Free printable practice
Digraph Sounds Practice Activities
Printable Grade 1 phonics worksheets for hearing, reading, and spelling common consonant digraph sounds in words.
Practice that builds confidence
What grade 1 children learn
These Grade 1 digraph sounds worksheets help children notice when two consonants work together to make one sound, such as sh, ch, th, wh, and ck. Children practise listening for the sound, matching it to letters, reading words, and using the words in context.
The printable activities include sound sorting, word-picture matching, spelling practice, sentence work, and short reading tasks. They support the phonics skills children need for smoother decoding and more confident early reading.
Digraphs are two letters that represent one sound. In Grade 1 phonics, children commonly meet consonant digraphs in words such as ship, chin, bath, whale, and duck. The main idea is not to sound out each letter separately; sh is read as one sound, not /s/ then /h/.
From listening to reading words
Good digraph practice begins with hearing the target sound at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. Children then connect the sound to its letter pattern, sort words by digraph, and blend the whole word. Worksheets may ask them to choose whether a picture is shell or bell, complete a word such as _op with ch, or read a sentence containing several digraph words.
A simple routine at home
Choose one digraph for the day. Say three words aloud, such as shop, fish, and wish, and ask your child to show a thumbs-up when they hear /sh/. Next, read a short list together, circle the digraph in each word, and have your child use one word in an oral sentence. Finish by rereading the list once for accuracy and once for smoother reading.
Classroom uses for teachers
Teachers can use these pages in phonics centers, small-group reteaching, morning work, or as quick checks after a mini-lesson. A word sort can show whether students can hear the sound, while sentence reading shows whether they can apply it in connected text. The same worksheet can be extended by asking students to highlight digraphs in one color and underline the rest of the word.
Common mix-ups to watch
Some children try to pronounce both letters in a digraph, especially in th and wh words. Others confuse ch and sh because the sounds feel close in the mouth. A helpful child-friendly strategy is: “Spot the two letters, say the one sound, then blend the word.” For example, in chin, spot ch, say /ch/, then blend /ch/ /i/ /n/.
Free printable PDF download
Use this grade 1 digraph sounds worksheet page to preview the activity, print it, or download it as a PDF for quick practice. It works well for homework, homeschool lessons, tutoring, morning work, revision, and classroom centers.
Answers and answer key support
After the child completes the worksheet independently, parents and teachers can use the answer support or answer key information to check the work, review mistakes, and choose the next practice step.
Why iBloom worksheets help
iBloom worksheets give children repeated, focused practice without making every page feel the same. They move from sound recognition to word reading and simple sentence use, so students build both phonics knowledge and reading confidence. Clear pictures, familiar word patterns, and varied tasks help children pay attention to the digraph sound instead of guessing from the first letter alone.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
What digraph sounds should a Grade 1 child practise?
Grade 1 children commonly practise consonant digraphs such as sh, ch, th, wh, and ck. The goal is to recognize that the two letters make one sound in words like ship, chop, bath, when, and duck.
How are digraphs different from blends?
In a digraph, two letters make one sound, as in sh in fish. In a blend, each consonant sound can still be heard, as in st in stop. This page focuses on digraph sounds.
Should children memorize digraph words or sound them out?
Children should learn to spot the digraph, say its single sound, and then blend the word. Some high-frequency words may become familiar by sight, but the phonics habit helps with new words.
Why does my child read sh as s and h separately?
That is a common early phonics error. Have your child circle the two letters together, say the digraph sound aloud, and then blend the rest of the word. Repeated practice with the same digraph helps.
How can I use these worksheets after a phonics lesson?
Use one worksheet for independent practice, then ask the child to read selected words aloud and explain which digraph they found. This checks both decoding and sound recognition.
Is this grade 1 digraph sounds worksheet free?
Yes. You can preview it for free and use the printable worksheet for home or classroom practice.
Can I download this grade 1 digraph sounds worksheet as a PDF?
Yes. Use the worksheet download option to save a printable PDF, or print the worksheet directly from the page.
Does this grade 1 digraph sounds worksheet include answers or an answer key?
When the activity has fixed answers, iBloom includes answer support so parents and teachers can check the completed worksheet.