Compound Words Teaching Resources
If you’re digging into compound words with your primary students, dig into printables, worksheets and more to bring the study of these fun words to life! This teaching resource collection was created by teachers to save your lesson planning time so you can spend more time doing what you love — actually teaching!
Haven’t taught this part of the English curriculum before or in a few years? Our teacher team has put together a quick refresher to get you started! Feel free to skip ahead to the resources if you have all this covered, and you’re just looking to save time on your lesson plans!
What Is a Compound Word?
A compound word merges two or more root words into a new and different word. There are three kinds of compound words:
- Open compound words — These have a space between the words, such as school bus or living room.
- Closed compound words — These have no spaces between them, such as classroom or homework.
- Hyphenated compound words — These have — you guessed it — hyphens between the words, such as dry-erase or forty-four.
Compound Words for Kids
Compound words are a pretty simple concept to teach, but it’s all too common for teachers to skip over the types of compound words. Take it from our English teachers: Break down each type for your students!
Open, closed, and hyphenated compound words all have different features, and we’ve put together a collection to help you teach them all!
Take a walk through our compound word collection, and you’ll find a host of resources for teaching open and closed compound words, along with other types.
Compound Words for Year 2 and Up
Our collection is home to hundreds of compound word worksheets, open and closed compound word PDF files, instructional slides for compound words, and more. Here are a few of our favorites!
- Compound words anchor chart
- Compound words list
- Combining Words Cut and Paste Activity
- Compound Words Game
- and more!
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Compound Word List Bundle
Introduce your students to different levels and types of compound words with a pack of printable compound word lists.
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Compound Words Crossword Puzzle Pack
Boost vocabulary skills with a pack of printable Compound Word Crossword Puzzles!
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Compound Noun Game - Headbands
Boost vocabulary skills and engage your students in some word-friendly fun with an engaging Compound Word Headband Game.
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Compound Word Search and Find Worksheets
Search, find, and spell compound words with a pack of printable compound word worksheets for Year 2
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Compound Word Colouring Worksheets
Colour the compound words and boost your students' vocabulary with a pack of printable Compound word colouring worksheets.
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Compound Words - Noun Puzzle Pops Match-Up
‘Pop’ in a bit of extra practise with compound words with a fun set of Compound Word Puzzle Pops!
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Word Scramble - Compound Words Activity
Have some word-friendly fun with a Compound Word - Word Scramble worksheet.
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Building Compound Words - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Cut, paste, and write to form open and closed compound words with a word-building worksheet.
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Compound Words Folding Task Cards
Build vocabulary skills and help your students practise forming compound words with a pack of compound word shutter-fold task cards.
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Compound Words - Worksheet Pack
Practise using compound words in sentences with. a pair of printable compound word worksheets for older students.
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Mini-Compound Word Anchor Charts - Vocabulary Display
Give your students a visual reminder of the meanings and parts of compound words with a printable set of miniature compound word anchor charts.
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Compound Words - Word Mats
Introduce your students to a variety of new compound nouns with a pack of levelled Compound Word Mats.
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Combining Words - Compound Nouns Worksheet
Combine word parts to build compound nouns with a printable compound word worksheet.
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Smash It! Compound Word Game
Practise compound words with this set of 8 combining words game boards and picture cards.
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Spelling Compound Words Worksheets
See and spell compound words with a pack of printable compound word spelling worksheets.
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Compound Word Puzzles
Have fun combining words to make compound words with a fun set of compound word puzzles.
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Compound Words Matching Game
Combine words to make compound words with a fun, printable Compound word game.
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Compound Words - Read, Spell, & Write Interactive
Build skills in reading and writing compound words with a Google Slides Digital Learning resource.
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Compound Words Mini Book
Create a fun booklet with a printable Compound Word Mini Book template!
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Gumball Compound Words Worksheet
Help your students learn to read and identify compound nouns with a printable colour-by-code worksheet.
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Compound Words A to Z Challenge
Challenge your students' quick thinking skills and knowledge of compound words with a Compound Words A to Z Challenge activity.
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Growing Compound Words Interactive Activity
Build compound words with an interactive compound word game.
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Read and Write Compound Words Worksheet
Explore compound words with these differentiated worksheets for early learners.
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Combining Words Task Cards - Compounds
Give your students some practise putting words together to form compound words with a pack of printable Compound Word Task Cards.
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Compound Word Dominoes
Practise making new words with this compound word-matching game that includes 28 picture/word dominoes.
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Compound Words With Pictures - Word Wall
Combine words to make compound words and boost vocabulary skills with a printable combining words word wall.s.
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Match and Write Compound Words - Worksheet
Match and write to form compound words with a compound word worksheet.
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Compound Words Game Show Interactive
Turn your compound word lessons into a fun game with an interactive Compound Word Game Show activity!
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Mash Up Words - Compound Word Peg Cards
Identify examples of compound nouns and engage your students with a set of printable Compound Word Peg Cards.
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Compound Words Poster Pack
Show your students examples of compound words with a pair of printable Compound Word Anchor Charts.