Phonics & word reading
Grade 1 · English
Explore words, build sentences and share your ideas.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
Digraph detective
Find the missing sh, ch, th or ng tile. A free Grade 1 English phonics game with spoken words and printable practice.
Play Digraph detective
Learning about phonics & word reading
In this Grade 1 english collection, you can practice Digraph detective. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Read the example together before playing independently. Ask your child to explain a choice and try a new example afterwards. Match the task to what your child has already learned; grade suggestions are a starting point.
Ask: “Which part of the word or sentence helped you?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Digraph detective
Digraph detective practices 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.
Try an example: Complete __ip.
Listen to ship. Its first sound is represented by sh, followed by i and p.
Show the answer
ship
What to look out for
Counting every letter as a separate sound. In ship there are four letters but three sound positions: sh, i, p.
Practice away from the screen
- Play alongside your child and choose words using correspondences already taught at school.
Curriculum connections
Digraph detective
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.
Common Core connection: RF.1.3.a. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with phonics & word reading?
Start with Digraph detective. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.