Words That Start With C For Kids

A lifelong love of learning can begin as early as preschool or kindergarten with the right compassion and care. Use these three-letter words that begin with C for kids to jump-start their reading journey.

• can - a container normally made of metal with a lid
• cat - a small, soft-furred animal
• cob - a stick of corn
• cod - a fish with a mild flavor
• cot - a narrow bed that can be folded up
• cow - the female of domestic cattle
• cut - to divide with a sharp instrument
• cup - a dish for drinking

Preschoolers who can read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words may be able to move on to Dolch sight words. Incorporate these words into your everyday classroom lessons, including preschool transitions between activities.

Once preschoolers can identify the letter C, it's time to write it! Download and print a tracing worksheet to master fine motor skills as well as letter recognition.

Kindergartners have a fundamental knowledge of the alphabet and are now ready to apply it to longer words. Check out these C words for kids, which include several CCVC words.

• cage - a structure with bars used to hold animals
• cake - a baked dessert made for special occasions
• call - to shout for someone's attention, or to reach someone via phone
• camp - to live outdoors in a tent for a short period of time
• cane - a curved walking stick designed to help someone walk
• cape - a piece of fabric worn at the shoulders
• card - a small piece of thick paper or plastic
• care - to have feelings about someone or something
• cash - money or currency
• cave - a hollowed-out section of a hill or mountain
• clam - a type of mollusk that lives in a tight shell
• clap - to make noise by slapping hands together
• club - a group of friends who gather for a purpose
• crab - a crustacean with two large pincers

Kindergartners who understand four-letter C words are ready to learn the phonics rules of silent E. Consider adding a lesson about words that end with a silent E as you teach kindergartners about the letter C.

Can your beginning readers match these words that begin with C to the correct pictures? Print up a fun matching worksheet that allows kindergartners to make connections between text and images.

Readers in grades 1-3 could use some C words in their vocabulary lists as well. Build foundational reading and spelling skills with these helpful words that start with C.

• cabin - a small house in the woods
• cable - a rope-like bunch of wires used to connect two things
• cactus - a desert plant
• candle - a mass of wax with a wick for burning
• capture - to take hold of or control of
• chair - a piece of furniture to sit on
• change - the act of becoming different
• cherry - a small, fleshy fruit with a hard pit
• chew - to use teeth to grind food into smaller pieces
• chill - a sudden feeling of coldness
• chin - the part of the face below the lower lip
• chirp - to make the short, shrill sound of birds
• classroom - a room in a school where classes are taught
• clerk - a person who works in an office, performing duties like filing and organizing
• climate - the weather of a location over a long period of time
• clock - a device for measuring and showing the time of day
• closet - a small space where clothes or other items are stored
• coast - land along the ocean
• coffee - a drink made from roasted beans
• contain - to serve as a holder for something
• could - a word used in place of "can" to demonstrate doubt
• coward - a person who lacks courage
• cracker - a thin, crisp wafer or biscuit
• craft - a special skill or art
• crash - to smash and make a loud noise
• crawl - dragging of the body along the ground

If your elementary readers are tired of spelling quizzes, it's time to make spelling more engaging. Try out some fun DIY spelling games that are perfect for any classroom setting, and be sure to add these C words for kids in your weekly spelling activities.

For words to stick in childrens' minds, it's useful to associate the words with the real world. As you practice each of the vocabulary words above, you might bring some props into the classroom. For example, hold up a candle, ask students to identify it, and then someone can walk up to the board and write out the word.

You'll notice some lengthier additions here, including congratulate and calculate. Take a look at this sampling of words for upper elementary students.

• calculate - to use reason or common sense to determine something
• capable - having the skills to do something well
• capital - the seat of government
• century - a 100-year-long period of time
• challenge - an act of rebellion against someone or something
• character - a unique symbol, letter, or mark used in writing
• collaborate - to work together
• column - a vertical arrangement of something
• combine - to join together or unite
• commend - to recommend or praise someone
• companion - a partner or friend who accompanies
• compassion - to have sympathy and want to help someone
• compose - to put something in order to write a piece of music
• concise - brief and to the point
• confuse - to make someone unable to understand
• congratulate - to praise or compliment someone
• consequence - a natural result that flows from something else
• contaminate - to infect, corrupt, or make impure
• contribute - to give something
• convenient - something easy to do
• courteous - polite or considerate
• cumulative - increasing in size or quantity

A fun way to encourage students to remember important vocabulary words is to ask them to draw one of the words. Give them some "free draw" time to select one of their vocabulary words on a sheet of paper. You can then staple their artwork to a piece of construction paper.

A great classroom activity here is one that will keep the students active and engaged. Write all of your vocabulary words on individual flashcards. Then, ask students to act out each of the words pulled. For this activity, they could easily act out companion or compose. Feel free to give them access to any props that may be required and, perhaps, you'll even create a word bank on the board so students have words to choose from.

The sooner the little learners of the world taste the triumph that comes with an ability to spell cat, the better positioned they will be to succeed in their academic endeavors. As you continue to shape lives, check out these free spelling printables.

You can also take a look at WordFinder's list of words that begin with the letter C for more spelling and vocabulary options. It allows you to easily create your own word list by filling up the advanced search fields by word length or letters included. Then, continue the alphabet journey with these words that start with D for kids.