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Sky Grass Dirt

Where a letter sits on the line — up in the sky, down in the dirt

Ages 4-8 Letters and phonics Free, no sign-up

Play Sky Grass Dirt More in The Rustly Bush

How it plays

Three bands fill the screen — sky at the top, grass in the middle, dirt at the bottom. Tall letters like b and h belong in the sky, letters like a and o sit in the grass, and letters that dangle, like g and p, drop into the dirt.

What it's for

Where a letter sits on the line — up in the sky, down in the dirt. It adapts as your child plays: after a few rounds that go well it steps up a little, and after a couple of hard ones it quietly steps back. The level number only ever goes up. You can also set it up on the first screen: “How fast they wander”, “How many of each”, “Keep them where I put them”.

There is no score to lose and no way to fail. A wrong move is met with a gentle nudge, and a level ends when it's won.

Away from the screen: Tall, small and dangly

About two minutes, with things most homes have.

Say a letter and hold up your hands to show where it lives.
Hands up high for a tall letter (b, d, h, l), in front of your tummy for a small one (a, c, o), down low for one with a tail (g, p, y).
Take turns saying the letter.

Three questions to ask while they play

Does this letter reach up to the sky?
Which letters have a tail that goes down into the dirt?
Can you think of a word that starts with a tall letter?

Play together

Things to say or ask

Does this one reach up into the sky, or hang down into the dirt?
Trace it in the air with your finger first.
You noticed the little tail on that one.

Taking turns on one device: Take a letter each. Say where it lives (sky, grass or dirt) before you move it.

Talk-about cards: a question a day for a week, for the car or the dinner table. Print them, or read them from your phone.

If they find it hard

On the first screen, turn "How many of each" down to 1, or tick "Keep them where I put them". Or try A Shape in its Place first: the same sorting into places, with only two to choose from.

A sheet to print

Print the Sky Grass Dirt sheet

One A4 page, in black and white or colour.

What it practises

Where letters sit on the line. Which letters are tall, which sit on the line and which have tails.
AC9EFLY08 (English, Foundation); AC9E1LY08 (English, Year 1)
Knowing the letters. Recognising each letter and knowing its name.
AC9EFLY11 (English, Foundation); EYLF 5.4 (Early Years Learning Framework V2.0)

The codes are from the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 (for children from birth to five) and the Australian Curriculum v9 (Foundation to Year 2). Each links to the official wording. Every skill, and the games for it.

What it costs, and what we collect

Nothing, and nothing. There is no account, no advertising and no tracking of any kind. Which games have been played is remembered on your own device and is never sent anywhere. The full version is here, and it's short.

The letters went out and they ruined a shirt, Some flew to the sky and some fell in the dirt, The rest stayed at home in the grass, on alert — Come put them all back: it's Sky Grass Dirt!

Where it lives

Sky Grass Dirt lives in The Rustly Bush — letters and phonics. It works on a phone, a tablet or a classroom screen, and once it's been opened it keeps working with no signal at all.

Updated 12 October 2026