Beginning Digraphs Scavenger Hunt – SH, CH, TH & WH Phonics Activity

Turn beginning-digraph practice into an active, hands-on phonics game with this printable Beginning Digraphs Scavenger Hunt.

Children search for hidden picture cards, name each picture, read the word and identify the beginning digraph.

The resource focuses on four common beginning digraphs:

sh • ch • th • wh

The target digraph is highlighted within each labelled word, helping children notice the two-letter spelling pattern while still reading the complete word.

The resource then moves from supported word recognition to a picture-only challenge, encouraging children to identify the word and beginning digraph independently.

What’s Included

• 24 Labeled/Labelled Beginning Digraph Cards

• 24 Picture-Only Challenge Cards

• 24-Picture Beginning Digraphs Checklist

• 4 Beginning Digraphs Included: sh, ch, th, wh

• Digraph Hunt Recording Sheet

• Beginning Digraphs Learning Extension

• Completion Certificate

• How to Use page

• Terms of Use

• UK Edition

• US Edition

The checklist includes all 24 target words: ship, shoe, sheep, shell, shark, shovel, chair, chain, chick, cheese, cherry, chimney, thumb, thread, thimble, thorn, throne, thermometer, whale, wheel, whistle, whisk, wheat and wheelbarrow.

Beginning Digraph Groups

SH: ship, shoe, sheep, shell, shark, shovel

CH: chair, chain, chick, cheese, cherry, chimney

TH: thumb, thread, thimble, thorn, throne, thermometer

WH: whale, wheel, whistle, whisk, wheat, wheelbarrow

The labelled card pages reinforce the complete word while drawing attention to the beginning digraph.

Two Levels of Challenge

Level 1 – Word Support

Children use the labelled cards to:

• name the picture

• read the word

• notice the highlighted beginning digraph

• match it to the checklist

Level 2 – Picture-Only Challenge

The written words are removed, so children must use the picture to recall the word and identify its beginning digraph independently.

Extend the Learning

The Digraph Hunt Recording Sheet gives children space to draw four pictures they found and record both the word and its digraph.

Discussion prompts encourage children to listen closely to beginning sounds and think of additional words beginning with sh, ch, th or wh.

The Beginning Digraphs Learning Extension takes the activity further by asking children to record the picture, word, beginning digraph and digraph sound, then think of another word with the same digraph.

A completion certificate is also included to finish the hunt.

Great For

beginning digraphs • digraph phonics • SH CH TH WH • kindergarten phonics • first grade phonics • phonics centers • literacy centers • homeschool phonics • reading intervention • phonics games • digraph activities • beginning sounds • word recognition • spelling practice

TERMS OF USE
This resource is for personal, homeschool, classroom and single educator use only.
You may not resell, redistribute, share, upload, copy or claim this resource as your own.

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© KOJI PATH