Phonics for Kids Lesson 9: ear, air, er and ir Sounds (Free Worksheet)

What do A, I and R say together in chair? In Phonics Lesson 9, children learn the letter teams ear (near), air (chair), er (teacher) and ir (bird), and discover that er and ir make the same sound. They blend words like hear, fair, her and shirt, spot mistakes, sort word cards, and finish with a 5-question quiz.

1. Teams Can Have Three Letters!

• Some teams have three letters: ear, air.
• er and ir make the same sound.
• Spot the team, then blend.

2. Teams: ear and air

• ear – ear
• ear – deer
• air – chair

3. Teams: er and ir

• er – teacher
• ir – bird
• ir – girl

4. Blend and Read

n · ear (near), f · air (fair), h · er (her), sh · ir · t (shirt)

5. Spot the Mistake

• ❌ hair read as “ha-ir”  →  ✅ h-air → hair
• ❌ bird read with a short i  →  ✅ b-ir-d → bird

6. Your Turn

Ask your child these questions. Answers are in brackets.

• Blend: h · ear (hear)
• Blend: p · air (pair)
• Blend: f · ir · s · t (first)
• Which team is in sister? (er)

7. Activity: Team Sorting Cards

You need: paper cards, a pencil.

1. Write these words on cards: ear, hair, bird, her, near, chair, girl, sister.
2. Sort them into piles: ear, air, er / ir.
3. Read each pile aloud.

8. Quick Recap

• ear says /ear/: ear, near, hear.
• air says /air/: chair, hair, fair.
• er and ir both say /ur/: her, bird.
• Spot the team, then blend.

Free Worksheet

Download and print the worksheet (answer key included):

Phonics 9: ear air er ir worksheet (PDF) →

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