English · Colouring and tick worksheet
'ch' and 'th' Sounds: Free KS1 Phonics Worksheet
This free printable worksheet gives Year 1 children focused practice with two of the trickiest consonant digraphs in early phonics: 'ch' and 'th'. A digraph is simply two letters that work together to make a single sound, and recognising them on sight is an important step towards confident, fluent reading.
Children colour in four friendly pictures, then listen carefully to the beginning of each word and tick whether it starts with the 'ch' sound or the 'th' sound. The worksheet prints neatly onto one A4 page and pairs gentle colouring with a quick sound-sorting task, making it ideal for a short home or classroom phonics session.
The 'ch' and 'th' Sounds
Free English worksheet · Ages 5 to 7
Activity 1
Colour in the four pictures. Look carefully at each one as you colour and say its name out loud.
- Colour the chair a warm brown.
- Colour the cherry red.
- Colour the thumb and hand to match your own skin.
- Colour the spiky thistle purple and green.
Activity 2
Say each picture word out loud and listen to the first sound. Tick the box to show which words begin with the 'ch' sound and which begin with the 'th' sound.
- chair begins with the 'ch' sound
- cherry begins with the 'ch' sound
- thumb begins with the 'th' sound
- thistle begins with the 'th' sound
The 'ch' and 'th' Soundsowee.worldAnswer key
- chair begins with the 'ch' sound — tick
- cherry begins with the 'ch' sound — tick
- thumb begins with the 'th' sound — tick
- thistle begins with the 'th' sound — tick
What are the 'ch' and 'th' digraphs?
A digraph is two letters that together represent one phoneme (a single unit of sound). In 'ch' the c and h combine to make the sound you hear at the start of chair, cherry and chip. In 'th' the t and h combine to make the sound you hear at the start of thumb, thistle and thirteen. Both are introduced in Phase 3 of the Letters and Sounds phonics progression, usually during Reception or early Year 1. The 'th' sound is worth a special mention because it actually has two pronunciations: a 'voiced' version (as in this and that) and an 'unvoiced' version (as in thumb and thin). For this worksheet the focus is simply on spotting the spelling pattern, so children do not need to distinguish between the two.
How to use this worksheet at home or in class
Print the sheet and read each picture name aloud together, sounding it out slowly so the child can hear the very first sound: ch-ch-chair, th-th-thumb. Encourage the child to say the digraph sound rather than the individual letter names. They can colour the pictures first to settle in, then work through the tick boxes one at a time. If a child is unsure, cover the rest of the word and isolate just the opening sound. Saying words out loud and exaggerating the first sound is one of the most effective ways to build phonemic awareness, and it turns a quiet colouring task into a chatty, sound-rich activity.
Why digraphs matter for early reading
Once children can blend single letter-sounds, digraphs are often the next hurdle. Without recognising that 'ch' and 'th' are single sounds, a child may try to read chip as 'c-h-i-p' and become stuck. Teaching digraphs as a single, recognisable unit prevents this and supports the systematic synthetic phonics approach used across English schools. Mastery of common digraphs also unlocks a large number of everyday words, which builds reading confidence quickly. Sorting words by their initial sound, as in this worksheet, reinforces that letters can team up, an idea children will revisit with 'sh', 'ng', 'qu' and other digraphs and trigraphs.
Extending the activity
After completing the sheet, turn it into a quick word hunt. Ask the child to find more things around the room that begin with 'ch' (a chair, a chest, a chin) or 'th' (a thumb, a thread, the number three). You could also gather a few household objects or picture cards and ask the child to physically sort them into a 'ch' pile and a 'th' pile. For children ready for more, try listening for the digraphs in the middle or at the end of words, such as teacher, bath and tooth. Short, playful repetition over several days helps these sounds become automatic.
Frequently asked questions
What is a digraph in phonics?
A digraph is two letters that together make one sound. In 'chair' the letters c and h make a single 'ch' sound, and in 'thumb' the letters t and h make a single 'th' sound. Recognising digraphs as one sound helps children decode words accurately.
When do children learn the 'ch' and 'th' sounds?
Both 'ch' and 'th' are usually introduced in Phase 3 of phonics, typically during Reception or the start of Year 1 (around ages 4 to 6). They are revisited and reinforced throughout Key Stage 1.
Is this worksheet suitable for Year 1?
Yes. It is designed for ages 5 to 7 (KS1) and supports the Year 1 word reading objective of applying phonic knowledge to decode words, including recognising consonant digraphs such as 'ch' and 'th'.
Why does 'th' sometimes sound different?
The 'th' digraph has two pronunciations: a voiced sound as in 'this' and 'that', and an unvoiced sound as in 'thumb' and 'thin'. Children do not need to tell them apart for this worksheet; the focus is simply on spotting the 'th' spelling pattern.
How can I help my child practise digraphs at home?
Say words slowly and stretch out the first sound, then go on a word hunt for objects starting with 'ch' or 'th'. Sorting picture cards or household items into two piles by their opening sound is a simple, effective way to reinforce the learning.
Curriculum links
- English, Year 1 Word reading: apply phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decode words.
- English, Year 1 Word reading: respond speedily with the correct sound to graphemes (letters or groups of letters) for all 40+ phonemes, including, where applicable, alternative sounds for graphemes.
- English, Year 1 Word reading: blend sounds in unfamiliar words containing GPCs that have been taught.
- English Spoken language (Years 1 to 6): listen and respond appropriately, and speak audibly when articulating sounds and words.
- Reading supports the recognition of consonant digraphs such as 'ch' and 'th' introduced in Phase 3 of the phonics progression.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
More learning, made playful
Owee turns topics like this into age-right quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, with a treehouse that grows as they learn. Three subjects are free, forever.
Get Owee free