Exploring Digraphs

Overview

This 30-minute lesson introduces Primary 3-4 students (ages 7-9) to digraphs, focusing on recognising the sounds they make and identifying examples in everyday words. This session is lesson 2 of 16 in the unit "Blends and Digraphs Mastery," developed in alignment with the National Curriculum for England, specifically addressing the English Programme of Study for Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4).

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National Curriculum Link

English - Reading - Word Reading:

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Apply their growing knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes (etymology and morphology) as listed in English Appendix 1, both to read aloud and to understand the meaning of new words they meet.
• Pupils should be able to:
  • Use phonics knowledge to decode unfamiliar words and develop fluent reading.

English - Speaking and Listening:

• Pupils should be able to:
  • Participate actively in collaborative conversations.
  • Explain and discuss their understanding clearly.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

• WALT: Identify and pronounce common digraphs correctly.
• WALT: Recognise digraphs in everyday words and distinguish their sounds.
• WALT: Read simple words containing digraphs fluently.

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Success Criteria

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Hear and articulate the sounds of common digraphs including sh, ch, th, ng, wh.
• Spot digraphs in spoken and written words with teacher support.
• Read aloud a selection of words containing these digraphs confidently and accurately.

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Resources

• Flashcards with digraphs and example words
• Whiteboard and markers
• Magnetic letters or letter tiles
• Worksheets with word searches and fill-in-the-blanks
• Dyslexia-friendly coloured overlays and font options (e.g., OpenDyslexic font printouts)

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Phonics Warm-up Song:

• Begin with a catchy phonics song focused on digraph sounds (e.g., “sh,” “ch,” “th,” “ng,” “wh”). Use hand actions to reinforce sounds.
• Quick oral drill: Teacher pronounces words; students identify if there is a digraph present (thumbs up/down).

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2. Introduction & Explanation (8 minutes)

• What is a Digraph?: Explain that a digraph is two letters that make one sound. Write “sh,” “ch,” “th,” “ng,” and “wh” on the board.
• Say each digraph sound clearly and ask students to repeat.
• Show flashcards with each digraph alongside a picture and example word (e.g., sh = ship).
• Students listen and say the words aloud, emphasizing the digraph sounds.

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3. Guided Practice (8 minutes)

• Interactive Games:
  • Digraph Detective: Read aloud a list of words. Pupils raise a card if they hear a digraph sound and identify which one.
  • Magnetic Letters: In pairs, students build words from letter tiles containing digraphs shown on the board.
• Support weaker readers with dyslexia-friendly overlays and highlight digraphs in contrasting colours to help with visual tracking.

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4. Independent Activity (5 minutes)

• Complete a worksheet where students circle the digraph in words or fill in missing letters to complete digraph words.
• Differentiation: Provide sentence starters or word banks for those who need more support.

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5. Plenary & Assessment (4 minutes)

• Recap key digraph sounds with a quick round of “Say the digraph.”
• Ask 2-3 volunteers to read their favourite digraph word aloud.
• Exit Ticket: Each student says one digraph and an example word to the teacher before leaving.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For struggling pupils: Use tactile materials (letters they can touch), smaller group support, and dyslexia-friendly printouts with colour overlays.
• For advanced learners: Challenge them to write their own sentence including at least two digraph words or to name additional words beyond those introduced. Use reasoning by discussing why certain letters work together to make one sound.
• EAL support: Use pictures alongside words and encourage peer support for vocabulary understanding.

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Extension Activities

• Create a digraph word scrapbook over the unit by collecting words they read outside class.
• Use digital tools (if available) to play phonics games focusing on digraph recognition at home or in class.
• Encourage students to act out or draw digraph words to build multisensory connections.

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Dyslexia-Friendly Tips

• Use a clear, sans-serif font in printouts (e.g., OpenDyslexic or Comic Sans).
• Ensure high contrast between letters and background.
• Use coloured overlays when reading large texts.
• Present one digraph per flashcard, avoid crowding the visual field.
• Break instructions into simple, clear steps.

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This lesson is designed to be engaging, multisensory, and inclusive, helping pupils build foundational phonics knowledge critical for fluent reading in alignment with the National Curriculum’s expectations for Key Stage 2 literacy development.