Sight Word “was” Worksheet – Read, Write, Trace and Color Activity

The sight word “was” helps children talk about something that happened before now. This free kindergarten worksheet combines word recognition, tracing, writing, sentence practice, and an easy comparison between present and past.

Learning objective: The child will read and write “was,” understand that it often signals the past, and use it correctly with I, he, she, it, or one person or thing.

How to Teach the Sight Word “was”

Start with a simple “now and before” comparison. Say, “The cup is full now. It was empty before.” Use a photo from yesterday or change an object in the room, then invite the child to make another “was” sentence.

Read the word together and notice its three letters. Because the a does not use its most familiar short sound, treat “was” as a heart word: part of it must be remembered rather than sounded out in the usual way.

A Teaching Observation

Many children recognize “was” in speech but use “is” when reading or writing about the past. Pairing two nearly identical sentences—“It is cold” and “It was cold”—helps the child notice that the time changes when the word changes.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

• Reading the a with its usual short sound: model the whole word and mark it as a word to remember.
• Confusing “was” and “saw”: place them side by side and track the letter order from left to right.
• Using “was” for several people: contrast “She was” with “They were.”

Practice Sentences

• I was happy to see you.
• The soup was hot.
• She was first in line.
• It was dark outside.
• Ben was at the library.

Quick Mastery Check

Give the child three present-tense sentences and ask them to change each one to the past using “was.” Finish by asking the child to read and write the word without a model.

For more practice, use the sight word “they” worksheet, browse our free sight word collection, or explore additional kindergarten reading activities.

Learning Objectives for the Sight Word “was”

• Read “was” without sounding it out letter by letter.
• Recognize that its spoken form does not match a simple short-a pattern.
• Use “was” when talking about something that happened before now.

Teaching Observation

A common error is reading “was” to rhyme with “gas.” Say the word naturally in “It was hot,” have the child repeat the whole sentence, and then isolate the word. Meaning and sentence rhythm usually correct the pronunciation more effectively than repeated spelling alone.

Past-Time Picture Talk

Show a picture, turn it face down, and ask what was in the picture. The child answers with a sentence such as “There was a dog.” Repeat with new pictures so the word is used meaningfully.

Continue with the organised sight-word practice collection.