πŸ“– ReadingLevel 1Lesson 3
← Back↓ Download PDF

Consonant Digraphs β€” ch, sh, th, and wh

How to use: Download the PDF to print the worksheet. Then use this page to repeat activities and check answers.

Learning Objectives

  • 1Recognize that ch, sh, th, and wh are two letters that make one new sound
  • 2Read words beginning or ending with ch, sh, th, and wh correctly
  • 3Sort words by their digraph sound into the correct group
πŸ“˜

Mini Lesson

You have learned to blend three sounds in CVC words. Today you will learn about digraphs β€” pairs of letters that team up to make one brand-new sound. Neither letter says its usual sound; together they make something new!

ch β€” the "chuh" sound

  • Sounds like: ch in chip, chat, bench, much
  • Say it: put your tongue behind your top teeth and push air out β€” ch!

sh β€” the "shh" sound

  • Sounds like: sh in ship, shop, fish, dash
  • Say it: put a finger to your lips like "shh!" β€” that is the sound.

th β€” the "thh" sound

  • Sounds like: th in this, that, thin, bath
  • Say it: put your tongue gently between your teeth and blow.

wh β€” the "wh" sound

  • Sounds like: wh in when, whip, which, where
  • In most accents it sounds like a regular /w/ β€” wh words are often question words!
Vocabulary
Digraph
Two letters that work together to make ONE new sounde.g. ch, sh, th, wh
Consonant
A letter that is not a vowel (a, e, i, o, u)e.g. b, c, d, f, g, h…
The four consonant digraphsFour colored tiles showing ch, sh, th, and wh, each with a simple icon and an example word.Two letters β†’ one new soundchchairshshipththumbwhwhale
Four digraphs β€” each pair of letters makes one fresh sound.
A digraph is 2 letters joined to make 1 soundFour rows show each pair of letters (c + h, s + h, t + h, w + h) being joined by a bracket into a single sound shown coming out of a speaker.2 letters = 1 soundc+h"ch"/tʃ/s+h"sh"/ʃ/t+h"th"/θ/w+h"wh"/w/Two letters — one fresh sound out of the speaker.
Each pair of letters joins into a single fresh sound.
πŸ’‘

Ask yourself: "Do I see two letters together at the start or end of this word? What one sound do they make?"

🧭

Guided Practice

Read each page slowly. Use the Sound Pad to check the digraph sounds. After each page, find words with ch, sh, th, or wh and say the digraph sound aloud.

Chad and the Shell Shop

Tap Next to open β†’

Cover

✏️

Exercises

Tap a word to select it, then tap the bucket for its digraph. Listen for the sound at the start or end of the word.

ch

sh

th

wh

1. What is a digraph?

2. Which digraph does "chip" begin with?

3. Which digraph does "ship" begin with?

4. Which digraph does "bath" end with?

5. Which word begins with the wh digraph?

6. Which digraph do you hear at the END of "fish"?

7. How many sounds does the digraph "ch" make?

8. Which word does NOT contain the ch digraph?

9. Which word contains the th digraph?

10. Why is it important to know digraphs when reading?

🎯

Assessment

Parent / Teacher Checklist

← Lesson 2Lesson 4 β†’