be used as a whole-class active game. Split the class into two groups and have them line up by groups on one side of the room. Each group will have its own set of sorting cards placed face down on the floor at the front of their line. When the teacher says, “Go!” the first player of each group will grab the first sorting card, run to the other side of the room, and place the card face up on the ground. They will run back to their group and tag the next person in line. That player will grab the top sorting card, run to the other side of the room, and place their card where it belongs in alphabetical order. Play will continue until each group has played all of their cards. The team to have their cards played in the correct order first wins.

Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or Google slides version. An answer key is included in the download.

This resource was created by Kelli Goffredi, a teacher in Texas and a Teach Starter Collaborator.

Looking for the other sets of this resource? Download them below!

teaching resource

Alphabetical Order Card Sort - Set 1

A set of word cards to practice putting words in alphabetical order.

teaching resource

Alphabetical Order Card Sort - Set 2

A set of word cards to practice putting words in alphabetical order.