Lesson 47
Unvoiced th /th/
The grapheme TH spells /th/ (unvoiced)
The TH digraph can represent a voiced sound (e.g., this) and an unvoiced sound (e.g., thin). In these lessons, the written representation of voiced TH is underlined: /th/. The written representation of unvoiced TH is not underlined: /th/. Unvoiced TH is the more common pronunciation. Depending on dialect, students may pronounce unvoiced TH as /t/ or /f/ (e.g., think/tink; bath/baf). Voiced TH /th/ is taught in Lesson 46. Unvoiced TH /th/ is taught in Lesson 47.
Today's plan
about 20 min- Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
- Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
- Step 4Blending drill3 min
- Step 5New concept6 min
- Step 5Read & spell the new words5 min
Warm Up Our Ears
Say the sounds; students blend them into a word. Then say a word; students break it apart.
Blend it (teacher says sounds → you say word)
Break it (I say word → you say sounds)
Sound Drills
Full-screen cards for the class. Tap a card to check the answer, or press Hear the words to hear the example words read aloud.
👂 Listen & Spell — teacher list (13 sounds)
Say each sound; students write the spelling(s). Read straight from this list.
- /th/ (unvoiced)th (as in thin) · thumb
- /th/ (voiced)th (as in thin) · this
- /sh/sh (as in ship) · sheep
- /k/c (as in cat), k (as in kite), ck (as in duck) · cat
- /ŭ/u (as in cup) · umbrella
- /ĕ/e (as in bed) · elephant
- /ĭ/i (as in sit) · itch
- /ŏ/o (as in hot) · octopus
- /ă/a (as in apple) · apple
- /f/f (as in fan), ff · fish
- /l/l (as in lion), ll · lamp
- /s/s (as in sun), ss · sun
- /z/s (as in dogs), z (as in zip), zz · zebra
Blending Drill
Change one part at a time and read the new word.
Initial
b g h m n
th sh
u
Middle
a
i
o
Final
t
+
New Concept
Today we learn the unvoiced TH sound, /th/, like at the beginning of the word thumb.
Highlighted words are the ones to show and practice reading — tap one to hear it.
Remember, a consonant digraph is two consonants that come together to make one sound. You have already learned about the consonant digraphs CK, SH, and TH. The consonant digraph TH makes a voiced sound like at the beginning of the word this. TH can also make an unvoiced sound. The unvoiced TH spells /th/ like at the beginning of the word . The unvoiced /th/ can come at the beginning of a word, such as and . The unvoiced /th/ can also come at the end of a word, such as and .
Unvoiced th /th/
TH can also make an unvoiced sound, /th/, like at the beginning of thumb. Unvoiced /th/ can come at the beginning or end of a word, such as , , , path.
How our mouth moves
To make the unvoiced TH sound, stick your tongue out just a little between your front teeth and blow air out like this with your voice off (model unvoiced /th/). The /th/ sound is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Watch me /th/. You try /th/.
Sound wall
Add grapheme card 'th' to the consonant grid under the unvoiced /th/ picture card. Practice letter formation for th.
Open the digital sound wall →Read & Spell
Read — I do
Read — We do
Spell — I do
Spell — We do