Which word begins with /sh/: ship, chip, or whip?
Kindergarten–Grade 3 · Free practice
Digraph Games and Teaching Guide
A digraph is a pair of letters representing one sound. Recognizing common digraphs helps students treat the pair as a unit when decoding and spelling words such as ship, chin, thin, and when.
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Understand the target
What students are learning
Consonant digraphs are different from blends. In a digraph, two letters work together to represent one sound; in a blend, each consonant sound remains audible.
Students should meet digraphs in listening, word reading, spelling, and connected text. ABZ activities provide repeated decisions while varying the visual and game context.
Instructional sequence
A practical progression
- 01
Hear and identify the target sound at the beginning or end of a word.
- 02
Connect the sound with its two-letter spelling.
- 03
Contrast digraphs with single consonants and blends.
- 04
Read and spell words containing digraphs in sentences.
Sample interactions
What one practice item can look like
These teaching examples explain the target; they are not added to ABZ’s verified authored-item count.
Complete _in to make a body part below your mouth.
Show answer and purpose
chinThe learner combines meaning with a digraph.Is the beginning of frog a digraph or a blend?
Show answer and purpose
blendBoth /f/ and /r/ can be heard.Practice in ABZ
Games that include Digraphs
Every listed activity is connected to this target in the public ABZ Content & Standards Registry.
Reading Pac-Man
Play freePhonics Memory Match
Play freeRead and Race
Play freeReading Guess The Athlete
Play freeReading Fruit Ninja
Play freeRunway Readers
Play freeReading Scramble Mania
Play freeReading Slam Showdown
Play freeSee the counting method, standards status, and complete registry →
Teacher quick start
A short lesson-to-game routine
- 1Introduce the sound orally and show how the letters operate as a team.
- 2Use words that contrast the new digraph with a known pattern.
- 3Assign a brief ABZ activity and note which positions cause difficulty.
- 4Apply the pattern in dictated words and a decodable sentence.
Questions teachers ask
Digraphs FAQ
Are ck, ng, and ph digraphs?
They can be taught as letter teams representing one primary sound, although instructional programs may categorize them differently.
What is the difference between ch and a blend?
The letters ch represent one combined sound. In a blend such as cl, both consonant sounds remain identifiable.
How much practice is enough?
Continue until learners can apply the pattern in unfamiliar words and sentences, not only complete a familiar game set.
Authored and internally reviewed by Dr. Zyanna Imani S., educator, literacy interventionist, and learning experience designer.
Last reviewed 2026-07-26. ABZ’s standards mapping is real but partial and remains under curriculum review.