First Grade · Reading · week 2

Th and Wh Join the Team

Read and write words with the digraphs th and wh, adding two more letter teams to the sounds they already know.

You already know sh and ch. Today you meet two more teams: th and wh. T and h together say "th," like in "this" and "thumb."

W and h together say "wh," like in "whale" and "what." Put your hand by your mouth when you say wh -- you can feel a little puff of air.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Show that th can sound a little different in "this" (a buzzy th) and "thumb" (a soft th) -- both are the same letter team, just said a little differently.
  • Model the small air puff on wh words so your child feels the difference from a plain w word like "win."
  • Keep mixing in the sh and ch words from last week so all four teams stay fresh.
  • Let your child hunt for th or wh words on a cereal box, book cover, or sign.
Talk about it:
  • Can you feel the air puff when you say whale?
  • What is one word you know that starts with th?
  • How are th and wh alike? How are they different?

Mastery looks like: They read th and wh words smoothly and can find both teams in a new word without help.

Common stumbles: Mixing up wh words with plain w words, like reading "when" as "wen."

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Reading for this learner.
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