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Lesson 50

wh /w/, ph /f/

The grapheme WH spells /w/; the grapheme PH spells /f/

Most English speakers produce the same sounds for W and WH. It is important to be aware of your own pronunciation as you model the sound for students.

Today's plan

about 15 min
  1. Step 1Warm up our ears (blend & segment)2 min
  2. Steps 2 & 3Look & Say / Listen & Spell4 min
  3. Step 4Blending drill3 min
  4. Step 5New concept + read/spell6 min
Step 1

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)

/w/ · /i/ · /m/whim
/w/ · /i/ · /ch/which
/w/ · /i/ · /f/whiff
/w/ · /e/ · /n/when

Break it (I say word → you say sounds)

Steps 2 & 3

Flashcard 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.

Step 4

Blending Drill

Change one part at a time and read the new word.

Initial

b c m

Middle

a i

Final

n

+

ch sh

Step 5

New Concept

Today we learn two new digraphs: WH spells /w/ and PH spells /f/.

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, TH, and CH. The consonant digraph WH spells /w/ like at the beginning of the word . This is the same sound as the consonant W. WH can only come at the beginning of a word, such as and . The consonant digraph PH spells /f/ like at the beginning of the word . This is the same sound as the consonant F. PH can come at the beginning of a word, such as the word , the name Phil. PH can also come at the end of a word, such as the word .

wh /w/

The consonant digraph WH spells /w/ like at the beginning of the word . WH can only come at the beginning of a word, such as and .

ph /f/

The consonant digraph PH spells /f/ like at the beginning of the word . PH can come at the beginning of a word (phone, Phil) or at the end of a word (graph).

How our mouth moves

To make the /w/ sound, round your lips tight like this...(model)...and turn your voice on. The /w/ sound is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Watch me /www/. You try /www/. Be sure to model the /w/ as a very tight /ooo/, not as /wuh/. To make the /f/ sound, bite your bottom lip like this...fff. Have students use mirrors to help them see what they are doing. Hold your lip there and blow. The /f/ sound is a continuous sound that can be stretched out (use continuous hand motion). Be sure your voice is off. Watch me /fff/. You try /fff/. Students may need to use a finger to keep their lip in the right place.

Sound wall

Add grapheme card 'wh' to the consonant grid under the /w/ picture card (with 'w'). Add grapheme card 'ph' to the consonant grid under the /f/ picture card (with 'f' and 'ff').

Open the digital sound wall →