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Step-by-step practice: English · Level 2Chapter 5 · Long vowel sounds: oa and igh
Level 2 · Chapter 5

Long vowel sounds: oa and igh

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • I can say the long sound made by oa and by igh
  • I can find the picture whose name has oa or igh inside it
  • I can choose oa or igh to complete a written word
  • I can tell apart an oa word from an igh word by reading

You should already know

  • Long vowel sounds ai and ee (Chapter 4)

Where this leads

  • Reading longer words (Chapter 6)

Step-by-step practice: English (Level 2). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Say the long sound made by oa (boat, goat, road) and igh (night, light, fight), Find the picture for a given pattern, Choose oa or igh to complete a written word, Tell apart oa and igh words by reading.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FWhich two letters make one long sound in the word rain? Choose ai, ee or oa. A oa B ee C ai Choose A, B or C.
2
FHow many sounds are in the word sheep? Choose 2, 3 or 4. A 2 B 4 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich two letters end the word song? Choose ng, nk or sh. A sh B ng C nk Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich tricky word completes this? ___ are you? Choose who, where or what. A what B who C where Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich word has the short /u/ sound in the middle? Choose bus, bee or boat. A boat B bus C bee Choose A, B or C.
5.1

The long sound of oa

Level 2
Say the long sound of oa, as in boat and goat, Find the picture that has oa inside it
Video lesson: The long sound of oaComing soon

When o and a sit together, they make one long sound: /oh/, as in boat and goat.

In boat there are three sounds: b, oa and t.

Look for the pair oa in the middle of the word.

Key ideas

  • oa makes one long sound, as in boat.
  • boat has three sounds: b, oa, t.
  • Look for o and a together.
  • Keep o and a together, not apart.
Worked example 5.1.1
Which picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.boatAgiftBchinC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: boat B: gift C: chin
  2. Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    boat = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. boat has oa, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Worked example 5.1.2
How many sounds are in boat? A vowel pair such as ai or ee 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. boat is b - oa - t: 3 sounds.
    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 5.1.3
Which picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.roadAcatBmugC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: road B: cat C: mug
  2. Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    road = picture A
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. road has oa, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Watch out

Watch out: oa is not the same as o on its own. In dog, o makes a short sound; in boat, oa makes one long sound.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the long "oh" sound in boat. Ask the child to find oa in each name.

Exercise 5A  Practice: the long sound of oa

1
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? b__t A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
coatAtinBcatC
3
FHow many sounds are in goat? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 2 C 3 Choose A, B or C.
4
FRead the word: soap. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
5
FRead the word: toad. Does the picture show toad? Answer yes or no.
6
FRead the word: loaf. Does the picture show loaf? Answer yes or no.
7
FWhich picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
busAlampBloafC
8
FHow many sounds are in road? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
9
FRead the word: goat. Does the picture show goat? Answer yes or no.
10
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? r__d A igh B ee C oa Choose A, B or C.
5.2

The long sound of igh

Level 2
Say the long sound of igh, as in night and light, Find the picture that has igh inside it
Video lesson: The long sound of ighComing soon

The three letters i, g, h make one long sound: /igh/, as in night and light.

In night there are three sounds: n, igh and t. The three letters make one sound.

Look for the letters igh together. Do not split them.

Key ideas

  • igh is three letters but one sound.
  • night has three sounds: n, igh, t.
  • Look for igh together.
  • The g in igh is silent.
Worked example 5.2.1
Which picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.legAsockBnightC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: leg B: sock C: night
  2. Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    night = picture C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. night has igh, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Worked example 5.2.2
How many sounds are in night? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 3 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.
    4 / 3 / 2
  2. Find the one that fits. night is n - igh - t: 3 sounds.
    3 is choice B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

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

Watch out. Read every choice before you decide.

Worked example 5.2.3
Which picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.sunAlightBrainC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: sun B: light C: rain
  2. Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    light = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. light has igh, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Watch out

Watch out: igh has three letters, but it is one sound. Do not say /i/, /g/ and /h/ separately.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say "eye" for igh as one long sound, as in night. Ask the child to point to igh in each word.

Exercise 5B  Practice: the long sound of igh

1
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? l__t A oa B igh C ai Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? n__t A igh B ee C oa Choose A, B or C.
3
FRead the word: light. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.
ABC
4
FRead the word: night. Does the picture show night? Answer yes or no.
5
FRead the word: light. Does the picture show light? Answer yes or no.
6
FHow many sounds are in light? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 3 B 4 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
7
FWhich picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
legAsockBnightC
5.3

Choosing oa or igh in a gap

Level 2
Choose oa or igh to fill a gap, Read the whole word after you choose
Video lesson: Choosing oa or igh in a gapComing soon

Some words have a gap that needs oa or igh.

For example, b__t becomes boat with oa. The gap n__t becomes night with igh.

Try each pair in the gap. Then read the whole word to check.

Key ideas

  • Read the word with the gap.
  • Try each choice in the gap.
  • Read the whole word again.
Worked example 5.3.1
Which pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? b__t A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.

Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.

  1. Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.
    b__t
  2. Try each pair of letters. boat has oa.
    oa / ai / igh
  3. Pick the pair that makes the word. boat needs oa.
    boat = choice A
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Put oa back in the gap: boat. ✓

Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.

Worked example 5.3.2
Which pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? n__t A igh B ai C oa Choose A, B or C.

Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.

  1. Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.
    n__t
  2. Try each pair of letters. night has igh.
    igh / ai / oa
  3. Pick the pair that makes the word. night needs igh.
    night = choice A
  4. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Put igh back in the gap: night. ✓

Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.

Worked example 5.3.3
Which pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? g__t A ee B igh C oa Choose A, B or C.

Method. Try each pair in the gap, then pick the one that makes the word.

  1. Read the word with the gap. Think about the word that fits the gap.
    g__t
  2. Try each pair of letters. goat has oa.
    ee / igh / oa
  3. Pick the pair that makes the word. goat needs oa.
    goat = choice C
  4. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Put oa back in the gap: goat. ✓

Watch out. The two letters go together in the gap. Do not split them.

Watch out

Watch out: a gap can look like either pair. Put the pair back in and read the whole word.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to try the pair in the gap and say the whole word. Praise the careful checking.

Exercise 5C  Practice: choosing oa or igh in a gap

1
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? l__t A oa B igh C ee Choose A, B or C.
2
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? c__t A ai B igh C oa Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? h__ A igh B oa C ee Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? s__p A oa B ee C igh Choose A, B or C.
5
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? r__t A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.
6
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? t__d A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.
7
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? t__t A ee B oa C igh Choose A, B or C.
8
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? l__f A ee B oa C igh Choose A, B or C.
9
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? s__ A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.
5.4

Spelling oa and igh words

Level 2
Spell a picture name with oa or igh, Choose the right spelling
Video lesson: Spelling oa and igh wordsComing soon

When you spell a word with oa or igh, write the letters together.

Spell boat as b, oa, t. Spell night as n, igh, t.

Keep the letters together, then write the other letters.

Key ideas

  • Keep oa together.
  • Keep igh together.
  • Spell from the first sound to the last.
Worked example 5.4.1
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: t, b, o, a

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.
    boat
  2. Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.
    b - oa - t
  3. Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.
    boat
  4. Write the answer.
    boat

Check. Read the letters back: b - oa - t. They make boat. ✓

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

Worked example 5.4.2
Look at the picture. Which spelling is right? A gote B goat Choose A or B.

Method. Say the name, then check which spelling has the right letters.

  1. Say the name of the picture slowly. Say each sound, first to last.
    g - oa - t
  2. Check each spelling. Only one spelling uses the right letters.
    goat is right; gote is not
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. goat matches the picture. ✓

Watch out. gote is not a word we use for this picture.

Worked example 5.4.3
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: h, g, n, i, t

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.
    night
  2. Put the letters in order. Start with the first sound.
    n - igh - t
  3. Read the letters from left to right. Check the word matches the picture.
    night
  4. Write the answer.
    night

Check. Read the letters back: n - igh - t. They make night. ✓

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

Watch out

Watch out: oa and igh must stay together. Do not leave out a letter from the group.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to write the group of letters first, then the rest of the word. Accept neat letters.

Exercise 5D  Practice: spelling oa and igh words

1
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A light B ligt Choose A or B.
2
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: o, r, a, d
3
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A cote B coat Choose A or B.
4
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: p, s, a, o
5
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: o, d, a, t
6
FWhich pair of letters goes in the middle of the word goat? Choose oa, ai or ee. A ee B oa C ai Choose A, B or C.
7
PSSomeone wrote nigt for this picture. Write the correct spelling.
8
PSSomeone wrote bot for this picture. Write the correct spelling.
5.5

The same long vowel as a model word

Level 2
Find the word with the same long vowel, Use the model word to check
Video lesson: The same long vowel as a model wordComing soon

The model word shows the pattern. Find the pattern in it, then find the word that has the same pattern.

In boat, the pattern is oa. The word coat has oa too.

In night, the pattern is igh. The word light has igh too.

Key ideas

  • Find the pattern in the model word.
  • Find the choice with the same pattern.
  • Check each choice.
Worked example 5.5.1
The word boat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A cot B cap C coat Choose A, B or C.

Method. Find the letters in the model word, then find the choice that has them too.

  1. Find oa in the model word. Those letters make one sound.
    boat: oa
  2. Find the word with the same letters. Check each choice.
    coat has oa
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. Both boat and coat have oa. ✓

Watch out. Look for the same letters together, not only the same first letter.

Worked example 5.5.2
The word night has the letters igh. Which word has the same letters? A light B lamp C lot Choose A, B or C.

Method. Find the letters in the model word, then find the choice that has them too.

  1. Find igh in the model word. Those letters make one sound.
    night: igh
  2. Find the word with the same letters. Check each choice.
    light has igh
  3. Write the answer.
    A

Check. Both night and light have igh. ✓

Watch out. Look for the same letters together, not only the same first letter.

Worked example 5.5.3
The word goat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A rug B road C rod Choose A, B or C.

Method. Find the letters in the model word, then find the choice that has them too.

  1. Find oa in the model word. Those letters make one sound.
    goat: oa
  2. Find the word with the same letters. Check each choice.
    road has oa
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. Both goat and road have oa. ✓

Watch out. Look for the same letters together, not only the same first letter.

Watch out

Watch out: a word that starts like the model may not have the same pattern. Look at the pattern, not the start.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to point to the model pattern first, then to the matching pattern in the other word.

Exercise 5E  Practice: the same long vowel as a model word

1
PSThe word light has the letters igh. Which word has the same letters? A nap B net C night Choose A, B or C.
2
PSThe word soap has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A tad B toad C tap Choose A, B or C.
3
PSThe word toad has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A lamp B loaf C leaf Choose A, B or C.
4
PSThe word road has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A bag B bet C boat Choose A, B or C.
5
PSThe word night has the letters igh. Which word has the same letters? A bread B bright C brand Choose A, B or C.
6
PSThe word boat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A goat B gut C gate Choose A, B or C.
7
PSThe word coat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A sip B soap C sap Choose A, B or C.
5.6

Mixed practice: oa or igh by reading

Level 2
Read a word with oa or igh, Tell apart oa and igh words
Video lesson: Mixed practice: oa or igh by readingComing soon

Read each word and find its long vowel pair. An oa word and an igh word can look different, but each makes one long sound.

Read the whole word before you choose its picture.

Key ideas

  • Find oa or igh in the word.
  • Read the whole word.
  • Match the word to its picture.
Worked example 5.6.1
Which picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.duckAtoadBantC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: duck B: toad C: ant
  2. Find the name with oa inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    toad = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. toad has oa, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Worked example 5.6.2
Which picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.sunAlightBrainC

Method. Find the name that has the two letters together.

  1. Read the name under each picture. Look for the two letters together.
    A: sun B: light C: rain
  2. Find the name with igh inside. Only one name has these two letters together.
    light = picture B
  3. Write the answer.
    B

Check. light has igh, and the others do not. ✓

Watch out. The two letters make one long vowel sound, so keep them together.

Worked example 5.6.3
Read the word: night. Which picture matches? Choose A, B or C.ABC

Method. Read the word first, then find the picture that matches.

  1. Read the word from the left. Sound out each letter, then join the sounds.
    n - igh - t
  2. Look at each picture. Find the picture with that name.
    night = picture C
  3. Write the answer.
    C

Check. The other pictures show different names: fish, cat. ✓

Watch out. Read every letter. Do not guess from the first letter only.

Watch out

Watch out: oa and igh make one long sound each, but the letters look different. Read the whole word.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child to point to the long-vowel pair in each word before reading the whole word.

Exercise 5F  Practice: mixed practice: oa or igh by reading

1
FRead the word on the card: boat. Which word is the same? A boot B bolt C boat Choose A, B or C.
2
FRead the word on the card: light. Which word is the same? A lift B lit C light Choose A, B or C.
3
FWhich word has the long sound igh? Choose coat, light or goat. A goat B light C coat Choose A, B or C.
4
FWhich word has the long sound oa? Choose tight, road or ring. A road B tight C ring Choose A, B or C.
5
FRead the word: goat. Does the picture show goat? Answer yes or no.
6
FRead the word: night. Does the picture show night? Answer yes or no.
7
FHow many sounds are in soap? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 3 B 2 C 4 Choose A, B or C.
8
FHow many sounds are in loaf? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
9
FWhich word has the long sound oa at the end? Choose toad, toat or toed. A toed B toad C toat Choose A, B or C.
10
PSSomeone wrote rode for this picture. Write the correct spelling.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
oaTwo letters, one long sound: boat, goat, road
ighThree letters, one long sound: night, light
Choose the pairTry each pair in the gap and read the whole word
Same patternFind the pair in the model word, then find the same pair

Can you…?

  • I can say the long sound of oa, as in boat
  • I can say the long sound of igh, as in night
  • I can choose oa or igh to complete a written word
  • I can tell apart oa and igh words by reading

Key terms

vowel team
two or three letters that together make one vowel sound, such as oa or igh
silent letter
a letter that is written but not sounded, such as the g in igh
pattern
a group of letters that appears in more than one word

Exercise 5Z  Check-up

1
Which picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
coatAtinBcatC
2
Which picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.
legAsockBnightC
3
Which pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? g__t A ai B igh C oa Choose A, B or C.
4
Which pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? l__t A oa B igh C ee Choose A, B or C.
5
Put these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: p, s, a, o
6
Look at the picture. Which spelling is right? A nigt B night Choose A or B.
7
The word boat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A road B rat C rug Choose A, B or C.
8
The word light has the letters igh. Which word has the same letters? A nod B nut C night Choose A, B or C.
9
How many sounds are in night? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 3 C 2 Choose A, B or C.
10
Someone wrote got for this picture. Write the correct spelling.

Total 10 marks. Allow about 10 minutes.

Exercise 5X  Practice test questions

1
FWhich picture name has the letters oa in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
roadAcatBmugC
2
FWhich picture name has the letters igh in it? Look at the letters, not the picture.[1 mark]
sunAlightBrainC
3
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? s__p A oa B ai C igh Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
4
FWhich pair of letters goes in the gap to make a word? n__t A igh B ee C oa Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
5
FPut these letters in the right order to spell the picture name: o, d, a, t[1 mark]
6
FLook at the picture. Which spelling is right? A cote B coat Choose A or B.[1 mark]
7
PSThe word goat has the letters oa. Which word has the same letters? A cat B coat C cap Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
8
FHow many sounds are in goat? A vowel pair such as ai or ee counts as one sound. A 4 B 2 C 3 Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
9
FRead the word: loaf. Does the picture show loaf? Answer yes or no.[1 mark]
10
FWhich pair of letters is in the picture name boat? Choose oa, ee or igh. A igh B ee C oa Choose A, B or C.[1 mark]
← Chapter 4: Long vowel sounds: ai and eeChapter 6: Reading longer words →

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