This Time for Fall Rebus Worksheet gives 1st graders an autumn story to read aloud, with pictures standing in for tree, leaf, sun, and apple. An answer key is included for quick fluency practice.
This Snake Rebus Worksheet gives 1st graders a picture-supported story to read aloud, then four pictures to label with the matching word. Answer key included, so fluency practice takes almost no prep.
This Mouse Wants Cheese Rebus Worksheet lets 1st graders read a short story with pictures standing in for three words, then write each word on its own card. Answer key included for quick, no-prep fluency practice.
A sunny Picnic Day rebus worksheet that helps preschoolers read picture sentences, match pictures to words, and build early reading confidence. Answer key included.
Play the Left and Right Simon Says Opposites Activity with preschool to 1st grade: move picture cards to the correct side of the mat. Practice page and answer key included.
Read the words, read the pictures!
A rebus is a story or sentence where some words are swapped for little pictures. Kids read the words, then "read" each picture as a word: a drawing of a cat in a sentence is read as "cat." Rebus stories are a favorite with early readers because pictures carry the hard words, so kids can read a whole story with confidence. They build left-to-right tracking, sight word practice and comprehension at the same time. The click comes when a beginning reader finishes a rebus page and realizes, "I just read a whole story by myself!"
Rebus reading is a confidence booster for new readers. These moves help kids get the most out of every picture-packed page.
Read the rebus aloud while you sweep your finger under each word and tap each picture. Kids join in on the pictures the first time, then read more and more on their own. Tracking with a finger keeps eyes moving left to right.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it withSnake Rebus WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Before reading, go through every picture and agree on its word: is it "mouse" or "rat"? Then kids read the story. Settling the picture words first means they can focus on the printed words.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withMouse Wants Cheese Rebus WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Add a new seasonal rebus each week and let kids reread the old ones in a book bin. Rereading favorite stories builds fluency, and the pictures keep it easy enough to be fun.
Why it works: short practice spread over several days beats one long session, according to a large review of learning research (Dunlosky and colleagues, 2013).
Try it withTime for Fall Rebus WorksheetWorksheetsOpen it →Rebus stories are puzzles in disguise. These ideas keep the fun going.
WorksheetsRead the picnic rebus on a blanket with a pretend basket. Kids hold up a snack picture every time it shows up.
Open Picnic Day Rebus Worksheet →
ActivitiesKids write a sentence and swap one word for a drawing. Partners read each other's rebus out loud.
Open Left and Right Simon Says Opposites Activity →Teacher favorites right now: Time for Fall Rebus Worksheet, Snake Rebus Worksheet and Mouse Wants Cheese Rebus Worksheet.
A rebus story uses small pictures in place of some words. Kids read the printed words and say the picture names as words, so they can read a full story even before they know every word.
Rebus stories are great for preschool, kindergarten and first grade. They help early readers track print and practice sight words while pictures carry the harder words.
They build confidence, left-to-right tracking and sight word practice. Because the story makes sense, kids also practice comprehension while they read.
Read one together and let your child read the pictures, then more of the words. Try writing a family rebus note on the fridge, like "I love you" with a heart for love.
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