Kindergarten Sight Words — Printable No-Prep Worksheet

This worksheet provides focused practice for early readers on the sight words "like" and "the." Students build foundational literacy skills by matching word cards to master words. It’s a straightforward activity designed to reinforce high-frequency word recognition in a clear format, perfect for young learners.

At a Glance

• Grade: K–1 · Subject: ELA
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.C — Read common high-frequency words by sight.
• Skill Focus: Sight Word Recognition
• Format: 1 page · 10 problems · PDF
• Best For: Independent practice or literacy centers
• Time: 5–10 minutes

What's Inside

This single-page PDF contains one matching activity. Two target sight words, "like" and "the," are displayed at the top. Below, ten word cards are available for students to match. The layout is simple and intuitive. The activity is self-correcting, so no answer key is provided.

Zero-Prep Workflow

This resource is built for efficiency. Print (under 1 minute): The single-page format prints in seconds. Distribute (1 minute): Hand out for immediate use. Review (2 minutes): Quickly check student work or have them read their matches aloud. Total teacher time is under five minutes, making it an ideal resource for substitute plans.

Standards Alignment

This worksheet supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.C, which requires students to read common high-frequency words by sight. It provides repeated exposure to "like" and "the," helping students build automaticity. The standard code can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum maps.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet for independent practice after a direct instruction lesson. It also works well in a literacy center rotation. For a quick formative assessment, listen as a student says each word while pointing to the match. The activity should take students between 5 and 10 minutes to complete.

Who It's For

This is for Kindergarten students learning sight words, or as a review for first graders. It serves as an intervention for any student struggling with these high-frequency words. Pair this worksheet with a simple text that features the words "like" and "the" to connect the skill to authentic reading.

This resource provides targeted practice aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.C, focusing on the critical early literacy skill of reading high-frequency words by sight. Building automaticity with words like "the" and "like" is a key predictor of future reading fluency and comprehension. Research confirms that repeated exposure is essential for storing these words in long-term memory, a finding supported by multiple studies on early literacy acquisition. According to the RAND AIRS 2024 review of foundational skills instruction, activities that provide clear, repetitive, and focused practice on a small set of sight words are highly effective for young learners. This worksheet offers a practical application of that research, enabling students to build confidence and automaticity with two of the most common words in the English language, preparing them for more complex texts.