Young readers will love playing this simple game that practices ending digraphs. In this digraphs for kids activity we are targeting words ending with CH, CK, SH, and TH. This phonics game is the perfect activity for children just starting to read in kindergarten and first grade to learn what are digraphs! Simply print digraph activity and you are ready to play and learn!
Ending Digraphs
Most children love playing games. And let’s face it, games make learning fun, so why not take advantage to sneak in some extra practice? I love incorporating games into learning time, whether it is math or reading. This simple Bump Game is a fun way to have children practice reading words with ending digraphs such as fish and wash. We know that practice makes perfect when it comes to reading, so a game is the best way to make it fun. If the kids are having fun, they will want to do the activity and that makes life so much easier. This digraph activity is perfect for kindergartners and grade 1 students. But before we dive into the digraph games, lt’s learn what are digraphs and how to teach digraphs for kids.
What are Digraphs?
A digraph is two letters that merge to make one sound. A digraph can be made up of vowels or consonants. Examples of consonant digraphs are:
- ch as in arch
- sh as in fish
- th as in bath
- wh as in where
- ph as in phone
- ck as in sock
The sound made by digraph sound is different than the sounds of each letter blended together. This means they cannot be sounded out by letter. This means they are a little trickier. Children need to learn and recognize them as they progress in their reading. There is really only one way to do this and that is to practice over and over. Worksheets have their place, but they can become tedious after a while. Having a couple of games will make the learning fun and there is nothing wrong with that. Consonant digraphs are often at the start or end of words. Our game focuses on diagraphs at the end of words.
Digraphs for Kids
We created a free ending digraph for you to download and create. Children will enjoy playing it and you will find that it is a very engaging activity. Don’t be surprised if it becomes a class favorite! The best part is that it is very easy to prep and doesn’t require a lot of materials.
What does this game practice?
This easy game practices three different skills
- Learning and recognizing 4 ending digraphs
- Finding words ending with those digraphs on their game board.
- Reading the words.
Phonics Game
The printable includes word cards, spinner, and 2 game boards.
We have 4 words in each group of ending digraphs
- ch words (arch, peach, sandwich, and punch)
- ck words (sock, duck, sick, and neck)
- th words (cloth, bath, tooth, and earth)
- sh words (brush, wash, fish, and lash)
This game is the perfect way to help the children practice these ending digraphs. They are designed for children who have some basic literacy skills. They have practiced beginning and ending sounds and can sound out simple CVC words. Once they have mastered these basics they are ready to more on the digraphs.
You will need:
- The game pdf (see below)
- Cardstock
- Game spinner
- Small counters in different colors
- Laminator (optional)
Digraph Game
- Print game board, spinner, and word cards on cardstock
- Laminate for durability if you wish
- Cut out word cards
- Punch a hole in the middle of the game spinner and assemble the spinner parts.
NOTE If you don’t have a game spinner, you can use a brad and a paper clip. This video shows you how to assemble the spinner.
Digraph activity
- Give each player a set of colored game markers
- The first player spins the arrow or paperclip.
- They find a picture on the game board that ends with that sound. They can use the word cards if they need help.
- Place their counter on that picture.
- They can “bump off” any counter belonging to other players. Then place their own counter on the picture.
- A picture with two markers is frozen and cannot be bumped.
- The game is over when all the pictures are frozen.
- The winner is the player who freezes the most pictures.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
- Invite children to pick a word and write a sentence that includes that word. Older children could try writing a story that uses more than one word.
- Send children on a word hunt to find more words that end with these diagraphs. They could make little books to record the words.
Digraph and Blends
As children progress in phonics they work on digraphs and blends. Digraphs are two consonants that make one sound such as /TH/ sys thumb. Consonant blends have two constonants that each still make their own sound such as . If you are looking for more blends for kids games, worksheets, and activities? Check out these resoures or see all our digraph activities or consonant activities.
- Spring Digraph Activity Puzzles
- Printable Digraph Game for working on sh, ch, th words
- Ice Cream Puzzles Digraph Game for summer learning
- Build-a-Digraph Puzzle – Digraph Activity
- Digraph BINGO Game
Mastered digraphs? Move on to trigraphs for kids! These words are 3 constonants that make one sound such at
- Trigraph Printables – color and read trigraphs
- Printable Trigraph Readers – set #2
- Trigraph Workhseets – cut and paste to learn trigraph words
- Bingo Dauber Trigraph Worksheets make learning fun
- THR Word Activity with playdough!
- Trigraph Phonics Blending Games
Consonant blends activities
Other Literacy Activities you may enjoy:
- Free Ending Blends Worksheets
- Spring Bee Initial Blends Game
- Consonant Blends Games (puzzles in color or black & white)
- Blue Bird Initial Blends Activity
- Read and Color Free Blends Worksheets
- Dab a Blend – Ending Blends Worksheets in First Grade
- Final Blends Game
- Hands-on L Blend Worksheets
- Graph a Blends Activity
- Final Consonant Blends Worksheets with do a dot markers
- Mitten Initial Blend Puzzles – Winter activities for first grade
- Ending S Blends Activity
- L Blends Fun Pack, TH Blends Fun Pack, or R Blends Fun Pack
- Leaf Puzzle Blends – fall activities for first grade
- Th Worksheets – reading the words in sentences
- Color by Blend Worksheet
- Clip Card Consonant Blends Activities
- Find and Dot Ending Blends Activities
- Reading phonics blends
Bump Game
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