Digraphs Teaching Resources
Explore digraph worksheets, learning games and more phonics teaching resources created by teachers for teachers like you!
This collection of printable and digital digraph teacher resources is aligned with the Australian English curriculum and included everything you need to build your lesson plans. You'll find easily editable options, created by our teacher team so that you can easily differentiate instruction.
Are you new to teaching early literacy? Or are you looking for a refresher? Read on for a digraphs primer from our teacher team!
What Is a Digraph?
If you're teaching phonological awareness or reading, you'll need to know! A digraph is a building block of literacy for any young reader.
But how do you teach digraphs in phonics? And what is a consonant digraph?
Digraph Definition
To really answer the question 'what is a digraph,' it's worth going back to the word origin.The word digraph dates back to the 1700s, and it's built from the roots di- (meaning twice) and -graph (meaning something written).
By definition, a digraph is the term used to describe two consecutive letters that work together to make one sound.
If you want to get technical, digraphs are a kind of grapheme — a word that refers to any unit (such as a letter or group of letters) in a writing system. In this case, graphemes are letters or groups of letters in English.
Making sense? We've got one more important phonics term for you! The English language is comprised of about 44 phonemes (the word for the individual speech sounds that make up words). Phonemes can be written in more than 200 letter combinations known as — you guessed it — graphemes and digraphs!
What Are the Most Common Digraphs in the English Language?
Digraphs are often taught in order, starting with those most commonly appearing in English words. Here are some common digraph examples students will encounter:
- ch (as in chin),
- ch (as in school),
- ng (as in sing),
- ph (as in phone),
- sh (as in ship),
- th (as is think),
- wh (as is wheel)
What Is the Difference Between a Digraph and a Blend?
Have you heard the terms digraph and blend thrown around? They seem like they'd be the same thing, but don't be deceived!
While they look the same, there is a major difference between a digraph and a blend. A digraph is defined as two letters that make a single sound. The blend is a combination of letters whose sounds are linked together, but not combined when forming a word. The blend stands apart because its letters still make two distinct sounds.
For example, the 'sl' combination in 'sleep' is a blend, rather than a digraph. That is because you still pronounce the /s/ and /l/ sounds when pronouncing the word.
Another difference between a digraph and a blend is that a digraph can be made up of two consonants or two vowels, while blends are only made up of consonants.
Teaching About Digraphs — Why It's Important
The teaching of phonic digraphs helps students to understand that letter combinations can represent more than one sound and that a syllable must contain a vowel sound.
Teaching students about phonic digraphs in your primaryclassroom will also help them to recognise and associate sounds of the letters of the alphabet, which will help them to improve their reading skills and efficiency.
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Consonant Digraph WR Interactive
Engage students in practising their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘wr’ with this fun building site-themed interactive activity.
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Roll and Read Diphthong Activity
Explore different diphthongs with this fun gamified diphthong activity.
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Consonant Digraph WH Interactive Activity
Engage students in practising their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘wh’ with this ocean-themed interactive activity.
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Consonant Digraph NG Interactive Activity
Engage students in practising their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘ng’ with this fun playground-themed interactive activity.
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Diphthong Fluency Charts
Practise reading out these word lists that contain different diphthongs with these fluency charts
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Th Digraph Lesson Resource Pack
Introduce students to the th digraph with this set of teaching slides and mini activity book.
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Wh Digraph Lesson Resource Pack
Introduce students to the wh digraph with this set of teaching slides and mini activity book.
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Diphthong Pocket Chart Task Cards
Help students visualise and remember the different diphthong vowel teams with this pocket chart sorting activity with mouth articulation images.
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My Diphthong Cheat Sheet
Help students learn all about diphthongs with this handy diphthong student reference sheet.
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Diphthongs Classroom Posters
Display this set of posters highlighting the main diphthongs with word examples and mouth articulation images.
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Beginning Consonant Digraphs Sorting Activity
Explore words that contain an initial consonant digraph with a set of 24 picture sorting cards.
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Vowel Teams Sorting Activity (EE, EA and EY)
Decode words with the EE, EA and EY vowel teams using 18 picture cards with sorting mats.
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FIND IT! Consonant Digraphs Board Game
Practise decoding words that include 4 examples of consonant digraphs with our digraph flashcards and board game set.
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EA Vowel Digraph Bingo Game
Practise decoding words that include the EA long /e/ vowel team sound with this BINGO game for up to 20 players.
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'EA' Vowel Digraph Board Game
Decode words with the ea long vowel team in this printable board game.
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Sounds of OO - Glasses Template
Review the long and short ‘oo’ sound by creating a pair of ‘sOOper’ funky glasses!
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Word Study List - Long Vowels
Introduce and explore words containing graphemes that make long vowel sounds with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Long U Graphemes
Introduce and explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘long u’ sound with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Long I Graphemes
Introduce and explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘long i’ sound with this extensive list of words.
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Building Sundaes with Vowel Teams (AI, AY, EE and EA)
Decode words with ay, ai, ea and ee long vowel teams by crafting cute desserts!
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R-Controlled Vowel Word Building - Google Slides Interactive Activity
Explore spelling and reading words that contain r-controlled vowels with this interactive Google Slides activity.
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Blend and Digraph Cards
A set of 32 blend and digraph cards that can be used in a variety of ways.
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W, WH, or U? Phoneme Interactive Game
Decide when to use w, wh, or u to spell the /w/ sound with an engaging Interactive Phonics Game!
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Vowel Teams Phonics Journal
Help students remember and record words and examples of different vowel digraphs during your phonics lessons.
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OW Graphemes - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore words containing graphemes that make the diphthong ‘ow’ with this active classroom game that will get your students moving!
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OI Graphemes - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore words containing graphemes that make the diphthong ‘oi’ with this active classroom game that will get your students moving!
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Word Study List - Consonant Digraphs
Introduce and explore common consonant digraphs with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - R-Controlled Vowels
Introduce and explore words containing r-controlled vowels with this extensive list of words.
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The OW Digraph - Sorting Activity
Practise reading words containing the 'ow' digraph using this hands-on sorting activity.
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Building Sundaes with Vowel Teams (OA, OW, OE and EY)
Decode words with OA, OW, OE and EY long vowel teams by crafting cute desserts!
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Vowel Digraph Bingo
Thirty different bingo cards using vowel digraph graphemes.
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Common Digraphs and Blends Bookmarks
These bookmarks are designed to help students remember some of the most common blends and digraphs while reading.