Choo Choo Lesson Plan
Scaffolded Phonics Lesson Plan
Choo Choo Digraph: Teaching “CH”
ch /ch/ sound
Learning Goal
Recognize that c and h team up as one digraph (ch) to make the single /ch/ sound.
Child Readiness
Knows most single-letter sounds (/k/, /h/, short vowels) and can blend 3-sound CVC words.
Pacing & Tools
20–25 minutes. Uses Choo Choo Slides, letter tiles/cards, and Practice Worksheet.
1. WARM-UP Sound Review & Phonemic Hook (3 mins)
Oral Only • No Print Yet
- Review known sounds: Flash single letters c (/k/), h (/h/), a, i, o, p, t, m. Have the child say each sound quickly.
- Oral ear-training: Say: “Listen to these words: chip, chin, cheese. What sound do you hear at the very start?”
- Train motion cue: Pull an imaginary train whistle down twice while saying “/ch/, /ch/, choo-choo!” Have the child copy the motion and sound.
2. I DO (MODELING) Introducing the “CH” Team (5–7 mins)
Slides 1–4
A. Explicit Concept Script (Two Letters, One Sound)
“We know c says /k/ and h says /h/. Watch what happens when c and h ride together in the same train car! They stop making /k/ and /h/ separately. Together, they team up to make ONE brand-new sound: /ch/.”
B. Mouth & Airflow Check (Multisensory)
Model putting your teeth gently together, pushing your lips slightly forward, and letting out one quick puff of air: “/ch/”. Have the child hold a hand in front of their mouth to feel the short, sharp puff of air (unlike /sh/, which is a long, quiet stream).
C. Think-Aloud Word Blending (Initial & Final Position)
Display chip and underline ch with one single line to show it gets one tap: “Watch me tap: /ch/ (1 tap) – /i/ (2nd tap) – /p/ (3rd tap). Blend it: chip!” Repeat with rich (/r/ – /i/ – /ch/) so the child sees ch can also ride at the end.
Key Visual Scaffold: Always underline or draw one continuous arch/box under ch during modeling so the child visually groups the two letters as a single sound unit.
3. WE DO (GUIDED) Shared Blending & Sound Boxes (7–8 mins)
Slides 5–7 & Worksheet p. 1
1. Choral Sound-Out (Slides 5–6)
Point to each sound unit together. Remind the child: “Remember, ch gets ONE tap!” Blend aloud together: chat, chop, chin, much, such.
2. Elkonin Sound Boxes (Worksheet Page 1, Part A)
Guide the child through tapping the sounds in chat, chop, and rich before writing. Point out that even with 4 letters, there are only 3 sound boxes because ch shares one box! Do #1 together, then fade prompts on #2–3.
3. Picture-Word Match Check (Worksheet Page 1, Part B)
Have the child read each word aloud using the “one-tap ch” strategy and draw a line to the matching picture. Ask: “Where did you hear /ch/—at the beginning or the end?”
4. YOU DO (INDEPENDENT) Solo Word Detective Practice (5–7 mins)
Worksheet p. 2
Step back and let the child work through Worksheet Page 2 independently while you observe:
- Part C (Spot the Digraph): Child circles only the words containing ch (filtering out single c or h words like cat and hat).
- Part D (Write the Missing Digraph): Child uses picture clues to write ch (__ip, __in, lun__).
- Part E (Read & Draw): Child reads a short decodable phrase (“a big red chip”) and draws a quick picture to show comprehension.
Common Pitfalls & Fixes
- Says /k/-/h/ separately: Cover c and h with one finger: “Glue them together! One finger, one sound: /ch/.”
- Confuses /ch/ and /sh/: Contrast the train puff (/ch/, short stop) with the quiet finger-to-lips (/sh/, long stream).
- Drops /ch/ at word ends: Use the train caboose cue: “CH can be the engine at the front OR caboose at the back!”
Scaffolding Adjustments
- Need More Support: Pre-highlight ch in red on the worksheet before reading; stick to initial ch words only (chip, chop, chat, chin) for today.
- Ready for a Challenge: Have the child spell 2–3 dictated ch words on the back (chap, rich, much) or read: “Chad had a big chip.”
Worksheet Quick Key
Part A: ch-a-t, ch-o-p, r-i-ch • Part C Circle: chip, chin, rich, chop (skip cat, hat) • Part D: chip, chin, lunch
Mastery Goal
4/5 words read accurately
Choo Choo Slides
Phonics Express • Digraph Lesson
Choo Choo Digraph!
c + h → ch /ch/
Two letters that team up to make ONE sound
I Do • Meet the Team
When C and H Ride Together
c
Usually says /k/
like cat
h
Usually says /h/
like hat
ch
Team up: /ch/
like choo-choo!
I Do • Sound Check
How to Make the /ch/ Sound
1. Mouth & Air
- • Put your teeth gently together.
- • Push your lips slightly out.
- • Let out one quick puff of air!
🚂
2. Train Whistle Cue
Pull the train whistle twice:
“/ch/, /ch/, choo-choo!”
I Do • Watch Me Blend
CH Gets Just ONE Tap!
ch i p
3 sounds → 3 taps
chip
r i ch
CH at the end!
rich
We Do • Together
CH at the Front!
Tap each sound together, then blend the word.
chat
chop
chin
We Do • Together
CH at the Back!
CH can ride in the caboose, too! Tap and blend.
rich
much
such
Your Turn!
All Aboard the CH Worksheet
Remember: whenever you see ch together, give it ONE tap and say /ch/!
Grab your pencil & Practice Worksheet! ✏️
Choo Choo Practice Worksheet
Name:
Date:
Guided Practice • We Do
Choo Choo Digraph Practice
ch 1 sound = 1 box
Part A: Tap & Write in the Sound Boxes
Say each word aloud. Tap the 3 sounds, then write the letters in the boxes. Remember: ch shares one box!
1
chat
💬 talk together
2
chop
🪓 cut wood
3
rich
💰 lots of coins
Part B: Read & Match
Read each word aloud. Draw a line to match the word to its picture.
chip
chin
chop
chest
🪓 axe
🧰 treasure box
🥔 crunchy snack
🙂 below the mouth
Independent Practice • You Do
CH Word Detective
🚂
Part C: Spot the CH Team!
Read each word. Circle the words that have the ch digraph.
chip
cat
chin
hat
rich
chop
Part D: Write the Missing Digraph
Look at the picture clue and write ch on the blank line to finish each word.
🥔
ip
🙂
in
🥪
lun
Part E: Read & Draw!
Read the phrase below, then draw a picture in the box to match.
a big red chip
