Decodable Books for UFLI Foundations Lesson 68: Open/Closed
Our mission is making literacy accessible to all children, because reading opens doors to endless possibilities. This collection follows UFLI Lesson 68, where a word begins with an open syllable and ends with a closed one. Children read open syllable words like robot, music, even and duet, reading the first vowel with its long sound before tackling the rest of the word.
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Anansi and the Black Rock
Anansi finds a strange mossy rock in the forest, and saying seven secret words puts anyone right to sleep. Soon he’s using it to trick the animals and take their snacks for himself. But one small animal is watching from the shadows, silent and unseen. Can she help her friends get their snacks back? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘silent’, ‘stolen’, ‘secret’, ‘depend’, ’total’.
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The Mane Plan
Allie finds an old photo of Mum with short, pretty hair and decides she wants the same look. She grabs her craft scissors for a secret plan, sure it will be easy. But will Allie’s haircut turn out the way she imagined? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘basic’, ‘secret’, ‘regret’, ‘moment’, ‘pretend’.
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Give It Back!
A boy finally has one thing that’s only his: a small toy tractor. But when a real elephant appears in the yard and he climbs aboard for a wild ride, he forgets all about sharing, until he spots his brother alone in the grass and a mad elephant charges straight at him. Can he reach his brother in time? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘begin’, ‘belong’, ‘frozen’, ‘gallop’, ‘protect’.
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Jim Wants the Best!
Jim can’t believe it: Len’s toy boat actually floats on real water! Determined to top it, Jim boasts about the amazing stuff waiting at home, even though his toy box is nothing but a broken game and a dented ball. Can Jim find something good enough to impress his pal before tomorrow? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘item’, ‘begin’, ‘chosen’, ‘silent’, ‘vibrant’.
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What Made Sis Sob?
Big Sis never cries. Not when she’s way up in the tree, not when the plane crashes, not even when she trips and falls flat in the mud. But back in the kitchen, something makes real, wet tears roll down her cheeks. What could possibly make Big Sis cry? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ’even’, ‘broken’, ‘relax’, ‘basic’, ‘begin’.
Lost in the Dust
A rooster with rules ends up alone on a street corner after his farmer drives off, and no one in town wants him around either. Then a kind couple offers him corn, a bowl, and maybe a home. Will he let himself belong somewhere new? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘depend’, ‘protect’, ‘begins’, ‘moment’, ‘silent’.
Tortoise and the Bet
Tortoise sits by a waterhole that Elephant has claimed for himself, splashing away any thirsty animal who comes near. One day Tortoise makes Elephant a bold offer: crack his small round shell by sundown, and Tortoise will leave forever. Can Elephant really crack a shell as tricky as this one? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘open’, ‘broken’, ‘silent’, ‘begin’, ‘secret’.
That Is My Diamond!
Ned finally spots his first diamond deep in the cave, gleaming on the stone floor. But something cold and green creeps up behind him, silent as can be, and knocks the diamond right out of his hands! Will Ned catch the thief before it disappears into the dark tunnels? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘diamond’, ‘silent’, ’evil’, ‘panic’, ‘relax’.
No Other Mage Like Me!
Ned isn’t a wizard yet, but he has an enchanting table and a very bossy talking book that insists it’s one of a kind. To become a mage, Ned must farm cane, craft books, and stand his ground when monsters come at dusk. Will he get it all right without a single mistake? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘basic’, ‘defend’, ‘protect’, ‘secret’, ’total’.
Tim Sits a Lot
Tim is the world’s worst bird at not stopping, always pausing to chase butterflies, sing to bugs, or admire a firefly, even as his flock flies off without him. When night falls and Tim is alone, will he learn to keep going no matter what tries to pull his focus away? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘focus’, ‘habit’, ‘panic’, ‘frozen’, ‘relax’.
Mbe and the Equal Bit
Mbe the tortoise sits silent at the back of the meeting while the elders make a plan: every family will take an equal share from the yam barn each sunup. But Mbe has spotted a secret gap in the wall, and he begins slipping through after dark to take more than his share. Will sharp-eyed Chinyere detect what he’s up to before the whole village goes hungry? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ’equal’, ‘silent’, ‘secret’, ‘stolen’, ‘sunup’.
Leopard Is Silent
Leopard has been humiliated by Hare one too many times, so he waits by a narrow path and finally catches him with no room to escape. But Hare knows every tunnel in the thornbush wall beside them, and Leopard has a plan of his own. Will Leopard find the one thing Hare truly fears? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘silent’, ‘secret’, ‘protect’, ‘relax’, ‘final’.
Tipilit and the Open Gate
Tipilit the calf slipped out through an open gate, and now a lion may find her first. A girl follows tiny hoofprints across the savanna, past a mud pan, down a silent slope, toward danger she cannot yet see. Can she track her calf home before the sun sets? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘open’, ‘focus’, ‘protect’, ‘silent’, ‘final’.
What Hit Sam?
A big plan turns into a backyard disaster when swirling lights fill the sky and fish begin raining down out of nowhere. What could possibly explain it? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘begin’, ‘moment’, ‘omen’, ‘silent’, ‘vibrant’.
Pat and the Pipe Rat
Pat has a big question: where does pee and poop go? When he jumps into the toilet to find out, he tumbles into a wild underground world and meets a grinning Sewer Rat who promises to show him everything. Will Pat make it through the muck and out the other side? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘open’, ‘begun’, ‘stupid’, ‘visit’, ‘final’.
The Monster
Sam used to be unstoppable, the fiercest monster-slayer around, but lately a strange fog has settled over him, and nothing seems to shake it loose. Can his best friend find a way to bring him back? Created to align with the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence (Lesson 68: Open/Closed), this book practises words like ‘begins’, ‘silent’, ‘pretend’, ‘depend’, and ‘focus’.
Decodable Books Created to Align with the UFLI Foundations Scope and Sequence
Frequently Asked Questions
How do open syllables work in words like robot and music?
An open syllable ends in a vowel, so nothing closes it in and the vowel usually says its name. On its own that gives words like me, go and hi. At the start of a longer word it gives ro in robot, mu in music and e in even, while the second syllable ends in a consonant and is closed.
How do you teach children to split open/closed words?
Have children underline the vowels and mark the consonant between them. They try splitting before that consonant first, which makes an open first syllable with a long vowel, as in pi-lot. If the word does not sound right, they flex and split after the consonant instead, so ca-mel becomes cam-el. Checking that the result is a real word keeps the strategy tied to meaning.
What is the difference between open/closed and closed/closed words?
In closed/closed words like rabbit and napkin, both syllables end in a consonant, so both vowels are short. In open/closed words like robot and silent, the first syllable ends with its vowel, so that vowel is long. A meta-analysis by Ehri et al. (2001) found that systematic phonics instruction helps children learn to read, and comparing pairs like these makes one of those patterns easy to see.
What will children read in the books for UFLI Lesson 68?
The open syllable decodable books for UFLI Lesson 68 use two-syllable words that start with an open syllable, such as robot, music, even and duet, alongside words from earlier lessons. Reading them inside a story lets children use the split-and-check strategy on real sentences. Some titles are free to read online, and our article on decoding and morphology explains how word parts build up.
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