Sound cards · Free printable

Digraph sound cards

Hear a sound model, then hear it in three example words. Print the cards to revisit the same spellings away from the screen. Letter names are different from the sounds used to blend a word.

Print or play ↗See the worksheet

Created by RobPublished 11 October 20264–5 years, flexibly

Take a little peek1 item · Original illustrations

First activity page for Digraph sound cards

First activity preview shown. The PDF contains the sound cards layout.

Hear it, read it, try it

Play a sound model, then hear its three example words. Choose a few spellings already taught and revisit them together.

ship · shop · fish

chip · chop · much

th · thin

thin · thick · moth

There are two th sounds. Compare thin and this.

th · this

this · that · them

There are two th sounds. Compare thin and this.

ring · sing · long

back · neck · sock

puff · huff · off

bell · hill · shell

mess · hiss · fuss

pink · sink · bank

nk represents /ng/ followed by /k/, two sounds.

Synthesised British or American pronunciation, selected by the English edition in the header. Accents vary. Follow your school’s sound models and teaching sequence.

Inside the printable

First worksheet in the Digraph sound cards printable pack

First page shown. The download includes the complete activity and grown-up guidance.

What we’re exploring

Link a written spelling to a known sound and hear that sound in familiar words.

A little way to play

An adult chooses only spellings the child has already been taught.
Play the sound, then the example words. Notice the spelling on the card; an adult supplies an unfamiliar word.
Print and cut the large cards if useful. Revisit a small known set before adding another card.

Make it easier

An adult models one example while the child points, talks or directs the activity.

Try a little more

Try a fresh example, explain your choice and return to an earlier page for a fluent reread.

For the grown-up

Audio is a synthesised pronunciation model, with separate British and American recordings. Accents vary; follow the school’s pronunciation and teaching sequence. qu, x and nk can represent two sounds and are labelled accordingly. Letter names are available separately on alphabet pages.

Answers & naming help

sh: ship, shop, fish; ch: chip, chop, much; th · thin: thin, thick, moth — There are two th sounds. Compare thin and this.; th · this: this, that, them — There are two th sounds. Compare thin and this.; ng: ring, sing, long; ck: back, neck, sock; ff: puff, huff, off; ll: bell, hill, shell; ss: mess, hiss, fuss; nk: pink, sink, bank — nk represents /ng/ followed by /k/, two sounds.

Digraph sound cards

How do I print this?

Choose your vocabulary and paper size, then download the PDF. Print at actual size or 100%. Use the low-ink option for outline activities; colour-name cards still need their colour to teach the word. Cut-and-stack mini-books are available in the flashcard maker.

Helpful parent guides

Keep the discoveries going.

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