Letter M phonics worksheets — free printable activities

A free phonics worksheet for the letter M and the /m/ sound — the seventh and final sound of the Magic 7. Part of the Magic 7 Activity Pack, which covers the seven foundational sounds children meet at the start of their reading journey.

Click to enlarge

Why letter M completes the set

M is the finish line of the foundation set: s, a, t, p, i, n, m. It adds a rich new word family — mat, map, man, mit, am, Sam, Pam, Tim — and with all seven sounds secure, your child can read enough words for genuinely satisfying first sentences: "Sam sat on a mat."

The /m/ sound is the easiest sound in English — a stretchy, voiced hum (mmmmm) that babies make before any other consonant (it's why "mama" is a first word in almost every language). Lips together, hum through the nose, stretch as long as you like.

What's on the Letter M page

The Magic 7 Activity Pack covers seven sounds in one PDF. The Letter M lesson page has three activities:

Activity 1 — A letter-M-shaped maze. The letter M drawn as a maze with a START and END. Kids trace the path with a finger or pencil while saying /mmm/.

Activity 2 — Find and circle. Small icons on the page (moon, mouse, and several distractors). The child circles every one that starts with /m/.

Activity 3 — Letter tracing. A model lowercase m on the left, six light-gray practice letters to trace while saying /mmm/ aloud.

Because M is the last lesson, the pack follows it with the payoff pages: a blending lesson, first decodable sentences using all seven sounds, and a parent solution key.

How to teach the /m/ sound

A simple five-minute approach:

1. Show the letter. Point at m. Say /mmm/ — a long, happy hum. Have your child copy.
2. Use the action. "Rub your tummy like something smells delicious — mmmmm!"
3. Find things that start with /m/. Mom, milk, moon, mouth, mirror.
4. Read the new words together. mat, map, am, Sam. Then celebrate: try a full sentence — "Sam sat on a mat."
5. Stop while it's still fun.

What comes after the Magic 7

With all seven sounds secure, your child is ready for structured word practice. The natural next steps:

• CVC Word Pack — three-letter word practice using the sounds they know
• Decodable Sentences — first sentences using only the Magic 7
• CVC Word Generator — build custom word lists matched to the sounds your child knows

When this worksheet is the right level

Use this worksheet if:

• Your child is 4-5 years old
• They know the first six Magic 7 sounds (or are working through the pack in order)
• They can blend simple three-letter words

Skip this worksheet if:

• Your child can already read three-letter words confidently
• They've completed the Magic 7 set already — try the CVC Word Pack next

Related resources

Part of the free phonics worksheets library. This page is linked from the preschool and pre-K hubs.

Companion materials for the letter M and the Magic 7 set:

• Letter N phonics worksheets — the sound before this one
• Letter S phonics worksheets — where the Magic 7 begins
• Magic 7 Phonics Flashcards — cut-out cards for each of the seven sounds
• Magic 7 Activity Pack — the full 13-page pack this lesson comes from

Common questions

What sound does M make?

A voiced nasal /m/ — lips together, humming through the nose. You can stretch it indefinitely, which makes it one of the easiest sounds to say and to blend.

Why is M last in the Magic 7 if it's the easiest sound?

The order isn't easiest-first; it's fastest-to-words. S, A, T unlock words immediately, and each later letter multiplies the list. M rounds out the set with names (Sam, Pam, Tim) and am, which make first sentences feel personal.

Why is the M worksheet part of a multi-letter pack?

Because M's job is completing the s-a-t-p-i-n-m word set. The first group is taught together because the letters work together to make words and sentences.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes. Free for personal, classroom, and tutor use. Print as many copies as you like.