Digraph Detectives Wall Cards
Digraph Detectives Activity Kit
Hide these cards around the classroom. Set: Pages 1-2 (Cards 1-12)
Part 1: Cards 1-6
CASE FILE #1 SPY CLUE
⛵
_ _ i p
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #2 SPY CLUE
🍒
_ _ e r r y
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #3 SPY CLUE
👍
_ _ u m b
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #4 SPY CLUE
🐋
_ _ a l e
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #5 SPY CLUE
🐟
f i _ _
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #6 SPY CLUE
🍑
p e a _ _
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
Digraph Detectives Activity Kit
Hide these cards around the classroom. Set: Pages 1-2 (Cards 1-12)
Part 2: Cards 7-12
CASE FILE #7 SPY CLUE
🦷
t e e _ _
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #8 SPY CLUE
🛞
_ _ e e l
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #9 SPY CLUE
🪑
_ _ a i r
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #10 SPY CLUE
🐚
_ _ e l l
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #11 SPY CLUE
🦋
m o _ _
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
CASE FILE #12 SPY CLUE
🥣
_ _ i s k
Find: SH, CH, TH, or WH Digraph Detectives
Digraph Detectives Recording Sheet
Digraph Detectives
Write the Room Recording Sheet
Mission: Find All 12 Clues
Spy Name:
Date:
Jr. Detective Sr. Detective
Case File #01
sh ch th wh
Case File #02
sh ch th wh
Case File #03
sh ch th wh
Case File #04
sh ch th wh
Case File #05
sh ch th wh
Case File #06
sh ch th wh
Case File #07
sh ch th wh
Case File #08
sh ch th wh
Case File #09
sh ch th wh
Case File #10
sh ch th wh
Case File #11
sh ch th wh
Case File #12
sh ch th wh
Top Secret Decoding Mission
Bonus Reward
Write the secret letters from your solved words to break the code! (e.g., C1, L1 means the 1st letter of Card 1's word).
C1, L1
C3, L3
C6, L1
C7, L2
C2, L4
C10, L1
C1, L4
C2, L6
!
Digraph Detectives Teacher Guide
Teacher Guide & Key
Digraph Detectives Phonics Activity
Target: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Preparation Steps
- 1 Print Wall Cards: Print the Clue Cards document in full color. For heavy classroom reuse, laminating is highly recommended!
- 2 Cut & Hide: Cut along the dashed borders of the 12 clue cards. Hide them around your classroom walls, doors, shelves, and boards.
- 3 Equip Spies: Hand each student a clipboard, a pencil, and a copy of the Student Recording Sheet.
How to Play
Students move independently around the room hunting for hidden Case Files. When they find a card, they match the Case Number, identify the target Digraph (sh, ch, th, wh), and write the complete spelled word on their dashed writing lines. Finally, they decode the secret mystery word at the bottom!
Differentiation
🌱 Scaffolding (Junior): Have students select their level on the sheet. Focus them solely on identifying and writing the 2-letter digraph rather than spelling the full word.
🚀 Extension (Senior): Have students choose 3 words they found and write a creative detective short story on the back of their sheets.
Pro-Tip: Managing the Room
To prevent students crowding at the same clue card, enforce a "Three Spies Max" rule per card, or have students start searching at the card number that matches their classroom line order!
Spelling Answer Key
| Case | Digraph | Correct Word |
|---|
| #01 | sh | SHIP |
| #02 | ch | CHERRY |
| #03 | th | THUMB |
| #04 | wh | WHALE |
| #05 | sh | FISH |
| #06 | ch | PEACH |
| #07 | th | TEETH |
| #08 | wh | WHEEL |
| #09 | ch | CHAIR |
| #10 | sh | SHELL |
| #11 | th | MOTH |
| #12 | wh | WHISK |