You will learn
- Say what a digraph is.
- Read the digraphs sh, ch, th and wh.
- Read words with a digraph.
- Write words with a digraph.
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.
- sh says /sh/ as in ship.
- ch says /ch/ as in chop.
- th and wh have their own sounds.
Words to know
two letters that make one sound
what we hear
a big boat
to cut
1. Discover: Two letters, one sound
Ama reads the word ship. She sees s-h-i-p, four letters. But she only says three sounds: /sh/ /i/ /p/. “The letters s and h work as a team!” says her teacher.
Think: How many sounds are in fish?
2. Understand: Digraphs
Idea 1: What is a digraph?
A digraph is two letters that make one sound. We still say one sound for the two letters.
Idea 2: Four common digraphs
sh in ship, ch in chop, th in thin, wh in whale.
Idea 3: In words
In fish, the letters s-h make /sh/, so there are three sounds: /f/ /i/ /sh/.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Read a digraph word
Read ship.
- Spot sh.
- Say /sh/ /i/ /p/.
Answer: ship
Example 2 (We do it together): Count the sounds
How many sounds in chop?
- ch is one sound.
- Count /ch/ /o/ /p/.
Answer: 3 sounds
Example 3 (You try): Spot the digraph
Find the digraph in thin.
Show the steps and answer
- Look at the first two letters.
- th makes one sound.
Answer: th
Did you know?
The digraph th makes two different sounds, as in thin and this.
Why this matters
Digraphs appear in many everyday words, so knowing them helps you read quickly.
4. Explore: Digraph hunt
Hunt for digraphs in words.
- Choose a page of a book.
- Look for sh, ch, th and wh.
- Say each word aloud.
- Count how many you found.
Think about it: what did you notice?
Digraphs are everywhere in reading.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The digraph in ___ is ___.
- ___ makes one sound.
- There are ___ sounds in ___.
- I can read the word ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Read ship.
ship
Question 2. How many sounds in chop?
3
Question 3. Digraph in thin?
th
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Read fish.
- Read chip.
- Read thin.
- Read whale.
- A digraph is ___ letters that make one sound.
Level 2: Grow
- How many sounds in shop?
- Which is a digraph: sh or st?
- Find the digraph in chin.
Level 3: Stretch
- Write a word for each digraph: sh, ch, th.
- Why is ship only three sounds?
- Kofi says fish has four sounds. Is he right?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Find three words with a digraph in a book at home.
Show a sample answer
fish, chair, thing.
Another one. Write a sentence with two digraph words.
Show a sample answer
The fish is in the shop.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Say one sound for the two letters.
Fix: Count the sounds, not the letters.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a digraph is.
- I can read sh, ch, th and wh.
- I can read words with digraphs.
- I can write words with digraphs.
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
- Two letters can make one sound.
- sh, ch, th and wh are digraphs.
- Count sounds, not letters.
- Digraphs are in many words.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Consonant blends. 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 two digraphs. [2 marks]
- How many sounds in ship? [1 mark]
- Write a word with the digraph ch. [1 mark]
- Explain why fish has three sounds. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- two letters that make one sound [1]
- sh [1]; ch (or th/wh) [1]
- 3 [1]
- for example: chop [1]
- f is one sound [1]; i is one sound [1]; sh is one sound [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Digraph in ship
- Digraph in chop
- Digraph in thin
- Digraph in whale
- How many sounds in fish?
- How many sounds in shop?
- Read: chip
- Write a word with sh.
- True or false: a digraph is two letters with one sound.
- Write a sentence with a digraph word.
Homework
Find five words with digraphs at home and say them aloud.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Digraph in ship | sh | 1 |
| 2. Digraph in chop | ch | 1 |
| 3. Digraph in thin | th | 1 |
| 4. Digraph in whale | wh | 1 |
| 5. How many sounds in fish? | 3 | 1 |
| 6. How many sounds in shop? | 3 | 1 |
| 7. Read: chip | chip | 1 |
| 8. Write a word with sh. | e.g. ship | 1 |
| 9. True or false: a digraph is two letters with one sound. | true | 1 |
| 10. Write a sentence with a digraph word. | a correct sentence | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 fish; 2 chip; 3 thin; 4 whale; 5 two. Level 2: 1 3; 2 sh; 3 ch. Level 3: 1 for example: ship, chop, thin; 2 sh is one sound; 3 no, it has three.
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 Say what a digraph is | 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 the digraphs sh, ch, th and wh | 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 Read words with a digraph | 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 Write words with a digraph | 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: Saying both letter sounds. Say one sound for the two letters.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Teach sh and ch first with 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 learns that two letters can make one sound. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look for digraphs in words.
- Make the sounds together.
- Read signs and labels together.
- 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: say what a digraph is; read the digraphs sh, ch, th and wh; read words with a digraph; write words with a digraph.
Prerequisite knowledge. Segmenting words for spelling.
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). Write ship and ask how many sounds.
Explanation (10 min). Teach digraphs sh, ch, th and wh.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise with digraph hunts.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the practice and share.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How many sounds? Which two letters work as a team?
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. Teach one digraph at a time with a picture. Extension. Find words with digraphs at the end.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Saying both letter sounds. Say one sound for the two letters.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-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. Teach sh and ch first with picture cards. Enrichment. Sort words by their digraph. 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 1 » 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.1.3.a (know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs); IES What Works Clearinghouse practice guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade; Cambridge Primary English Stage 1 (phonics). These sources informed the lesson.