You will learn
- Name the common digraphs.
- Read words with digraphs.
- Spell words with digraphs.
- Tell a digraph from a blend.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A digraph is two letters that make one sound.
- Common digraphs: sh, ch, th, wh, ck, ng.
- A digraph is different from a blend.
- Say the one sound it makes.
Words to know
two letters that make one sound
the digraph in ship
the digraph in chin
the digraph in this and thin
1. Discover: Fish for lunch
Ama and her dad go fishing with a long rod. They catch a fish and carry it to the shed. “This is a fresh fish,” says Dad. They wash it and cook it on the stove. “Thank you!” says Ama. “What a good lunch!”
Think: Which words have sh, ch, th, wh or ng?
2. Understand: Digraphs
Idea 1: One sound from two letters
A digraph is two letters that make one sound: sh in ship, ch in chin, th in this, wh in when.
Idea 2: Ending digraphs
Digraphs can end words too: ck in duck, ng in king, sh in fish, ch in much.
Idea 3: Digraph or blend?
In a blend you hear two sounds (st in stop). In a digraph you hear one new sound (sh in ship).
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Read
Read: chip.
- ch is one sound.
Answer: chip
Example 2 (We do it together): Spell
Spell the word for a bird that says quack.
- d-u-ck
Answer: duck
Example 3 (You try): Sort
Is st in stop a digraph or a blend?
Show the steps and answer
- Count the sounds.
Answer: a blend
Did you know?
The digraph th makes two sounds: the voiced th in this, and the unvoiced th in thin.
Why this matters
Digraphs appear in thousands of words. Knowing them speeds up reading.
4. Explore: Digraph sort
Sort words by digraph.
- Read the word cards.
- Sort into sh, ch, th, wh, ck, ng.
- Read each pile aloud.
- Add a new word to each pile.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can spot digraphs.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The digraph in fish is ___.
- The digraph in chin is ___.
- The digraph in king is ___.
- I can read ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Which digraph is in ship?
sh
Question 2. Which digraph is in duck?
ck
Question 3. Is bl a digraph?
no, a blend
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- A ___ is two letters with one sound.
- The digraph in ship is ___.
- The digraph in chin is ___.
- The digraph in king is ___.
- The digraph in duck is ___.
Level 2: Grow
- Spell a th word.
- Spell a wh word.
- Read: thick.
Level 3: Stretch
- How many sounds in a digraph?
- Is sp a digraph?
- Write a sentence with sh.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Find five digraph words at home.
Show a sample answer
dish, brush, chair, thumb, clock
Another one. Write a sentence with two digraph words.
Show a sample answer
The fish is in the dish.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Say one sound sh.
Fix: Count the sounds.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name common digraphs.
- I can read words with digraphs.
- I can spell words with digraphs.
- I can tell digraphs from blends.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- A digraph is two letters, one sound.
- Common digraphs: sh, ch, th, wh, ck, ng.
- A blend keeps both sounds.
- Say the new sound.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Long-vowel spelling patterns. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a digraph? [1 mark]
- Name three digraphs. [3 marks]
- Write a word with the digraph ck. [1 mark]
- How is a digraph different from a blend? [2 marks]
- Explain how to read a word with a digraph. [3 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- two letters that make one sound [1]
- sh [1]; ch [1]; th/wh/ck/ng [1]
- a valid word [1]
- digraph = one sound [1]; blend = both sounds heard [1]
- see the two letters [1]; know they make one sound [1]; blend the word [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- A ___ is two letters with one sound.
- The digraph in ship is ___.
- The digraph in chin is ___.
- The digraph in king is ___.
- The digraph in duck is ___.
- True or false: st is a digraph.
- True or false: sh is one sound.
- Spell a th word.
- Read: chat.
- Write a sentence with sh.
Homework
Find five digraph words at home and write them.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A ___ is two letters with one sound. | digraph | 1 |
| 2. The digraph in ship is ___. | sh | 1 |
| 3. The digraph in chin is ___. | ch | 1 |
| 4. The digraph in king is ___. | ng | 1 |
| 5. The digraph in duck is ___. | ck | 1 |
| 6. True or false: st is a digraph. | false | 1 |
| 7. True or false: sh is one sound. | true | 1 |
| 8. Spell a th word. | this | 1 |
| 9. Read: chat. | chat | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with sh. | The ship is big. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 digraph; 2 sh; 3 ch; 4 ng; 5 ck. Level 2: 1 this; 2 when; 3 thick. Level 3: 1 one; 2 no, a blend; 3 The ship is big..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Name the common digraphs | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Read words with digraphs | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Spell words with digraphs | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Tell a digraph from a blend | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Reading sh as s then h. Say one sound sh.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Use digraph picture cards.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child reviews digraphs such as sh, ch and th. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Read digraph words together.
- Hunt for words at home.
- Praise careful reading.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: name the common digraphs; read words with digraphs; spell words with digraphs; tell a digraph from a blend.
Prerequisite knowledge. Reviewing consonant blends.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Review blends.
Explanation (10 min). Teach digraphs.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise reading and spelling.
Independent activity (10 min). Sort blends and digraphs.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Is it one sound or two?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures. Extension. Find digraphs in longer words.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Reading sh as s then h. Say one sound sh.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Use digraph picture cards. Enrichment. Write a story with many digraph words. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Reading: Foundational Skills. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RF.2.3; IES What Works Clearinghouse Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in K–3; Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (phonics and spelling). These sources informed the lesson.