Long & Short Vowels

We won’t even break a sweat. We don’t need towels.
We’re just talking ’bout five letters that we call the vowels.
Yes, sir, that’s “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” “u”
And sometimes the letter “y” acts like a vowel, too.
What do we call the other letters in the alphabet?
We call them consonants. Now we’re set.
Vowels are important because they separate
The sounds that consonants make.
Most words have at least one vowel,
But some don’t, like “try,” just in case you wondered how.
Vowels can be pronounced in different ways.
Sometimes they are pronounced with long sounds and say their names.
Here’s what I mean. The long sound for “a” is “ay,”
As in ape or plate or skate or play.
The long sound for “e” is “ee,” like in team.
The long sound for “i” is “ai,” like ice cream.
The long sound for “o” is “oh,” like in coat.
The long sound for “u” is “yoo,” like a huge yellow boat.
How do you know if a vowel has a long sound?
I have a couple clues you could use that I have found.
If a word has one syllable and ends with a silent “e,”
The vowel is probably long like cake, Pete, rice, rose, fuse, you see.
If a vowel’s the first letter of a word with at least one more vowel,
It’ll probably say its name, too, like evil alien cow.

You know it’s true: “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” “u.”
Vowels can be long or short like a hairdo.
I ate an apple. I’m eating eggs. I like figs.
I hope for chocolate. I use a mug for coffee, kids.
(x2)

Sometimes vowels make a sound we call short.
If you didn’t know, it’s cool; I came to report.
The short sound for “a” is “aa,”
Like apple or bat or my cat had a bath.
The short sound for “e” is “eh,”
As in bed, as in pet. Oh, it’s raining. Now I’m wet.
The short sound for “i” is “ih,”
As in pig, as in bit. It’s a party. Now it’s lit.
The short sound for “o” is “ah,”
As in hip-hop. The party won’t stop.
The short sound for “u” is “uh,”
Like it’s fun when we run outside playing in the sun.
How do you know if a vowel has a short sound?
I have a couple clues you could use that I have found.
If a word is consonant, vowel, consonant,
It’s probably short, like I have a cat and need a box for it.
If a vowel’s the first letter of a word and the only vowel,
It’s probably short, like ax, egg, ill, off, um. I get it now.
These rules aren’t always right. The pattern doesn’t always fit.
So try the vowels both ways, and show a lot of grite. I mean grit.

You know it’s true: “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” “u.”
Vowels can be long or short like a hairdo.
I ate an apple. I’m eating eggs. I like figs.
I hope for chocolate. I use a mug for coffee, kids.
(x2)