#19: Fun digraph chants for kindergarten
Teaching digraphs can be tricky for young learners, but incorporating chants and movement makes the learning process fun, engaging, and effective. When students use their voices and bodies together, they activate multiple areas of the brain, which helps them retain information more effectively. In this post, we’ll explore fun digraph chants for kindergarten that make phonics instruction more interactive and engaging for students.
What Are Digraphs and Why Do They Matter?
A digraph is a pair of letters that create a single sound, such as sh, ch, th, ph, and wh. Understanding digraphs is essential for early reading success because they help students recognize common spelling patterns and improve decoding skills. The challenge, however, is ensuring that students not only recognize the letters but also remember the sounds they make. That’s where interactive chants come in!
5 Fun Digraph Chants for Kindergarten
Here are five engaging digraph chants that will get your students moving, chanting, and learning in no time.
1. SH Digraph Chant: “Sharks in the Shower”
Chant: Sharks in the shower, sh!
Sharks in the shower, sh!
Activity:
- Have students march around the classroom.
- Every time they say “sh,” they place a finger over their lips as if asking for quiet.
- Encourage different voices (whisper, monster, robot) to keep it engaging.
2. CH Digraph Chant: “Chug-a-Chug-a-Choo-Choo”
Chant: Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo, ch!
Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo, ch!
Activity:
- Students pretend to be trains, moving their arms like wheels.
- They emphasize the “ch” sound as they march around the room.
- Let students take turns leading the train.
3. TH Digraph Chant: “Thumb on My Throat”
Chant: Thumb on my throat, th!
Thumb on my throat, th!
Activity:
- Have students place their thumb on their throat to feel the vibration.
- Explain the difference between voiced (this, that) and unvoiced (thimble, think) th sounds.
- Make it a sorting game: say words and have students move to a “voiced” or “unvoiced” section of the classroom.
4. PH Digraph Chant: “Photo on My Phone”
Chant:
Photo on my phone, ph!
Photo on my phone, ph!
Activity:
- Students pretend to take a picture each time they say “ph.”
- Have them brainstorm other ph words (phone, dolphin, graph) and add them to the chant.
5. WH Digraph Chant: “Whistles and Wheels”
Chant:
Whistles and wheels, wh!
Whistles and wheels, wh!
Activity:
- Students pretend to blow a whistle while saying “wh.”
- Pair students up and have them create sentences using wh words.
Bringing It All Together
Using digraph chants in kindergarten not only makes phonics instruction fun but also helps students retain what they learn. By incorporating movement, rhythm, and repetition, young learners engage multiple senses, leading to better mastery of phonics skills.
Want More Fun Phonics Strategies?
If you loved these digraph chants, join The Science of Reading Formula for more engaging, research-backed strategies that make phonics instruction effective and enjoyable! Enroll here.
LINKS
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GRAB THE FREE Chants
Click the big blue “DOWNLOAD HERE” button below to print the digraph chants I mentioned in this episode.
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