Digraph Treasure Hunt: Free Printable Game for Year 1

Digraph Treasure Hunt is a free printable word search game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children hunt for hidden words that contain the digraphs sh, ch and th, and say each word as they find it. It needs only a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown up notes on using the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

The sheet is a word search with a hidden word list. Children look for eight words, and each one has sh, ch or th in it. They read the words, spot the letter pairs in the puzzle and cross each word off when it is found. The words are short and familiar, so the focus stays on noticing the digraphs and saying the sounds they make.

• ship
• shop
• fish
• chip
• chop
• thin
• with
• much

What is a digraph?

Skills and curriculum link

• Phonics
• Reading words
• Spelling
• Spotting digraphs
• Careful looking

Helpful ideas about digraphs

• Two letters, one soundTell your child that the two letters in a digraph hold hands and make one sound together. Point to the pair in a word and say the sound once, not as two separate letters.
• Say the sound firstBefore the hunt starts, practise each sound. For sh, pretend to ask someone to be quiet. For ch, think of a steam train. For th, let the tongue just touch the teeth.
• Two kinds of thThe th digraph has two sounds. In some words the throat hums, as in this. In others it is only breath, as in thumb. Each word has its own sound, so say the word clearly and let your child copy you.
• Look for the pairIn a word search, it helps to look for the first letter of the digraph, then check the letter beside it. Ask your child to say the pair out loud when they think they have found one.

Key words

• DigraphTwo letters that make one sound, such as sh, ch and th.
• SoundWhat we say when we read a letter or a pair of letters.
• BlendPush sounds together to read a word, like c, a, t making cat.
• SegmentBreak a word into its sounds to help you spell it, like d, o, g.
• GraphemeThe letter or letters we write for a sound. The digraph sh is one grapheme.
• Word searchA puzzle with words hidden among other letters. You hunt for them and cross them off.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
2. Read the word list aloud. Ask your child to say the sound before they hunt.
3. Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice.
4. Check against the notes on page 2 and the answers.
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• Which of the three sounds do you like saying most, sh, ch or th? Why?
• Can you think of a word that starts with sh, ch or th that is not on the sheet?
• How did you know where to look for the first word?
• What do you notice about the shape of your mouth when you say sh?
• Which word was the trickiest to find, and what helped you in the end?
• Can you say a word slowly, then say how many sounds it has?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in phonics

Before this sheet, children learn the sounds of single letters and practise blending them to read short words. They also begin to hear that some words need us to look at two letters together, not one at a time.

After this sheet, children meet more letter pairs, such as ai, ee and oa, and later longer words with more than one digraph. The same habits carry on: look carefully, say the sound, blend and check.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Digraph Treasure Hunt for?

It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Older children who need extra phonics practice can use it too, and the stretch idea on page 2 gives confident children something more to try.

What will children practise?

Children read and spell words containing the digraphs sh, ch and th, as in Year 1 phonics. They also practise looking carefully at letters in order, which is a useful skill for both reading and spelling.

What is on page 2?

Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers. Keep it to one side while your child works on page 1.

What if it feels too hard?

Slow down and make it smaller. Read the words aloud together, say the digraph sound first, then cross off each word as it is found and say it out loud. Try one word at a time and come back another day.

Is Digraph Treasure Hunt free, and do I need colour printing?

Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. You do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so it is cheap and easy to use again.

How long does it take?

It depends on the child. Let them go at their own pace and stop when they tire. Short rounds work well, and you can return to the sheet another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Can teachers and home educators use it?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.