As we move past CVC Words into blends, and now digraphs, Kindergarteners are starting to really gain momentum with reading! This free printable Digraphs Board Game is a great way to introduce beginning readers to digraphs without requiring them to sound out the whole word, which they might not be ready to do. Plus, it is so fun to play board games!
*Pair with our Blends & Digraphs Centers and Activities for Early Learners!
Printable Digraphs Board Game
Reading fluency takes time to build and incorporating fun literacy activities helps! In this digraphs board game, listening for the digraphs in the words will help your students gain recognition of when to use those sounds in writing and reading.
Let’s get started with some simple supplies!
What you will need:
- Cardstock
- Optional: scrapbook paper (see tip below)
- Game pieces (counting bears or pom poms work great!)
How to Prep
To prepare the game, print and laminate the game board page on cardstock for durability.
Then, print the playing card pages on cardstock or scrapbook paper. Printing on scrapbook paper gives the cards a fun back design, while also making it so that the kids can’t see through the cards while playing.
Before allowing the children to play on their own, go through the playing cards with them, making sure that all the kids understand what the pictures are showing. Words like “shadow” and “thermos” may be confusing to Kindergarten students.
How to Play
To play, place your marker on the “Start” of the board game. Place all the cards upside down on the “Card Draw Pile.”
Choose a player to go first.
The player will draw a card from the pile and read the word or say the name of the picture on the card. Then the player will move their game piece to the next space that has a picture with the same digraph as their card.
If a player lands on a space with an arrow, they will follow the arrow to the new space.
If a “star” card is drawn the player will head to the closest star space, even if it is behind them.
Students win by drawing a card that has the “wh” digraph, allowing them to reach the last space, a whale.
This is such a fun and creative way to get your kids practicing digraphs. They’ll love it!
Grab Your FREE Copy
Ready to work on digraph sounds? Grab your free copy of the printable Digraphs Board Game by clicking on the large, yellow download button at the end of the post!
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For advanced students- remove the playing cards. Roll a die to begin and move that number of spaces. Then student identifies the digraph sound, and spells the digraph. Moving one space forward or one space backward for each correct/ incorrect answer. Next turn they identify the same based on where their marker is at. (no more rolling of the die)
(Just a thought for my older Title I students who need less picture clues from the cards)
Hi Sheila,
What a great differentiation of this activity! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Have a great rest of the school year!