Free printable · Sound: qu, x and z
qu, x and z Decodable Story – The Fox and the Duck (Free Printable)
A short decodable story that practises the qu, x and z sound, plus a matching handwriting sheet. Every word can be sounded out by a child who has learned digraphs, apart from a few common tricky words.
Download the free PDF (2 pages, A4)Prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use.
For parents
- Read the story together three times this week. Your child colours a star each time.
- Point to each word as they read. q and u are best friends and say kw together. x says ks, like in fox.
- Hunt for the qu, x and z words and write six of them in the boxes.
- Finish with the tracing sheet: trace the grey words, then write each one on its own.
For teachers
- Fits a systematic synthetic phonics sequence at Set 2 · Digraphs, after teaching qu, x and z. Suits Foundation to Year 1.
- Tracing sheet uses the NSW / ACT Foundation handwriting style.
- 37 words, 7 different qu, x and z words, short sentences.
- Use for small-group reading, repeated reading for fluency, or homework.
- Photocopy freely for your class.
qu, x and z words in this story
- fox
- next
- quack
- quick
- zips
- box
- quacks
Tricky words used
- a
- to
- the
- is
- he
Common words that can't be fully sounded out yet. Practise them by sight.
More Digraphs printables
Practise qu, x and z with Digby
In Wombat Words, your child reads stories like this one aloud and Digby follows along, then they trace the tricky words in their school's handwriting style. You get a report showing which sounds they've mastered.