Some letters like to work together. Today we meet blends, digraphs and the amazing magic e!
Blends: two sounds you can still hear
In a blend, two consonants sit together and you can hear both sounds: frog, stop, blue, crab, snake. Blends can be at the end too: nest, hand, jump.
Digraphs: two letters, one new sound
- sh – ship, fish, shell
- ch – chip, chair, lunch
- th – thumb, three, bath
- wh – whale, when, white
Short and long vowels
In cap the a is short. Add a magic e at the end and the a says its name: cape! The e is silent but it changes the vowel.
| Short vowel | Add magic e | Long vowel |
|---|---|---|
| cap | + e | cape |
| kit | + e | kite |
| hop | + e | hope |
| cub | + e | cube |
| pin | + e | pine |
Sound the same, spelled differently
Some words sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things. They are called homophones: sea 🌊 and see 👀, two and too, sun ☀️ and son.
TRY ITLetter team games
Choose a game. Tap your answer.
Let’s practise
Try each one. Then tap Show answer to check.
1. Name a word that starts with the blend “st”.
Show answer
For example stop, star, step, stick.
2. Which digraph is in “lunch”?
Show answer
ch.
3. Add magic e to “pin”.
Show answer
pine.
4. Is the a in “cake” long or short?
Show answer
Long. The magic e makes it say its name.
5. Which is the colour: blue or blew?
Show answer
blue.
6. Read: ship, shop, shell. What sound do they start with?
Show answer
sh.
Quick check
1. What is a digraph?
Show answer
Two letters that make one new sound, like sh, ch or th.
2. What does magic e do?
Show answer
It is silent and makes the vowel before it say its name (long vowel).
3. Use “sea” and “see” in two sentences.
Show answer
For example: I see a boat. The boat is on the sea.
Words to know
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
blend · digraph · vowel · long vowel · short vowel · magic e · silent · homophone
Try it at home
- Go on a “sh” hunt at home: shoe, shirt, shelf, dish …
- Write cap, kit, hop and cub on cards. Add a paper “e” to change them.
- Read a story together and spot words with ch or th.
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- read and spell words with blends at the beginning and end (fr, st, cr, nd, mp)
- read words with the digraphs sh, ch, th and wh
- tell long and short vowel sounds apart and use magic e (CVC to CVCe)
- use simple homophones correctly (see/sea, two/too)
Previous: Sound Swap: CVC Words
Next: Word Endings, Sight Words and Short Forms
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