Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 44: ck /k/
Our mission is making literacy accessible to all children, because reading opens doors to endless possibilities. Each story on this page was written for UFLI Lesson 44 and focuses on the ck digraph, two letters that spell one /k/ sound. Children read words ending in ck, such as back, neck, sick and buck, and learn why ck comes right after a short vowel.
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Tag
Steve is the best seeker at tag, and he’s sure he’ll find Alex in ten seconds flat. But every clue leads to a trick: a dog, a black-and-white cat, even a stuck chicken that clucks for help. With no luck at all, has Alex outsmarted the greatest seeker who ever lived? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ‘stuck’, ‘black’, ’luck’, ‘pick’.
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Kim's Locks Have a Plan
Kim’s hair always has a plan, whether it’s blocking the summer sun or wrapping her up warm in winter snow. Her dog is always close by, watching every trick her curls can do. But when Kim decides to try something new with her hair, will her dog even recognise her? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘click’, ‘quick’, ‘stick’, ’track’, ‘back’.
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Get It in the Net!
Bob, Zip, Hal, Hap, and their dog make up the squad, and Bob has just declared zero chance of losing before the big championship match. But when the other team’s bus pulls up and out steps the biggest, most serious-looking squad they’ve ever seen, can this ragtag group of friends and one very loud dog find a way to work together and get it in the net? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ’trick’, ‘flick’, ‘block’, ‘pack’.
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The Cat Is Hiding!
Kit the cat is missing! She was curled up on her pillow last night, but now there’s just an empty dent. A girl checks the big blue pot, the bookshelf, even a bush by the porch, but Kit is nowhere to be found. Could Kit be hiding somewhere no one has thought to look? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘back’, ’trick’, ‘stuck’, ‘quick’.
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No Tracks, No Hints
Zom’s pumpkin patch has never been so full, until one morning a pumpkin simply vanishes without a single track or clue. More go missing each night, no matter how hard Zom and Skel watch, so they hatch a bold plan to catch the thief once and for all. Will they finally spot the trick before another pumpkin disappears? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘pick’, ’track’, ‘crack’, ’trick’, ’luck’.
The Slick Trick
Pat the cat has no home, but he isn’t sad about it, not with a cosy tree, singing birds, and a kind family who leaves him snacks every day. Then one morning he spots suitcases by the car. The family are packing up and leaving without him. What will Pat do when the food stops coming? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘snack’, ‘quick’, ‘stuck’, ‘sick’, ’luck’.
The Little Brother Is Lost
When darkness swallows the desert, a young girl’s little brother wanders off chasing a lizard and can’t find his way back to the fire. Her flashlight flickers out, her grandmother warns the dark is too wide to cross, but the girl won’t give up. Could a scoop of glowing embers light the way to bring him home? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘black’, ‘quick’, ‘stick’, ’track’, ‘rock’.
Kaggen Lacks Hot Snacks
Kaggen the mantis watches the desert children shiver and lack hot snacks, while the Ostrich hides fire tucked tight under his wing. Kaggen claps and sings praise, but has no luck at all. Then he spots a sour-plum tree and licks a plum with a big yuck, and an idea sparks: what if the greedy Ostrich could be tricked into giving fire away? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘back’, ‘snacks’, ’luck’, ‘quick’, ‘stuck’.
Chui Lacks Luck
Chui the leopard is fast, fierce, and sure he’s the most beautiful animal on the savanna, but his plain gold coat gives him away every time he hunts. The gazelles spot him from far off and trot away laughing, leaving him hungrier each day. Could an old painter and her pots of black mix change his luck? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘black’, ’luck’, ‘rock’, ’neck’, ’tucks’.
Jack Had No Pet
Jack has no pet, and he wants the very best one in the whole world. He treks through wind and frost until he spots a small, lost cub on a slick icy patch. What kind of pet will this trek turn up? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘jack’, ‘back’, ’luck’, ’neck’, ‘pick’.
Kofi and the Black Track
Kofi brags that he’s the quickest tracker in the village, ready to pick up any trail. But when he follows the great silverback Nkosi deep into the forest, a snapped vine sends him tumbling onto a narrow ledge, stuck with a twisted ankle and no way up. Will his luck hold when the very gorilla he was hunting looks down at him from the rim above? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ’track’, ‘stuck’, ‘quick’, ‘black’, ’luck’.
Pili Packs on the Track
Pili is a tiny weaver bird who packs a soft nest by the track, humming happily as she works. But a big, careless Elephant never looks where he walks, and one day he stomps straight over her home, leaving it flat in the muck. Furious, Pili gathers Frog and Weaver Ant for a plan of her own. Will Elephant ever learn to look before he stomps? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ’track’, ‘pack’, ‘quick’, ‘flicks’, ‘muck’.
Big Bad Luck
A curious little fish is tired of the same boring view and begs to swim deeper into the sea, even after his mother warns him it’s too dangerous. He sneaks off anyway, and among the coral and crabs he spots a strange dark shape on the sandy floor that looks a lot like a rock. Could it really be just a rock? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ‘rock’, ‘back’, ‘black’, ’luck’.
What Is Tim Up To?
Tim has a big secret job today - making sure everything is ready for Jan’s birthday surprise! He checks on the cake, the balloons, and the bike, but when it’s time to carry the gifts into the party, will his stack of boxes make it there in one piece? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ‘stack’, ’neck’, ’track’.
Jack and the Big Lock
Jack and the three kids act up on the farm, and when they peek in Dad’s magic mirror, something monstrous stares back instead of their own faces. Max tries a fancy hat, Tess tries running fast, and nothing fixes what the mirror shows - so what will it take to make it show them again? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ‘stack’, ‘duck’, ‘peck’, ‘snack’.
I Can Hide It!
Kim spots Liz’s brand new jacket on the bed. What luck! Kim grabs it, tucks it under her arm, and runs off before anyone notices. But art class turns messy fast, and soon red paint specks cover the sleeve. Now Kim has to hide the jacket before Liz finds out. Where can Kim possibly stash it? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘quick’, ‘stuck’, ’trick’, ’luck’, ‘specks’.
The Black Muck
Sam loves sailing a toy boat and reading the waves at the beach, but one day a black muck starts oozing from a factory pipe into the sea, and the fish grow sick and sad. What can Sam possibly do to save the sea? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 44: ck /k/), this book practises words like ‘muck’, ‘black’, ‘quick’, ‘stick’, ’luck’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you use ck instead of k?
The ck rule says that the /k/ sound at the end of a one-syllable word is usually spelled ck when it comes straight after a short vowel, as in pack, deck, lick, rock and duck. After a consonant or a long vowel sound, a single k is used instead, as in milk, desk and cake. Knowing the rule helps children spell these words as well as read them.
Can a word start with ck?
English spelling never puts ck at the start of a word. The pair only turns up straight after a short vowel, usually at the end of a word, as in black and truck, and sometimes in the middle, as in pocket and jacket. A word that begins with /k/ uses c or k instead, as in cup and kid, which is a useful contrast to point out while reading.
Why is ck called a digraph?
The letters ck count as a digraph because they work together to spell a single sound, /k/. They join other consonant digraphs such as sh, th and ch, which children learn to read as one unit rather than blending each letter separately. The National Reading Panel (2000) found that systematic phonics instruction, which teaches patterns like these in a planned order, benefits children from kindergarten through sixth grade.
What are some words ending in ck for kids?
Short, familiar ck words are the easiest place to start: back, pack, sack, neck, deck, kick, lick, sock, rock, duck and luck. As children grow more confident, they can try longer ones like truck, black, stick and snack. The decodable books for UFLI Lesson 44 put ck words like these into short stories, and you can read more about what phonics is and why it matters.
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