Birthday Flash Cards

How to Teach Birthday Vocabulary

Birthdays are one of children’s favorite things to talk and write about, and these birthday flash cards give them the words to do it. The set has 24 bright watercolor picture cards for birthday words like cake, candles, balloons, presents, party hat and piñata. Matching a clear picture to its printed word helps young children build vocabulary, practice reading simple words and find just the right word when they write a birthday story.

Each card is a fold-over card: the picture is on the front and the word is on the back, so no double-sided printing is needed. Print the sheets one-sided, fold each sheet on the center line and cut on the dashed lines. Show the picture, ask the child to name it, then flip the card to check the word and read it together. The cards work for whole-class vocabulary, small groups, a writing center or a birthday bulletin board. These preschool birthdays flash cards also suit older students, who can use the words in sentences and stories. A 1st grade practice worksheet and answer keys are included.

What’s Included

• A colorful cover page
• A How to Use page with materials, prep steps and simple directions
• 24 fold-over birthday picture cards on eight sheets, with the word on the back of each card
• A practice worksheet: read the word and circle the matching picture
• A card list answer key and an answer key for the practice worksheet

Here are three reasons these cards help kids. First, every word has a picture, so even pre-readers can name the cards and begin to connect pictures with print. Second, birthday words are words children already care about, which makes practice feel like a party. Third, the practice page checks that students can read each word on its own and match it to the right picture.

Teachers and parents can extend the fun by sorting the cards into things to eat and things to play with, by making a second set for a memory game, or by placing the cards in a writing center so children can write about their own birthdays. The birthday flash cards pair well with the resources below.

Related Resources

• Emma’s Birthday Party Reading Comprehension Worksheet
• Adjective Birthday Party Worksheet
• Birthday Candles Writing Paper
• Valentine’s Day Song