If you’re looking for an engaging reading exercise that’s a treat to play, then take a bite out of our digraphs identification activity! 

🍨 Sweeten Reading Time with Our Digraphs Game

Use this resource in your reading center, and as a guided reading or a whole class exercise (see below) to practice identifying consonant digraphs.

Players take turns choosing a sundae piece and reading the word. They’ll then segment the words into their phonemes, identify the digraph, and place it on its spot on the corresponding game board. Gameplay continues like this until all of the sundaes are complete!

The initial and final consonant digraphs students will identify through this activity are:

• ch
• sh
• th
• wh

Scaffolding + Extension Tips 

Got fast finishers? Challenge students with a firm grasp of the concepts to produce additional words for each digraph sound after they cover the correct matching piece on the sundae. Players can keep a list on a sheet of paper and exchange with a peer after the game. If students have the same words, they cross them off. For every original new rhyming word, they get a point! 

Support students who need help understanding the concepts by using an anchor chart or digraphs poster as a visual reference. 

More Ways to Make Learning Digraphs a Treat 

Use this resource as independent practice and full-class learning opportunities like scoot activities, lesson reviews, formative assessments, and more.

✍️ Write the Room (Scoot Activity)

Print an extra game board and cut out each digraph sundae. Hang sheets of chart paper around the room and post a digraph above each one. Individually, or with a partner, have students rotate around the room adding one word that rhymes with the card. Project the game pieces for reference, if needed. Words may be used only once.

👀 Scavenger Hunt

Hide the sundae pieces around the room when your students are not around and put the digraph card in the center of the room. Then set your students loose! As soon as they find a piece, they bring it up to the sundae card, read the word, and put it on the matching digraph sundae. NOTE: You may want to make a rule of only 1 student at a card at one time. If not, things could get a little crazy! 

🔔 Bell Ringer Activity

Project a sundae digraph card for your students to see and a random assortment of sundae pieces. On a piece of paper, have students write only the words that use that digraph on a piece of paper. You can use this as a formative assessment to see which of your students needs more practice. 

Get our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies here! 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Feast your eyes on more digraph activities and teaching resources like these:

teaching resource

Digraph Handwriting - Worksheets

24 digraph worksheets that focus on handwriting and vocabulary activities.