Chomp and Cheer Teacher Guide 🌴
Phonics: Digraph /ch/
Chomp and Cheer
Grade 1 • Explicit Phonics Instruction • 45 Minutes
Science of Reading
Teacher Lesson Plan
Focus Sound
/ch/ (ch)
Positions
Initial & Final
Primary Goal
Blend, Read, Write
Key Words
Chimp, Chips, Rich
Learning Objectives & Standards
Phonics (RF.1.3.A): Students will identify, decode, and spell words with the digraph ch in both initial (e.g., chin, chip, chess ) and final (e.g., much, rich, lunch ) positions.
Phonemic Awareness: Students will isolate, segment, and blend phonemes in words containing the /ch/ sound with 90% accuracy.
Writing (W.1.8): Students will independently write complete sentences using words with the /ch/ digraph.
Teacher & Student Materials
For the Teacher
Chomp and Cheer Slides
Sound Wall cards / Spelling grid
Chart paper & marker
For the Students
Chomp and Cheer Worksheets
Chimp & Chips Decodable Reader
Dry-erase markers and small whiteboards
Step 1: Warm-Up (8 Mins) Phonemic Awareness
Isolating and Blending /ch/
Do not show spelling yet; focus purely on hearing the sound. Tell students that today's sound is like a train chugging along: "ch-ch-ch!" . Have them practice making the sound by releasing air quickly.
Teacher Script: "I will say some words. If you hear /ch/ at the beginning, pretend to pull a train whistle ('choo-choo!'). Words: chin, chip, pet, chat . Now, look for /ch/ at the end! If you hear it, jump and clap: much, rich, lunch ."
Step 2: Explicit Instruction (10 Mins) I Do
Introducing Digraph ch
Write c and h . Remind students that these letters team up to make one brand new sound: /ch/ . This is a digraph !
Sound Card Connection: Show the Chimp card. "Chimp starts with /ch/."
Articulation: Teeth slightly parted, lips flared, air pushes out in a short burst.
Word Mapping: Draw three Elkonin boxes. Map chin: /ch/ /i/ /n/. Write ch in the first box to show two letters make one sound.
Chomp and Cheer Phonics Lesson Plan Page 1 of 2
🌴
Phonics: Digraph /ch/
Chomp and Cheer
Grade 1 • Explicit Phonics Instruction • 45 Minutes
Teacher Lesson Plan
Step 3: Guided Practice (12 Mins) We Do
Chop and Build Blending
Lead students in choral blending. Use the "Chomp & Cheer" hand motion: stretch arms wide, then clamp hands together like a chimp chomping when /ch/ is formed!
Blending Board Practice:
ch - i - p = chip
ch - o - p = chop
m - u - ch = much
r - i - ch = rich
Multisensory Orthographic Mapping:
Students use small whiteboards. Say a word, students tap the sounds, draw sound boxes, and write the spelling.
Key Check for Understanding: Ensure students do not write c and h in separate boxes. They must always occupy the same sound box because they make a single phoneme!
Step 4: Independent Practice (10 Mins) You Do
Student Worksheet & Decodable Reading
Students transition to their desks to complete the Chomp and Cheer Worksheet independently.
Page 1: Identify pictures with the /ch/ sound, sort positions, and spell words.
Page 2: Match words to complete sentences and draft original sentences with the digraph.
Extension: Pair students to read the Chimp and Chips Decodable Reader . Have them circle all ch words before reading aloud.
Step 5: Assessment & Closure (5 Mins) Exit Ticket
Sound Check & Reflection
Write one word starting with ch and one ending with ch on small boards as exit tickets.
Common Misconceptions:
Acoustic confusion with /sh/. Emphasize the short, stop sound of /ch/ versus the continuous sound of /sh/.
Differentiation Support:
Struggling: Use sound-spelling chips. Advanced: Introduce the trigraph tch (e.g., match, catch).
Chomp and Cheer Phonics Lesson Plan Page 2 of 2
Chomp and Cheer Slides 🌴
🐒
Grade 1 Phonics Digraph /ch/
Chomp and Cheer!
Meet Chimp and learn how two letters team up to make the /ch/ sound!
Interactive Slide Deck
Slide 1 of 7
🚂
Step 1: Warm-Up Listen Closely!
The Train Sound
Our sound today is like a train chugging down the track:
"ch-ch-ch-ch!"
Sound Detective Challenge
Listen carefully to the words your teacher says:
Starts with /ch/ → Pull the Whistle!
🙌 Ends with /ch/ → Jump and Clap!
Listen for initial and final /ch/ sounds. Slide 2 of 7
🤝
Step 2: Explicit Instruction The Spelling Team
Two Letters, One Sound!
c
h
=
ch Digraph
When c and h stand together, they team up. They do not say /c/ and /h/. They make one brand-new sound: /ch/!
Meet the digraph team. Slide 3 of 7
🗣️
Step 2: Articulation Say It with Pride!
How to Make the Sound
Look at your partner's mouth as you practice saying /ch/:
Your teeth are slightly open and your lips flare out like a whistle.
Push out air quickly in one short burst!
🙊
Is It Voice On or Off?
Put your hand on your throat. Say /ch/!
Your vocal cords do not vibrate! It's a quiet, voiceless sound.
Practice standard articulation for /ch/. Slide 4 of 7
🧗
Step 3: Guided Practice Chomp & Cheer Blending
Let's Blend Words!
Chop the sounds with your hands, then clamp them together like a chimp chomping!
Initial
chip
ch•i•p
Initial
chop
ch•o•p
Final
much
m•u•ch
Final
rich
r•i•ch
Chop the phonemes, then blend the word! Slide 5 of 7
📖
Step 4: Decodable Story Read Along
Chimp gets a Snack!
The chimp had a chip.
He sat on a chair to chomp and cheer!
Can you find all four words with the /ch/ sound?
Read the sentences and identify the target digraph words. Slide 6 of 7
Chomp and Cheer Worksheet Chomp and Cheer!
Grade 1 Phonics • Digraph /ch/
Name
Date
1 Where is the Train Sound? /ch/
Read each word. Does it start with ch (initial) or end with ch (final)? Check the correct box.
1. chip Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
2. rich Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
3. chop Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
4. much Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
2 Chop and Map the Sounds
Say each word aloud, map the sounds by drawing dots in the circles, then write the letters in the boxes. Remember: ch stays in one box because it is one sound team!
Word 1: chin
🧑
Word 2: bench
🪵
Word 3: chat
💬
Word 4: lunch
🍎
Chomp and Cheer Worksheet • Grade 1 Page 1 of 2
Chomp and Cheer!
Grade 1 Phonics • Digraph /ch/
Worksheet Part 2
🌴 Word Bank 🌴
chimp chop rich chips much
3 Fill in the Blanks
Read each sentence. Choose the best word from the Word Bank to complete it. Write it clearly on the lines.
The clever
climbed up the tall tree.
He loves to eat crunchy potato
with lunch.
Please help me
the wood for the campfire.
The king has lots of gold, he is very
.
4 Write Your Own Sentences
Choose any word with ch . Write a complete sentence using that word. Check your work for a capital letter and a period!
Write sentence 1 here:
Write sentence 2 here:
Chomp and Cheer Worksheet • Grade 1 Page 2 of 2
Chomp and Cheer Teacher Key Teacher Answer Key
Chomp and Cheer! (Key)
Grade 1 Phonics • Digraph /ch/ Answers
1 Where is the Train Sound? /ch/
Read each word. Does it start with ch (initial) or end with ch (final)? Check the correct box.
1. chip Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
2. rich Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
3. chop Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
4. much Starts with /ch/ Ends with /ch/
2 Chop and Map the Sounds
Answers show how many phonemes (sounds) are mapped and the exact letters to spell.
Word 1: chin (3 sounds)
ch
i
n
🧑
Word 2: bench (4 sounds)
b
e
n
ch
🪵
Word 3: chat (3 sounds)
ch
a
t
💬
Word 4: lunch (4 sounds)
l
u
n
ch
🍎
Chomp and Cheer Answer Key • Grade 1 Page 1 of 2
Teacher Answer Key
Chomp and Cheer! (Key)
Grade 1 Phonics • Digraph /ch/ Answers
🌴 Word Bank 🌴
chimp chop rich chips much
3 Fill in the Blanks
Read each sentence. Choose the best word from the Word Bank to complete it. Write it clearly on the lines.
The clever
chimp
climbed up the tall tree.
He loves to eat crunchy potato
chips
with lunch.
Please help me
chop
the wood for the campfire.
The king has lots of gold, he is very
rich
.
4 Write Your Own Sentences
Answers will vary. Check for capital letters, punctuation, and correct spelling of /ch/ words.
Example sentence using "chimp":
The little chimp is happy.
Example sentence using "much":
I love chips so much!
Chomp and Cheer Answer Key • Grade 1 Page 2 of 2
Chimp and Chips Decodable Reader 📖
Decodable Reader • Level 1
Chimp and Chips
Name
🔍 Target /ch/ Words
chimp chips bench munch chomp chin chat
⭐ Heart Words (High Frequency)
he has the with wants they
🐒
Chimp's Lunch
Chimp is a happy chimp. He sits on a wooden bench.
He has a red bag of potato chips.
Chimp wants to chomp and munch on his snack.
A little bug lands right on Chimp's chin!
Chimp has a quick chat with the bug. They share the snack!
Comprehension Check
1. Where does Chimp sit? (Write a full sentence)
2. What is in Chimp's bag?
3. Where did the little bug land?
Chimp and Chips Decodable Reader • Grade 1 Phonics Page 1 of 1
Chomp and Cheer Word Cards Chomp and Cheer Flashcards
Target Word Deck • Cut-out Activity
Phonics digraph /ch/
✂️ Teacher & Parent Guide: Cut along the dashed lines to make 8 pocket-sized phonics flashcards. Use these cards for:
Orthographic Mapping: Place chips or counters under each sound before reading.
Read & Spell: Hide the word, show the picture emoji, and have the student spell it.
Card 1
🐒
chimp
Card 2
🍟
chips
Card 3
🪵
bench
Card 4
🧒
chin
Card 5
🪓
chop
Card 6
👑
rich
Card 7
❤️
much
Card 8
💬
chat
Chomp and Cheer Vocabulary Word Cards Page 1 of 1