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Consonant Digraphs: Two Letters, One Sound

Students discover digraphs — pairs of letters like sh, ch, th, and wh that team up to make a single new sound — an important step in reading bigger words.

Grade 1Phonics35 minutes1 class periodReading WorkshopExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Know a digraph is two letters, one sound.
  • ✓Say the sounds for sh, ch, th, wh.
  • ✓Read words with digraphs.
  • ✓Hear digraphs at the start and end of words.
Essential Question

The word “ship” starts with s and h — but you don’t say /s/ /h/. Why do some letter pairs make just one sound?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Digraph Explorer · Interactive

The Digraph Explorer

Project this and tap each digraph. Have students say its one special sound and read the words that use it.

🔗 Explore digraphs — two letters, one soundTry it

The Lesson · Reading Workshop (Mini-Lesson · Practice · Share)

35 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Connect — One Sound?

5 min

“Ship” starts with s-h — but we say just /sh/. How?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say ship; stretch the /sh/.
  • Ask how two letters make one sound.
  • Set the goal: digraphs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Hear the /sh/.
  • Wonder about it.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Teach — Two Letters, One Sound

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Use the Digraph Explorer.
  • Say sh, ch, th, wh.
  • Read words with each.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn each digraph.
  • Say the sound.
  • Read words.
3

Active Engagement — Explore Together

10 min

Class uses the tool.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tap each digraph.
  • Say its sound.
  • Find words that use it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each digraph.
  • Say the sound.
  • Read words.
4

Independent Practice — Your Turn

10 min

Students read digraph words.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give words with digraphs.
  • Underline the digraph.
  • Read and sort them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Underline digraphs.
  • Read words.
  • Sort by digraph.
5

Share — Share

5 min

Students share a word.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Invite a digraph word.
  • Say the sound together.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Share a word.
  • Say the digraph.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

CCSS
RF.1.3a

Know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs.

CCSS
RF.1.3

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills.

CCSS
RF.1.2

Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds.

CCSS
L.1.2

Demonstrate command of conventions of spelling.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Say each digraph sound with a motion.
  • Sentence frame: “___ says /___/.”
  • Picture cards for sh/ch/th/wh words.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with sh and ch.
  • Use a mirror for th (tongue).
  • Match words to digraph sounds.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find digraphs at the ends of words.
  • Sort words by their digraph.
  • Read a sentence full of digraphs.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Reading notebooks
  • 💻The Digraph Explorer
  • 🖼️Digraph picture cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

digraphtwo letters that make one soundsoundwhat letters sayshthe /sh/ sound (ship)chthe /ch/ sound (chair)ththe /th/ sound (this)whthe /wh/ sound (what)blendto join soundsconsonanta letter that is not a vowel
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a digraph?
Two letters that team up to make just one sound.
QUESTION 2
What sound do the letters “sh” make?
The /sh/ sound (like in ship).
QUESTION 3
Name a word that starts with “ch.”
Sample: chair, cheese, or chip.

Going deeper? Digraph word hunt.

Have students hunt through a book for words with sh, ch, th, and wh, and sort them by digraph. A printable digraph hunt is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Consonant DigraphsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Consonant DigraphsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Consonant DigraphsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: blend, ch, consonant, digraph, sh, sound, th, wh
  1. the /ch/ sound (chair)
  2. the /wh/ sound (what)
  3. the /sh/ sound (ship)
  4. what letters say
  5. two letters that make one sound
  6. a letter that is not a vowel
  7. the /th/ sound (this)
  8. to join sounds

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a digraph?
  2. What sound do the letters “sh” make?
  3. Name a word that starts with “ch.”
Answer key — Part A: 1) ch · 2) wh · 3) sh · 4) sound · 5) digraph · 6) consonant · 7) th · 8) blend
Part B: 1) Two letters that team up to make just one sound. 2) The /sh/ sound (like in ship). 3) Sample: chair, cheese, or chip.