Satpin Phonics Resource: Initial Letter I (i) Jars, Matching Cards, and Grapheme Mats for EYFS and KS1

What is included?

• File format: Downloadable printable PDF (6 pages).

9 Resource components included:

• Pages 1 and 2: Main activity jar template (two differentiated versions)
• Page 3: six item image cards beginning with the letter i and six i grapheme cards
• Page 4: an i grapheme mat and a mixed satpin grapheme mat
• Page 5: six images beginning with the letter i' and a visual (jar) answer/reference
• Page 6: Comprehensive adult/teacher instructions

What it is for?

This hands-on phonics and early literacy set helps young learners develop letter-sound correspondence, initial sound recognition, and fine motor skills through matching and sorting activities focused on the letter i and the first set of satpin graphemes.

By matching i image cards to a jar or grapheme mat, learners can explore phonics practically. When using this set on its own learners work on sound recognition of the letter i in a limited, supported way. If using this set along side other satpin sets (designed in the same way) learners can apply their expanding phonic knowledge across the set of satpin sounds.

Who it is for?

This resource can be used with a range of ages depending on the learning need/focus, including:

• Early years and reception pupils: Designed specifically for early years (EYFS) children and reception pupils beginning their phonics journey and learning the initial satpin sequence.

• Early readers and intervention support: Ideal for young children developing early decoding skills, letter-sound recognition, and fine motor control through hands-on matching tasks.

• Educators and parents: Perfect for primary teachers, childminder settings, home educators, and parents looking for engaging, structured phonics resources for early literacy development.

Resource details

Dotted lines guide where to cut on each page. Print pages onto card, cut out and laminate, then cut out ready to use.

Flexible Jar templates (pages 1 and 2)

• Page 1: provides a supported version with six coloured outlines for guided placement of images beginning with the i sound (as indicated on the jar label).
• Page 2: provides a blank jar for open-ended exploration. The 'cut out' i shapes (page 4) work well with this jar.

Initial sound images and grapheme cards

• Page 3: on the left are six i image cards and on the right, six i grapheme cards. These cards (left and right) can be used together to play 'pairs' and/or the image cards (left) can be used with the grapheme mats (page 4).

Grapheme matching mats

• Page 4: an i grapheme mat (left side) for single-sound practice and a mixed satpin grapheme mat (right side) to used alongside the other sets of the same design (see link/s below).

Initial sound images (additional) and Answer/reference jar

• Page 5: on the left six images beginning with the letter i. These can be cut out and used with the jar on page 2, or used as you choose. The jar on the right is a visual answer/reference guide (encouraging learners to be autonomous).

Instructions to keep

• Page 6: Comprehensive adult/teacher instructions, clearly setting out 'How to use this resource', page by page.

Links to matching resources

This resource has been designed to use both by itself (to focus on i) as well as to be combined with any or all letters from the s a t p i n set.

Focus on each sound:

• the letter s
• the letter a
• the letter t
• the letter p
• the letter n

Focus on all sounds together:

The satpin set

Educational value linked to the EYFS and primary curriculum

• Literacy (Communication and language and phonics): Develops early phonological awareness, focused on the initial sound i, recognising lowercase graphemes (satpin) when used with other sets.

• Understanding the world and vocabulary: Fosters vocabulary acquisition and general knowledge by identifying everyday objects, foods, and animals that begin with the target sound.

• Physical development and fine motor skills: Strengthens hand-eye coordination, using 1:1 correspondence, and organisation skills through handling and placing image cards onto grapheme mats/jar templates.

Important message

Any issues with this resource please let us know - we are happy to make changes.