ABC order to the third letter
Four levels for Grades 1 to 4: words with different first letters, words with the same first letter, words that share the first two letters and mixed words.
Start over?
Teaching guide: practising alphabetical order
Putting words in alphabetical order is the first step to using a dictionary, an index or a glossary. This free alphabetical order worksheet generator makes lists of real English words to number, write in order or pick the first, with an answer key for marking. The lists go onto a blank sheet, and you can mix them with other literacy exercises on the same worksheet.
Three exercise types
Number the words of each list, write them in order on the lines and circle the word that comes first in groups of three.
Real vocabulary words
Words about school, animals, food, the home, the body or jobs, chosen for each age: 4 to 8 words per list.
Dictionary skills
The whole-word level adds words that share three or more letters and short words that begin longer ones (car, carpet), just like a dictionary page.
Alphabet strip and capitals
In the wizard's More options, the sheet can show the alphabet at the top of each page and prints the words in capital letters for younger pupils.
Answer key with the deciding letter
The answer key gives the order of each list and marks the letter that decides where each word goes.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Alphabetical Order Worksheets
Which grades are these worksheets for?
Grades 1 to 4. Level 1 (first letter) suits Grade 1, level 2 (second letter) Grade 2, level 3 (third letter) Grade 3 and level 4 (whole word) Grade 4 and dictionary skills practice.
How do I teach ABC order to the second letter?
Start with level 1 until the first letter is automatic, then choose level 2: every word in a list starts with the same letter, so students cover it and compare the second letters. The answer key highlights the letter that decides the order.
What about words like “car” and “carpet”?
When a word is the beginning of another one, the shorter word comes first: car, carpet. These cases only appear at level 4.
Do the words repeat?
An exercise does not repeat a word while the level has new ones. Select it on the sheet and click “New” for new lists with the same settings.
Where do the words come from?
From the topic vocabulary of the Word Search Worksheet Generator: real, everyday words and no proper nouns, in British spelling.
How do I print only the answer key?
Click Print and choose “Answer key”, or “Worksheet and answer key” to get both. Your browser's print dialog can also save it as a PDF.
More worksheet generators you may like
Word Search
Word searches with topic vocabulary, the word list beside the grid and more directions and longer words at each level: animals, food, school, jobs, countries, feelings and more.
Guided Writing
A4 writing frames for stories, descriptions, letters, news reports, opinion texts, instructions and emails: task, planning box, parts of the text, lines by age, a self-check list and a teacher guide with a rubric.
Prepared Dictation
Original passages for each spelling pattern: a practice sheet with the key words to fill in and sort, a dictation sheet and the teacher's text to read aloud.