Digraph detective: what children learn
Digraph detective practises two letters representing one sound. Children hear words such as ship, fish, chin, chop, moth and ring, then fill a missing sound tile using sh, ch, th or ng. Each normal game draws six words from a pool of twelve. Choose a particular digraph for a focused three-word practice session. Each digraph occupies one sound position.
These are selected familiar examples, not every possible pronunciation of these letter groups. Use the game after the relevant correspondences have been taught. Whole-word audio supports spelling; it does not provide isolated pure phonemes or test the full phonics screening content.
The voice is AI-generated British English (OpenAI marin), saved as static audio. No microphone, account or live speech request is used. If a pronunciation is unfamiliar in your accent, say the word yourself and discuss it together.
This topic covers the Year 1 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Writing – transcription (spelling)): pupils should be taught spell “words containing each of the 40+ phonemes already taught”. Year 1 pupils are usually aged 5–6. This game practises a small set of familiar correspondences, not all 40+ phonemes. Match words to the sequence taught at school; the audio says whole words, not isolated phonemes.
For families following US standards, the closest Common Core standard is RF.1.3.a, which is taught in Grade 1. Supports part of Common Core RF.1.3.a through a small set of familiar words. Uses British-English whole-word audio; teachers can model their local pronunciation.
How to play
Listen to the word, choose sound tiles and check your spelling. There is no timer. Complete six words. Listen as often as you like. Show the word for help; stars count words solved first time without that help.
Step by step
- Listen to the word. Tap Listen and say the word together. Look at the letters already in place.
- Find the missing digraph. Choose sh, ch, th or ng for the missing sound. Two letters travel together on one tile.
- Check and blend. Check the word, then read the whole word back. Replay the recording or show the word for support.
Worked examples
Example 1: Complete __ip.
Working: Listen to ship. Its first sound is represented by sh, followed by i and p.
Answer: ship
Example 2: Complete mo__.
Working: Listen to moth. The final sound is represented by th.
Answer: moth
Example 3: Complete ri__.
Working: Listen to ring. The final sound is represented by ng, which occupies one tile.
Answer: ring
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Counting every letter as a separate sound. In ship there are four letters but three sound positions: sh, i, p.
- Choosing sh instead of ch. Replay ship and chin as whole words, and revisit the sounds using the school phonics approach.
- Adding a separate g sound after ng. In ring the final ng represents one sound. Model it using the pronunciation taught at school.
Activities to try at home
- Play alongside your child and choose words using correspondences already taught at school.
- Use letter cards or magnetic letters to repeat two or three examples away from the screen.
- Print the practice sheet. Keep the answer page separate and read its numbered words aloud while the child completes the matching tasks. Check together afterwards.
Ideas for the classroom
- Use a short session with a small group whose taught correspondences match the word set.
- Ask pupils to explain which sounds they hear and which graphemes represent them.
- Use mistakes to decide what to revisit; the game is extra practice and is not a screening or diagnostic assessment.
Free printable game and worksheet
Print the six-word practice sheet and answer page. A grown-up reads the words aloud for spelling practice; no device or audio service is needed.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Is this suitable for every Year 1 child?
Use it when the child knows the correspondences in the examples. Year 1 is a curriculum placement, not a starting level or a complete phonics sequence.
Can children replay the word or ask for help?
Yes. There is no timer and Listen can be used as often as needed. Show the word reveals the answer for supported practice.
How are stars earned?
The normal six-word game counts words solved on the first check without Show the word. Listening again does not reduce the score. Focused practice sessions do not change saved stars. All words can still be completed with support.
Does the voice teach individual sounds?
No. Marin says whole words and instructions. Use the pure phonemes and teaching sequence modelled at school.