Sh Blend Words Worksheet: Read, Learn, and Circle!
The 'sh' blend is one of the most common digraphs in early English words, appearing in everyday vocabulary like 'ship,' 'shell,' and 'shop,' which makes this worksheet especially useful for children ages 4-6 building toward independent reading. Recognizing that two letters, 's' and 'h,' combine to make one brand-new sound (rather than two separate sounds) is a key phonics milestone, since digraphs behave differently from regular consonant blends. Reading and then circling 'sh' words from a list reinforces both the sound and the specific letter pattern that represents it.
Part of the pack
Month 9: Early Learning English Math Science | Ages 5-6Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Read each 'sh' blend word aloud together, pointing out that 's' and 'h' team up to make one single sound rather than being said separately. Talk about the picture next to each word and connect it to the word's meaning. Move to the list at the bottom of the page and have your child circle every word containing the 'sh' sound, reading each option aloud before making a decision. Reread all the circled words together once finished to reinforce the pattern one more time.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Brainstorm other words that start with 'sh' and see how many you can list together.
- •Draw a picture of one of the 'sh' words and label it with the correct spelling.
- •Go on an 'sh' word hunt around the house, looking for objects whose names contain the sound.
- •Create a simple 'sh' word book with drawings and labels for extra sight practice.
- •Play a listening game where you say pairs of words and your child claps only when they hear the 'sh' sound.
Tips for parents and teachers
Point out clearly that 'sh' is a single sound made by two letters together, since children sometimes try to sound out 's' and 'h' separately at first. Reinforce the sound by pointing it out in other familiar words your child already knows, like their own name if it applies. Praise their growing ability to spot the pattern quickly, since automatic digraph recognition speeds up reading significantly.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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