Phonics worksheet · Digraphs and blends

Three-Letter Blends: str, spr, scr, spl, squ

Six sentences, each missing a three-letter blend: string, spring, scrub, splash, squirrel and street.

Share:
Grade level
1st grade
Time
About 15 minutes
Answer key
Yes, page 2 of the PDF
Kids practice
Digraphs, Consonant blends, Spelling rules, Decoding longer words

What kids do

“Three letters, three sounds! Read each sentence. Circle the blend that makes a real word. Write it on the line.”

Printed on the sheet:

  1. Flowers grow in

Words on this sheet

strsprscrsplsquTheI canDo not

Teacher tip

Say all three sounds slowly: s-t-r. Then fast: str.

How to use it

  • Teach a digraph as “two letters, one sound” and a blend as “two letters, two sounds”.
  • Use a hand motion for each digraph, like a finger on lips for sh.
  • Use it in a small reading group so you can hear each child sound out a few words.

Watch for

th has two sounds (thin and this). Accept both when kids read.

Talk about it

  • Can you think of another word with this blend?
  • Can you think of another word with the same sound?

Take it further

Sort picture cards by blend at a center.

US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.

More digraphs and blends worksheets

Digraph Sound Boxes: free printable phonics worksheet
1st grade

Digraph Sound Boxes

Sound boxes for words with sh, ch, th and ck: ship, chin, fish, duck, bath and moth. The two letters of a digraph share one box because they make one sound.

qu Says /kw/: free printable phonics worksheet
1st grade

qu Says /kw/

qu at the start of words: trace queen, quilt and quick, color the qu words, finish six words with qu and read a sentence.

See all 200 phonics worksheets

Share this with a friend or teacher

Free for teachers

Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit

12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.

Keep creating with Kevin

New book announcements and free drawing and coloring activity pages, delivered by newsletter.