A gentle way to drill the pre-primer Dolch list with the youngest readers. Call a word like "the" or "and", children find it on their grid, and the first to a full line gets to read the row aloud.
Free to design and print · edit any square · 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5
Dolch sight word bingo gives preschoolers repeated, low-pressure practice with the pre-primer list — the high-frequency words they need to recognize on sight. You call a word, children scan their grid, and the marking and matching builds the instant recognition that early reading depends on.
Because every card is shuffled from the same square list, no two children get the same grid, so each one must find their own words instead of copying a neighbor, and the same set of cards works for the whole small group.
These are just a starting point — swap in your own words in the editor before you print.
Say the word and use it aloud
Call each word and then put it in a short sentence so children connect the printed word to how it sounds and how it is actually used.
Use a small grid for little hands
A 3×3 or 4×4 grid keeps the game short and the words large, which suits preschool attention spans and developing fine motor skills.
Let the winner read the line
Ask the child who wins to read their completed line aloud, turning a quick victory into one more round of confident sight-word reading.
Edit every square. Open the card in the editor, keep the suggested squares or replace them with your own words, emoji, or photos, and pick a theme that fits the day.
Print a whole set at once. Each card is shuffled from the same square list, so every player gets a unique grid. Print to standard letter or A4 paper on any home printer — or order professionally printed cards shipped to your door.
Or play live. Share one link and a QR code and the whole room plays from their phones, in person or over video.
What are Dolch pre-primer words?
They are the first level of the Dolch sight word list — common words like the, and, a, and to that young children learn to recognize instantly.
How do I make Dolch sight word bingo for free?
Open the editor, pick a classroom theme, keep the pre-primer words or type your own list, and print. A basic set is free to make and print.
Are these the exact pre-primer words?
Yes, the squares are drawn from the standard Dolch pre-primer list, and every square is editable so you can match your own classroom word wall.
How many cards do I need?
One per child. Each card is randomly shuffled from the same square list, so a small group can play and still get unique grids to read.