Sight Word Splash
- Kindergarten–2nd grade
- Ages 5–8
- Free, no sign-up
The game says a word, like was or said, and words pop up on lily pads in a pond. Your child taps the one they heard before it splashes away. It builds instant recognition of the words that fill every page of an early reader.
About the game
| Ponds | 10, with 20 words each |
|---|---|
| Words | Our 200 most common words, in order |
| Skill | Reading high-frequency words at a glance |
| Sign-up | None. Progress stays on your device |
How to play
- Listen. The game says a word. Tap Hear it to hear it again.
- Watch the pads. Three or four words pop up on the lily pads.
- Tap the word you heard. Tap it before the words splash away. If they do, new ones pop up.
- Clear the pond. Twelve words finish a pond and open the next one.
For parents: what Sight Word Splash practices
Sight Word Splash practices the most common words in English, the ones children need to read without sounding out. The ponds follow our ranked list, so pond 1 is the 20 words your child will see most. It pairs with:
Common Core: RF.K.3c (read common high-frequency words by sight), RF.1.3g and RF.2.3f (irregularly spelled words).
Getting the most out of it
- Play one pond, then point out three of its words in a book together.
- One distractor always starts with the same letter, so your child has to look at the whole word.
- If a word keeps tripping your child up, write it on a sticky note on the fridge for a week.
Games are best as a reward or a warm-up, not the main lesson. Ten minutes of play after a short lesson works better than an hour of play on its own.
More games
CVC Word BingoHear a short word like cat and find it on your card.Kindergarten–1st grade
Sight Word MemoryFlip cards to match pairs of sight words.Kindergarten–2nd grade
Ending FactoryAdd -s, -ed and -ing in the word machine.1st–2nd grade
More sight word games · All games
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026
Questions parents ask
Which words are in the game?
The 200 most common words on English1to5's own ranked list, the same words as our first and second 100 words pages.
Is it too fast for my child?
Words stay up for several seconds and come back if they splash away, so there's no way to lose. Later ponds are a little quicker.
Is this game free?
Yes. Every game on English1to5 is free, with no ads, no sign-up and no in-game purchases.
Does the game collect any information about my child?
No. There are no accounts. Progress and scores are saved only in your browser on your own device. See our privacy policy.