Meet the Alphablocks — 26 living letters who discover that when they hold hands to make a word, something magical happens. Celebrated for its innovative approach to teaching reading, Alphablocks makes learning joyful, active, and engaging for early learners. This free collection of Alphablocks worksheets brings that magic to life at home or in the classroom, with Alphablocks letter cards kids can use to build words, alphabet finger puppets, and playful worksheets that teach letter sounds.
Watch full episodes of the award-winning show for kids ages 3–6 on the official Alphablocks YouTube channel!
The article "Out of the Cold: The Slow Beginnings of Climate Change Science" from BBC's HistoryExtra delves into the early scientific explorations of climate change, tracing its beginnings to the 19th Century. Early pioneers, including Eunice Newton Foote, John Tyndall, and Svante Arrhenius, each contributed to the understanding of how human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, could alter Earth's temperature. However, these early insights were often overlooked or misunderstood, and it wasn’t until the mid-20th Century that the idea of human-induced climate change began to gain traction.
In Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease, learn how Joy, a woman with a unique sense of smell, is helping doctors understand the early detection of disease. By detecting a specific smell that is associated with Parkinson’s, Joy is contributing to groundbreaking research that could help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learn how the sense of smell can play a crucial role in detecting diseases before other symptoms appear. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In The Caucasus Mountains, host Joanna Lumley travels through the mountains which form a natural border between Georgia and Russia to explore routes taken by early traders. She learns how isolated mountain regions developed their own cultures and how people living there often face hardships that lead them to migrate into towns and cities. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure, a documentary series uncovering the rich history and cultural treasures of the Silk Road.
Chemotherapy works. It also takes a serious toll — on energy, on the immune system, on everyday quality of life. For decades, that trade-off has been treated as unavoidable. A new drug being used to treat ovarian cancer suggests it might not have to be.
The treatment works by attaching a chemotherapy drug to an antibody — a protein the body uses naturally to identify and target specific cells. When the drug enters the body, the antibodies seek out cancer cells specifically, binding to them and leaving healthy tissue alone. Once inside the cancer cell, the antibody breaks down and releases the chemotherapy drug, destroying the cancer from within. The rest of the body barely notices.
For patients like Patricia Hill, the difference has been significant. After multiple rounds of conventional chemotherapy in the 3 years since her ovarian cancer diagnosis, she describes finally feeling well enough to socialize and enjoy daily life again. That shift — from surviving treatment to actually living alongside it — is what researchers have spent decades working toward.
The drug is still being studied, but early results point in two directions that matter: better quality of life during treatment, and the possibility of longer survival afterward. Those two things don't always come together in cancer research. When they do, it tends to mean something genuinely new is happening.
It’s officially the “Beijing International Automotive Exhibition,” but its friends call it “Auto China,” and it’s now the largest car show in the world. Nearly 1000 companies flock to the exhibits taking up more than 380,000 square meters, or over 50 football fields! Or 1,246,719 feet and 50 soccer fields, if you’re from America! Or 9,329,989 beep-boop-zoinks and 50 astro-space-ball fields if you’re a Martian from outer space! Any way you spin it, this car show is a big deal, and there were two standout trends.
The first was electric vehicles. There’s always been an issue with charging, as makers have tried to maximize how far cars can travel on single charge while minimizing how long that charge takes. Now, a company called BYD claims to have an ultra-fast charging system that can provide 400 km of range with only 5 minutes of charging. What’s more, it’s designed to operate under extreme weather conditions. Since batteries are usually sensitive to high or low temperatures, addressing this is a major step in making electric vehicles as reliable as gas cars.
The other big topic was also fully autonomous, or self-driving cars. The company Geely developed a self-driving car built specifically for ride-hailing, so there’s no steering wheel or driver’s seat. That means you can pick your nose without fear of the driver judging you! Xpeng’s driverless car uses a combination of lasers, radar, and cameras to build a real time picture of the road, but we hope it works just as well in the clouds, because they may be extending this technology into flying cars as early as next year. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just my Uber! That’s one way to beat traffic.
Underwater volcanoes are some of the least visible — but most important — geological features on Earth. Scientist Dr. Isobel Yeo studies these deep-sea volcanoes near the Greek island of Santorini using remotely-operated underwater robots. These robotic tools allow researchers to safely explore volcanic regions and locate hydrothermal vents, where hot gases and fluids escape from cracks in Earth’s crust.
Her team is focused on understanding how underwater eruptions behave differently from those on land. The surrounding water pressure, temperature, and ocean currents can all influence how magma and gases move during an eruption. By studying these systems, scientists can improve predictions of volcanic activity and better understand potential risks.
Although an eruption is not expected soon, this research is important for improving early warning systems and helping nearby coastal communities prepare for future volcanic events.
Mars may be cold and barren, but it might have supported life! At least, that’s what scientists think, after finding rocks with some very interesting spots. These markings, nicknamed “leopard spots” and “poppyseeds,” are minerals that could have been made by Martian microbes, early in the planet’s history. They were discovered by the Perseverance Rover, which has been exploring Mars since its 2021 landing.
The rover has been focused on Mars’s Jezero Crater, which used to be a huge lake with a river running into it before drying up billions of years ago. Now, Perseverance collects samples to analyze in its onboard lab! Car Bluetooth is cool but c’mon, it’s no analysis lab…
These rocks aren’t exactly the video diary of an alien’s day in the life on Mars, but they could be the clearest sign of life ever found on Mars, which is thought to be one of the most promising places in our Solar System to look for life outside of Earth. The only way to confirm if the minerals were made by microbes is to get them back to Earth, so NASA and the European Space Agency have proposed a mission to collect them. It’ll be expensive, but this could be the answer to if there was life on other planets!
In Genghis Khan's Ruthless Army, host Andrew Marr takes us to the early 13th Century. Genghis Khan’s army is in the midst of its ruthless military campaign to conquer land across Europe and Asia. As it attacks and takes over city after city, it adopts ideas and technology, which contribute to the army’s success in ruling such a large territory. After having conquered all that he could, Khan ushers in a period of prosperity and peace. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Aurangzeb's Fight to Lead India in the 17th Century, host Andrew Marr takes us to India in the early 17th Century. It is an open-minded place where ideas thrive and there is intellectual freedom and cultural celebration. But when the ruler, Shah Jahan, falls ill, his two sons fight for the throne. Aurangzeb wins the battle and takes over India. He starts an oppressive regime that undoes the progressive work of his father, taking India along a much different path. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Make early reading feel magical with this Alphablocks Word Magic printable bundle! Designed with busy teachers and families in mind, these pages offer simple, joyful practice that helps young readers build confidence one word at a time. Students can trace letters to complete each word or use their letter tiles to build it themselves — an effective way to strengthen phonics understanding through both writing and hands-on play.
This “Word Magic” pack includes engaging practice with:
-
Hard “c” words to help students recognize how the letter c can change its sound.
-
Words with the “ear” sound, giving readers experience with trickier vowel teams.
-
“ch” and “sh” digraphs, perfect for boosting early decoding skills.
-
“ai” and “ee” vowel patterns, supporting growing readers as they learn long-vowel spellings.
-
Ending blends like nd, nt, and mp for stronger blending and spelling accuracy.
These worksheets are perfect for small-group instruction, literacy centers, morning work, tutoring, or home reading practice. They’re easy to use, fun to repeat, and help students feel proud of the words they can read and make.
Looking for even more Alphablocks resources? We have tons available — just search “Alphablocks” on the site!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Give young readers a boost with this friendly Alphablocks worksheet bundle! Designed for both teachers and families, these printables make early reading practice simple, engaging, and confidence-building. Students can sound out words, blend the sounds together, and check off each word as they read. They can also write the words on the lines or build them using their letter tiles — great for hands-on learners.
Inside this “I Can Read” pack, you'll find:
-
CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant) that help children master the basics of blending.
-
Consonant blends like ch, sh, and th to strengthen early phonics skills.
-
Long vowel spellings such as ai, igh, and ee to support growing readers as they move into more challenging patterns.
These pages work beautifully for small-group instruction, centers, morning work, homework, tutoring, or at-home practice with parents.
And if your readers want even more Alphablocks fun? We’ve got you covered — just search “Alphablocks” on the site to explore the full collection!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Meet the Alphablocks — 26 living letters who discover that when they hold hands to make a word, something magical happens. Celebrated for its innovative approach to teaching reading, Alphablocks makes learning joyful, active, and engaging for early learners. This free collection of Alphablocks worksheets brings that magic to life at home or in the classroom, with Alphablocks letter cards kids can use to build words, alphabet finger puppets, and playful worksheets that teach letter sounds.
Watch full episodes of the award-winning show for kids ages 3–6 on the official Alphablocks YouTube channel!
The article "Out of the Cold: The Slow Beginnings of Climate Change Science" from BBC's HistoryExtra delves into the early scientific explorations of climate change, tracing its beginnings to the 19th Century. Early pioneers, including Eunice Newton Foote, John Tyndall, and Svante Arrhenius, each contributed to the understanding of how human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, could alter Earth's temperature. However, these early insights were often overlooked or misunderstood, and it wasn’t until the mid-20th Century that the idea of human-induced climate change began to gain traction.
In Some People's Sense of Smell Can Detect Disease, learn how Joy, a woman with a unique sense of smell, is helping doctors understand the early detection of disease. By detecting a specific smell that is associated with Parkinson’s, Joy is contributing to groundbreaking research that could help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learn how the sense of smell can play a crucial role in detecting diseases before other symptoms appear. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
In The Caucasus Mountains, host Joanna Lumley travels through the mountains which form a natural border between Georgia and Russia to explore routes taken by early traders. She learns how isolated mountain regions developed their own cultures and how people living there often face hardships that lead them to migrate into towns and cities. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure, a documentary series uncovering the rich history and cultural treasures of the Silk Road.
Chemotherapy works. It also takes a serious toll — on energy, on the immune system, on everyday quality of life. For decades, that trade-off has been treated as unavoidable. A new drug being used to treat ovarian cancer suggests it might not have to be.
The treatment works by attaching a chemotherapy drug to an antibody — a protein the body uses naturally to identify and target specific cells. When the drug enters the body, the antibodies seek out cancer cells specifically, binding to them and leaving healthy tissue alone. Once inside the cancer cell, the antibody breaks down and releases the chemotherapy drug, destroying the cancer from within. The rest of the body barely notices.
For patients like Patricia Hill, the difference has been significant. After multiple rounds of conventional chemotherapy in the 3 years since her ovarian cancer diagnosis, she describes finally feeling well enough to socialize and enjoy daily life again. That shift — from surviving treatment to actually living alongside it — is what researchers have spent decades working toward.
The drug is still being studied, but early results point in two directions that matter: better quality of life during treatment, and the possibility of longer survival afterward. Those two things don't always come together in cancer research. When they do, it tends to mean something genuinely new is happening.
It’s officially the “Beijing International Automotive Exhibition,” but its friends call it “Auto China,” and it’s now the largest car show in the world. Nearly 1000 companies flock to the exhibits taking up more than 380,000 square meters, or over 50 football fields! Or 1,246,719 feet and 50 soccer fields, if you’re from America! Or 9,329,989 beep-boop-zoinks and 50 astro-space-ball fields if you’re a Martian from outer space! Any way you spin it, this car show is a big deal, and there were two standout trends.
The first was electric vehicles. There’s always been an issue with charging, as makers have tried to maximize how far cars can travel on single charge while minimizing how long that charge takes. Now, a company called BYD claims to have an ultra-fast charging system that can provide 400 km of range with only 5 minutes of charging. What’s more, it’s designed to operate under extreme weather conditions. Since batteries are usually sensitive to high or low temperatures, addressing this is a major step in making electric vehicles as reliable as gas cars.
The other big topic was also fully autonomous, or self-driving cars. The company Geely developed a self-driving car built specifically for ride-hailing, so there’s no steering wheel or driver’s seat. That means you can pick your nose without fear of the driver judging you! Xpeng’s driverless car uses a combination of lasers, radar, and cameras to build a real time picture of the road, but we hope it works just as well in the clouds, because they may be extending this technology into flying cars as early as next year. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just my Uber! That’s one way to beat traffic.
Underwater volcanoes are some of the least visible — but most important — geological features on Earth. Scientist Dr. Isobel Yeo studies these deep-sea volcanoes near the Greek island of Santorini using remotely-operated underwater robots. These robotic tools allow researchers to safely explore volcanic regions and locate hydrothermal vents, where hot gases and fluids escape from cracks in Earth’s crust.
Her team is focused on understanding how underwater eruptions behave differently from those on land. The surrounding water pressure, temperature, and ocean currents can all influence how magma and gases move during an eruption. By studying these systems, scientists can improve predictions of volcanic activity and better understand potential risks.
Although an eruption is not expected soon, this research is important for improving early warning systems and helping nearby coastal communities prepare for future volcanic events.
Mars may be cold and barren, but it might have supported life! At least, that’s what scientists think, after finding rocks with some very interesting spots. These markings, nicknamed “leopard spots” and “poppyseeds,” are minerals that could have been made by Martian microbes, early in the planet’s history. They were discovered by the Perseverance Rover, which has been exploring Mars since its 2021 landing.
The rover has been focused on Mars’s Jezero Crater, which used to be a huge lake with a river running into it before drying up billions of years ago. Now, Perseverance collects samples to analyze in its onboard lab! Car Bluetooth is cool but c’mon, it’s no analysis lab…
These rocks aren’t exactly the video diary of an alien’s day in the life on Mars, but they could be the clearest sign of life ever found on Mars, which is thought to be one of the most promising places in our Solar System to look for life outside of Earth. The only way to confirm if the minerals were made by microbes is to get them back to Earth, so NASA and the European Space Agency have proposed a mission to collect them. It’ll be expensive, but this could be the answer to if there was life on other planets!
In Genghis Khan's Ruthless Army, host Andrew Marr takes us to the early 13th Century. Genghis Khan’s army is in the midst of its ruthless military campaign to conquer land across Europe and Asia. As it attacks and takes over city after city, it adopts ideas and technology, which contribute to the army’s success in ruling such a large territory. After having conquered all that he could, Khan ushers in a period of prosperity and peace. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
In Aurangzeb's Fight to Lead India in the 17th Century, host Andrew Marr takes us to India in the early 17th Century. It is an open-minded place where ideas thrive and there is intellectual freedom and cultural celebration. But when the ruler, Shah Jahan, falls ill, his two sons fight for the throne. Aurangzeb wins the battle and takes over India. He starts an oppressive regime that undoes the progressive work of his father, taking India along a much different path. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Andrew Marr's History of the World, a story of human history that uses reenactments, modern footage, and storytelling to explain history’s greatest achievements.
Make early reading feel magical with this Alphablocks Word Magic printable bundle! Designed with busy teachers and families in mind, these pages offer simple, joyful practice that helps young readers build confidence one word at a time. Students can trace letters to complete each word or use their letter tiles to build it themselves — an effective way to strengthen phonics understanding through both writing and hands-on play.
This “Word Magic” pack includes engaging practice with:
-
Hard “c” words to help students recognize how the letter c can change its sound.
-
Words with the “ear” sound, giving readers experience with trickier vowel teams.
-
“ch” and “sh” digraphs, perfect for boosting early decoding skills.
-
“ai” and “ee” vowel patterns, supporting growing readers as they learn long-vowel spellings.
-
Ending blends like nd, nt, and mp for stronger blending and spelling accuracy.
These worksheets are perfect for small-group instruction, literacy centers, morning work, tutoring, or home reading practice. They’re easy to use, fun to repeat, and help students feel proud of the words they can read and make.
Looking for even more Alphablocks resources? We have tons available — just search “Alphablocks” on the site!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!
Give young readers a boost with this friendly Alphablocks worksheet bundle! Designed for both teachers and families, these printables make early reading practice simple, engaging, and confidence-building. Students can sound out words, blend the sounds together, and check off each word as they read. They can also write the words on the lines or build them using their letter tiles — great for hands-on learners.
Inside this “I Can Read” pack, you'll find:
-
CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant) that help children master the basics of blending.
-
Consonant blends like ch, sh, and th to strengthen early phonics skills.
-
Long vowel spellings such as ai, igh, and ee to support growing readers as they move into more challenging patterns.
These pages work beautifully for small-group instruction, centers, morning work, homework, tutoring, or at-home practice with parents.
And if your readers want even more Alphablocks fun? We’ve got you covered — just search “Alphablocks” on the site to explore the full collection!
Watch full episodes of Alphablocks on their official YouTube channel!