Compound Words
Recognise and spell compound words by identifying the two component words that combine to form a single word
Lesson
Set out your lesson
“A compound word is two smaller words joined to make one word. Sunshine is sun + shine. We spot the parts and put parts together.”
Bring to the table
- Ready cards: sun, shine, sunshine, foot, ball, football, rain, bow, rainbow
- Paper and marker
Extra for the adult
Worked example. sunshine = sun + shine. football = foot + ball. rainbow = rain + bow.
Optional challenge. From star and fish, build starfish and say both parts before writing the compound.
What to notice. Save a parent note such as “sunshine = sun + shine; built rainbow.”
Share and support
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Teaching approaches
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1 approach
A compound word is two smaller words joined to make one word. Sunshine is sun + shine. We spot the parts and put parts together.
Spend about 10–15 minutes breaking and building compound words with ready cards.
Family records and proof options
Keep a record of your learning
Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.
Learning resources
Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.
UF Literacy Institute · Practice link — not the full lesson
Instructional Activities
Before you open · source notes
Free UFLI instructional-activity catalogue useful for compound-word decoding practice. An adult picks one activity; the page is a catalogue, not a single game.
Free literacy activities, no sign-in. An adult picks one activity.
Before you openAsk the learner to read or build one compound word from an adult-chosen activity.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public UF Literacy Institute page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this page. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult must choose an appropriate lesson or activity for the learner.
UF Literacy Institute. “Instructional Activities.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Identify the two words in a compound (e.g. 'sunshine' = 'sun' + 'shine')
- Spell compound words by combining known words
- Create compound words from given word pairs
“Can your child look at a word like 'sunshine' or 'football' and spot the two smaller words hiding inside it?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- English
- Domain
- Phonics & Word Reading
- Age range
- Ages 5–8
Standards