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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Vowel Teams Sorting Activity (OA, OW and OE)
Decode words with the OA, OW and OE vowel teams using 18 picture cards with sorting mats.
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Vowel Team Digraph Poster Set
Display this poster set in your classroom when teaching children about different vowel team digraphs.
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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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Vowel Digraph Dominoes - OA, OW, and OE
Decode words with oa, ow, and oe vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds using this set of 28 dominoes.
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Consonant Digraph Dominoes With Mouth Images
Practise decoding words by their digraphs with this set of 28 dominoes.
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'AI' Diphthong Vowel Team Board Game
Decode words with the ai long vowel team in this word card board game.
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'AY' Diphthong Vowel Digraph Board Game
Decode words with the ay long vowel team in this board game.
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Th Word List and Flash Cards
Practice reading and spelling words with the Digraph TH with a list of 50 words and accompanying illustrated flash cards.
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Short OO Words - Word Search
Explore words containing some of the most common ‘short oo’ graphemes with this set of differentiated word searches.
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Long OO Graphemes - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘long oo’ sound with this active classroom game that will get your students moving!
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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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Word Study List - R-Controlled Vowels
Introduce and explore words containing r-controlled vowels with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Long O Graphemes
Introduce and explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘long o’ sound with this extensive list of words.
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Consonant Digraphs Match-Up Activity
Complete words using the correct consonant digraph with this set of match-up cards.
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Kn, Ph & Wr Digraph Flashcards
Seventeen flashcards showing kn, ph and wr digraph words and pictures.
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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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Long Vowel O Teams Interactive Activity
Practise identifying the different graphemes that spell the long /o/ sound with this fun boat-themed interactive 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 CK Interactive Activity
Engage students in practising their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘ck’ with this fun rock climbing-themed interactive activity.
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Consonant Digraph PH Interactive Activity
Engage students in practising their knowledge of the consonant digraph ‘ph’ with this fun ocean-themed interactive activity.
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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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Vowel Digraph Dominoes - AI and AY
Decode words with vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds using this set of 26 dominoes.
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AY Diphthong Vowel Digraph Bingo
Practise decoding words that include the AY long /a/ vowel team sound with this BINGO game for up to 20 players.
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Long or Short OO? - SCOOT! Task Cards
Identify the long and short 'oo' sound in one- and two-syllable words 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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Short OO Graphemes - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘short oo’ sound with this active classroom game that will get your students moving!
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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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Long E Graphemes - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore words containing graphemes that make the ‘long e’ sound with this active classroom game that will get your students moving!
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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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Common Digraphs and Blends Bookmarks
These bookmarks are designed to help students remember some of the most common blends and digraphs while reading.
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IE Vowel Team Board Game
Practise decoding words with the ie vowel team in this board game.