Introducing Consonant Digraphs (th, wh, ck)

Free sample questions, a clear explanation, and 5 practice skills with an AI tutor that guides without giving the answer away.

Letter Super Teams!

Hey, Reading Superstar! Have you ever seen two friends hold hands to do something they couldn't do alone? That's what letters do sometimes! When two letters team up to make one brand new sound, we call it a digraph. It's like a secret code!

Let's meet some of these amazing letter teams today!

Meet the Team: t + h

When the letters 't' and 'h' get together, they stop making their own sounds. Instead, they make a new sound by sticking your tongue out just a little bit between your teeth. Try it!

This team is extra special because it can make TWO sounds:

A quiet, whispery sound, like a gentle breeze. You don't use your voice! Try saying: thumb, thin, bath.
A buzzy, vibrating sound. Put your hand on your throat—you can feel it! Try saying: this, that, mother.

Key Takeaway!

A digraph is two letters that make one sound. They are a team! The letters 't' and 'h' team up to make the /th/ sound.

More Awesome Teams: wh & ck

Let's meet two more super teams! They are just as cool.

w + h = /w/

This team makes a "windy" sound, like you're blowing out a candle. Whoosh!
Words like: wheel, when, whiz.

c + k = /k/

This team loves to be at the end of words. They make one strong /k/ sound, like a "click!"
Words like: duck, sock, rock.

Wow! You just learned three new letter teams. Keep looking for these digraphs when you read. You're doing an amazing job!

Sample questions

1. Which picture starts with the 'th' sound?

✓ A picture of a thumb

○ A picture of a sun

○ A picture of a tree

○ A picture of a fish

Answer: A picture of a thumb — Listen carefully to the beginning sound of each word. Which one sounds like 'th'?

2. Which two letters work together to make the 'th' sound?

○ s h

✓ t h

○ c k

○ w h

Answer: t h — Look for the letters that are together in words like 'three' or 'bath'.

3. Which word has the 'th' sound at the end?

○ A picture of a cat

○ A picture of a dog

✓ A picture of a bath

○ A picture of a fish

Answer: A picture of a bath — Say each word slowly and listen for the sound at the very end.

Skills in this topic

Identify the consonant digraph 'th' and its sound (voiced/unvoiced).
Read words containing the 'th' digraph (e.g., 'bath', 'this').
Identify the consonant digraphs 'wh' and 'ck' and their sounds.
Read words containing 'wh' and 'ck' digraphs (e.g., 'whiz', 'duck').
Compare and contrast the sounds of 'th' in words like 'thin' and 'this'.

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