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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 2 · Consonant digraphs: sh and ch
Level 2 · Chapter 2

Consonant digraphs: sh and ch

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can say that sh and ch each make one sound
  • I can find the picture whose name starts with sh or ch
  • I can choose sh or ch to start a written word
  • I can tell apart a sh word and a ch word

You should already know

  • Letter sounds from Level 1 and Chapter 1 of Level 2

Where this leads

  • Consonant digraphs th and ng (Chapter 3)

Step-by-step practice: English (Level 2). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Say that sh and ch each make one sound, not two, Find the picture whose name has a given digraph at the start or end, Choose the digraph that begins a written word, Tell apart sh and ch words that differ by one sound.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich letter makes the sound /h/ at the start of hut? Choose h, b or k. A h B b C k Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich letter does the word queen start with? Choose q, k or c. A k B c C q Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich word has the short /o/ sound in the middle? Choose hat, hot or hen. A hot B hen C hat Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich letter makes the sound /f/? Choose f, s or l. A s B l C f Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich tricky word completes this? ___ is my dog. Choose the, he or be. A he B be C the Choose A, B or C.
2.1

The sound sh

Level 2
Say that sh makes one sound, Find the picture whose name starts with sh
Video lesson: The sound shComing soon

The letters s and h together make one sound: /sh/. Say it as one sound, like a quiet hush.

Look at ship. It has three sounds: sh, i and p. It does not have four sounds.

Words such as shop and shell also start with the sound /sh/.

Key ideas

  • sh is two letters but one sound.
  • ship has three sounds: sh, i, p.
  • Look for the letters sh together at the start of the name.
  • Do not split sh into s and h.
Worked example 2.1.1
Which picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.shipAsockBfoxC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: ship B: sock C: fox
  2. Find the name that starts with sh. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    ship = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. ship has sh at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 2.1.2
How many sounds are in ship? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    3 / 4 / 2
  2. Find the one that fits. ship is sh - i - p: 3 sounds. Count the pair as one.
    3 is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.1.3
Which picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.bedAshellBfoxC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: bed B: shell C: fox
  2. Find the name that starts with sh. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    shell = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. shell has sh at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: s and h are two letters, but they make one sound. Do not say /s/ and /h/ separately.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "shhh" for sh, one sound, with the lips open. Ask the child to point to sh in each word.

Exercise 2A  Practice: the sound sh

1
FHow many sounds are in shop? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.
batAchainBshopC
3
FWhich two letters begin the word shed? Choose from the list. A ch B th C sh Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich two letters begin the word shell? Choose from the list. A sh B th C ch Choose A, B or C.
5
FHow many sounds are in shed? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
6
FRead the word: shop. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
2.2

The sound ch

Level 2
Say that ch makes one sound, Find the picture whose name starts with ch
Video lesson: The sound chComing soon

The letters c and h together make one sound: /ch/, as in chin and chest.

Look at chest. The sounds are ch, e, s, t. It has four sounds.

Do not read ch as /c/ and /h/. It is one sound on its own.

Key ideas

  • ch is two letters but one sound.
  • chest has four sounds: ch, e, s, t.
  • Look for the letters ch together at the start of the name.
  • ch and sh are different sounds.
Worked example 2.2.1
Which picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.appleArugBchinC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: apple B: rug C: chin
  2. Find the name that starts with ch. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    chin = picture C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. chin has ch at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 2.2.2
How many sounds are in chin? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    3 / 4 / 2
  2. Find the one that fits. chin is ch - i - n: 3 sounds. Count the pair as one.
    3 is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.2.3
Which picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.pigAchestBzipC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the start.
    A: pig B: chest C: zip
  2. Find the name that starts with ch. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    chest = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. chest has ch at the start. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Watch out

Watch out: chest and shell look alike, but they start with different letters. Read each one.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "ch" as in chip: a short puff of air. Ask the child to find ch at the start of each name.

Exercise 2B  Practice: the sound ch

1
FHow many sounds are in chest? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich two letters begin the word chain? Choose from the list. A sh B ch C th Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich two letters begin the word chin? Choose from the list. A th B sh C ch Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.
zipAchainBpigC
5
FRead the word: chest. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
6
FRead the word: chin. Does the picture show chin? Answer yes or no.
7
FRead the word: chest. Does the picture show chest? Answer yes or no.
8
FWhich picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.
mopAshedBantC
9
FHow many sounds are in chin? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
2.3

Telling sh and ch apart

Level 2
Choose sh or ch to start a word, Read the word and find the matching picture
Video lesson: Telling sh and ch apartComing soon

Some words differ only in the first sound. ship starts with sh. chip starts with ch.

Read the whole word before you choose. The first two letters tell you the first sound.

If a word starts with s and h together, choose sh. If it starts with c and h together, choose ch.

Key ideas

  • Read the first two letters together.
  • sh and ch are different sounds.
  • Read the whole word before you choose.
Worked example 2.3.1
Which word starts with sh? Choose from the list. A shop B chop Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    shop / chop
  2. Find the one that fits. shop starts with sh. chop starts with a different sound.
    shop is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read shop in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.3.2
Which word starts with ch? Choose from the list. A chin B shin Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    chin / shin
  2. Find the one that fits. chin starts with ch. shin starts with a different sound.
    chin is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read chin in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.3.3
Which word starts with sh? Choose from the list. A chip B ship Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    chip / ship
  2. Find the one that fits. ship starts with sh. chip starts with a different sound.
    ship is choice B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read ship in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Watch out

Watch out: a word can look like another word with one letter changed. Read the first two letters together.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to cover everything after the first two letters. Say the first sound together.

Exercise 2C  Practice: telling sh and ch apart

1
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word for a place to buy things? ___op. Choose sh, ch or th. A sh B th C ch Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word for a part of the face? ___in. Choose sh, ch or th. A sh B ch C th Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word for a metal fastener? ___ain. Choose sh, ch or th. A th B ch C sh Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich word starts with ch? Choose from the list. A shed B chest Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich word starts with sh? Choose from the list. A shell B chain Choose A, B or C.
6
FRead the word: chin. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
7
FWhich two letters begin the word shed? Choose from the list. A ch B th C sh Choose A, B or C.
8
FRead the word: ship. Does the picture show ship? Answer yes or no.
9
FHow many sounds are in chop? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
2.4

Starting a written word with sh or ch

Level 2
Choose the digraph that starts a word, Spell a picture name with sh or ch
Video lesson: Starting a written word with sh or chComing soon

When you write a word, the first two letters may be sh or ch. Write them together.

Spell shed as s, h, e, d. Spell chin as c, h, i, n.

Check the first two letters before you choose the rest of the word.

Key ideas

  • Write sh or ch as a pair, not separately.
  • Spell from the first sound to the last.
  • Check the picture name.
Worked example 2.4.1
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: s, e, h, d

Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    shed
  2. Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.
    sh - e - d
  3. Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.
    shed
  4. Write the answer.
    shed

Check. Read the letters back: sh - e - d. They make shed. ✓

Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.

Worked example 2.4.2
Which two letters begin the word shop? Choose from the list. A sh B th C ch Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    sh / th / ch
  2. Find the one that fits. shop starts with sh. Those two letters make one sound.
    sh is choice A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Read sh in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.4.3
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, c, h, i

Method. Say the name slowly, then write its letters in order.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    chin
  2. Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.
    ch - i - n
  3. Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.
    chin
  4. Write the answer.
    chin

Check. Read the letters back: ch - i - n. They make chin. ✓

Watch out. Each letter goes in the order of the sounds, not in alphabetical order.

Watch out

Watch out: sh and ch must stay together. Do not write s, h, and then a separate letter h.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to write sh or ch as one unit, then the rest of the word. Accept neat letters.

Exercise 2D  Practice: starting a written word with sh or ch

1
FWhich two letters begin the word chest? Choose from the list. A th B sh C ch Choose A, B or C.
2
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: p, h, s, i
3
FWhich word starts with the sound /ch/? Choose ship, chin or shop. A shop B ship C chin Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich word starts with the sound /sh/? Choose chest, shell or chain. A shell B chest C chain Choose A, B or C.
5
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: s, c, h, e, t
6
FWhich two letters begin the word shell? Choose from the list. A sh B th C ch Choose A, B or C.
7
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, a, i, h, c
8
FWhich picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.
mopAshedBantC
9
FWhich two letters begin the word chop? Choose from the list. A sh B ch C th Choose A, B or C.
10
FWhich picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.
appleArugBchinC
11
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: p, s, h, o
2.5

sh and ch in the middle and at the end

Level 2
Find sh at the end of a word, Read a word with sh or ch and find its picture
Video lesson: sh and ch in the middle and at the endComing soon

The digraph sh can also come at the end of a word, as in fish.

Fish has three sounds: f, i and sh.

Look at the last two letters of the word to find sh at the end.

Key ideas

  • sh can come at the end of a word, as in fish.
  • fish has three sounds: f, i, sh.
  • Look at the last two letters.
  • Count sh as one sound.
Worked example 2.5.1
Which picture name ends with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.kiteAfishBpanC

Method. Find the name with the letters in the right place.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the letters at the end.
    A: kite B: fish C: pan
  2. Find the name that ends with sh. Only one name has these letters in that place.
    fish = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. fish has sh at the end. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole name, then check where the letters are.

Worked example 2.5.2
How many sounds are in fish? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    2 / 4 / 3
  2. Find the one that fits. fish is f - i - sh: 3 sounds. Count the pair as one.
    3 is choice C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Read 3 in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 2.5.3
Which two letters are at the end of the word fish? Choose sh, ch or th. A ch B sh C th Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read every choice, then pick the one that fits.

  1. Read each choice. Check which one fits.
    ch / sh / th
  2. Find the one that fits. fish ends with sh, which is one sound.
    sh is choice B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Read sh in the sentence or list again. ✓

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Watch out

Watch out: sh at the end of a word is still one sound. Count sh as one sound, not two.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to tap once for each sound, counting sh once. Praise the tapping.

Exercise 2E  Practice: sh and ch in the middle and at the end

1
FRead the word: fish. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
2
FRead the word: ship. Does the picture show ship? Answer yes or no.
3
FRead the word: shell. Does the picture show shell? Answer yes or no.
4
FWhich picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.
zipAchainBpigC
5
FHow many sounds are in chain? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 2 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
6
FHow many sounds are in chest? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
7
FWhich word starts with sh? Choose from the list. A chip B ship Choose A, B or C.
8
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: f, h, s, i
9
FHow many sounds are in shop? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
10
FWhich picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.
pigAchestBzipC
11
FWhich two letters begin the word shop? Choose from the list. A sh B th C ch Choose A, B or C.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
shTwo letters, one sound, as in ship and fish
chTwo letters, one sound, as in chin and chest
Count the soundsCount sh or ch as one sound
Spell a digraphWrite sh or ch together, then the rest of the word

Can you…?

  • I can say that sh and ch each make one sound
  • I can find the picture whose name starts with sh or ch
  • I can choose sh or ch to start a written word
  • I can tell apart a sh word and a ch word

Key terms

digraph
two letters that make one sound, such as sh or ch
sound
the noise that a letter or group of letters makes
start of a word
the first letters of the word, on the left

Exercise 2Z  Check-up

1
Which picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.
batAchainBshopC
2
How many sounds are in chest? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
3
Which word starts with ch? Choose from the list. A chip B ship Choose A, B or C.
4
Which two letters begin the word chin? Choose from the list. A th B sh C ch Choose A, B or C.
5
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: s, e, h, d
6
Which picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.
zipAchainBpigC
7
Which pair of letters ends the word fish? Choose sh, ch or th. A sh B ch C th Choose A, B or C.
8
Read the word: shell. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
9
Read the word: chest. Does the picture show chest? Answer yes or no.
10
How many sounds are in ship? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.

Total 10 marks. Allow about 10 minutes.

Exercise 2X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich picture name starts with the letters ch? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
appleArugBchinC
2
FHow many sounds are in shell? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 3 C 4 Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
3
FWhich two letters begin the word ship? Choose from the list. A th B sh C ch Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
4
FWhich word starts with sh? Choose from the list. A shop B chop Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
5
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: n, a, i, h, c[1 mark]
6
FWhich pair of letters starts the word chest? Choose sh, ch or th. A sh B ch C th Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
7
FRead the word: shop. Does the picture show shop? Answer yes or no.[1 mark]
8
FRead the word: chain. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
ABC
9
FWhich picture name starts with the letters sh? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
bedAshellBfoxC
10
FHow many sounds are in fish? A pair like sh or ch counts as one sound. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
← Chapter 1: Letter sounds: j, v, w, x, y, z, quChapter 3: Consonant digraphs: th and ng →

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