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Phonics Digraphs: Two Letters, One Sound with Pip

Phonics Digraphs: Two Letters, One Sound with Pip

Learn phonics digraphs such as sh, ch, ai and igh. Drag letters into teams, tap sound buttons and blend words on Sound Island with Pip.

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What you'll learn

  • Say a sound for each letter of the alphabet, a to z
  • What a digraph is: two letters that make one sound
  • The sounds for sh, ch, th and ng
  • The sounds for ai, ee, oa, oo, ar and or
  • Why igh is a trigraph: three letters, one sound
  • Spot letter teams in words and blend them to read

Chapter by chapter

  1. Letter sounds: a sound for each letter, a to z Free to try

    Reception english · 1

  2. Two letters, one sound: sh, ch, th and ng

    Reception english · 1 Reception english · 2

  3. Letter groups with vowels: ai, ee and igh

    Reception english · 1 Reception english · 2

  4. More letter groups: oa, oo, ar and or

    Reception english · 1 Reception english · 2

  5. Spot letter groups in words and say their sounds

    Reception english · 2

  6. Sound champion challenge: letters and letter groups (10 questions)

What the chapters cover in the national curriculum in England:

  1. Reception english: Say a sound for each letter in the alphabet and at least 10 digraphs
  2. Reception english: Read some letter groups that each represent one sound and say sounds for them

About this adventure

Phonics Digraphs is an interactive game that teaches children aged 4 to 6 to say a sound for every letter of the alphabet and to read 10 digraphs plus the trigraph igh, matching the Reception early learning goal for word reading.

A digraph is two letters that make one sound, like s and h making sh. Children watch letters walk in, say their own sounds, then hold hands to make a new sound. They drag letters into teams, hear each sound with a picture clue, and tap sound buttons (a dot for one letter, a line for a team) before swooshing along an arrow to blend words such as ship, rain and moon.

Later, children act as sound detectives, finding the letter team hidden inside a word before reading it and matching it to a picture. Spoken instructions and captions guide every step.

Questions and answers

What is a digraph in phonics?

A digraph is two letters that make one sound, such as sh in ship or ee in feet. Children learn to see the two letters as a team, so they say one sound instead of sounding out each letter separately.

What is the difference between a digraph and a trigraph?

A digraph uses two letters to make one sound, while a trigraph uses three letters to make one sound. For example, sh in shop is a digraph and igh in night is a trigraph.

Which digraphs do children learn in Reception?

Most Reception phonics programmes teach digraphs such as sh, ch, th, ng, ai, ee, oa, oo, ar and or, plus the trigraph igh. The early learning goal expects children to say a sound for at least 10 digraphs by the end of Reception.

What age is this phonics digraphs game for?

The game is made for children aged 4 to 6, matching Reception in England. It also works well as a recap for Year 1 children who are still getting secure with their letter teams before the phonics screening check.

How long does the game take and what does it include?

Playing everything takes about 35 minutes. There are five chapters, each with a short animated introduction, plus a ten-question challenge at the end, and children can start any chapter from the island map.

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