The “SH” Sound: A Fun Phonics Lesson for Young Learners
Help children learn the sh sound with simple words, sentences, practice activities, and handwriting exercises for home or classroom learning.
KINDERGARTENLESSON NOTESTEACHING/LEARNING MATERIALS
Ngeche N Therese
9/7/20263 min read
The “SH” Sound: A Fun Phonics Lesson for Young Learners
Learn the “SH” Sound
1. Presentation of the Sound
Today we are learning the double sound sh.
When s and h stand together, they make one sound:
sh - /sh/
Say it softly, like you are asking someone to be quiet: “shhh!”
Put your lips forward gently. Let air flow between your teeth. The sound is quiet and smooth, not loud.
Try it slowly:
s + h = sh
Now say it three times:
sh - sh - sh
Listen for sh at the beginning, middle, or end of a word:
- shoe
- fi**sh**
- bru**sh**
Remember: The two letters s and h make one sound.
2. Sample Words and Familiar Objects
Here are five familiar words and objects that contain the sh sound:
1. Shoe - something we wear on our foot.
2. Ship - a large boat that travels on water.
3. Shirt - clothing we wear on our upper body.
4. Fish - an animal that lives in water.
5. Brush - a tool used for hair, teeth, or painting.
Say each word aloud. Can you hear sh?
shoe, ship, shirt, fi**sh**, bru**sh**
3. Twenty Words Featuring “SH”
Read each word. Look for the letters sh.
1. shell
2. sheep
3. ship
4. shop
5. shoe
6. shirt
7. shark
8. shovel
9. shape
10. shadow
11. brush
12. dish
13. fish
14. wish
15. wash
16. splash
17. fresh
18. finish
19. sunshine
20. birthday
Sort the Words by Position
SH at the beginning: shell, sheep, ship, shop, shoe, shirt, shark, shovel, shape, shadow
SH in the middle or at the end: brush, dish, fish, wish, wash, splash, fresh, finish, sunshine, birthday
4. Ten Simple Sentences
Read each sentence aloud. Listen for the sh sound.
1. The sheep is white.
2. We saw a big ship.
3. I put on my shoe.
4. My shirt is blue.
5. The fish swims fast.
6. Please wash your hands.
7. I used a brush to paint.
8. The children made a splash.
9. The shadow is long.
10. We saw a shark in a book.
Talk About the Sentences
- Which sentence has a word with sh at the end?
- Which sentence tells someone to clean their hands?
- Which sentence includes something that can swim?
5. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Find the “SH” Words
Circle the words that contain sh.
sun ship cat brush tree fish moon shirt dog shell
Exercise 2: Complete the Words
Add sh to complete each word.
1. __oe
2. fi__
3. bru__
4. __ip
5. di__
6. __ell
Exercise 3: Choose the Correct Word
Choose a word from the box to complete each sentence.
fish shirt brush ship wash
1. I wear a ______.
2. A ______ can swim.
3. We saw a ______ on the sea.
4. I use a ______ to clean my teeth.
5. Please ______ your hands.
### Exercise 4: Listen, Say, and Sort
Say each word aloud. Put it in the correct group:
shark dish shoe wish sheep fresh shop splash
| SH at the beginning | SH in the middle or at the end |
|---|---|
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Answer Check
Exercise 1: ship, brush, fish, shirt, shell
Exercise 2: shoe, fish, brush, ship, dish, shell
Exercise 3: 1. shirt 2. fish 3. ship 4. brush 5. wash
Exercise 4:
- SH at the beginning: shark, shoe, sheep, shop
- SH in the middle or at the end: dish, wish, fresh, splash
6. Handwriting Practice Page
sh sh sh sh sh
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
### Trace the Words
shoe ship sheep shirt
________________________________________
________________________________________
fish brush dish wash
________________________________________
________________________________________
### Copy the Sentences
1. The fish can swim.
________________________________________
________________________________________
2. I wear my shoe.
________________________________________
________________________________________
3. Please wash your hands.
________________________________________
________________________________________
Draw and Label
Draw one object with the sh sound. Then label your picture.
My picture:
________________________________________
________________________________________
My sh word: _________________________
### Neat Writing Reminder
- Sit comfortably.
- Hold your pencil gently.
- Start each letter in the right place.
- Leave spaces between words.
- Say the sh sound as you write.
7. Encouraging Conclusion
Great work learning the sh sound! You discovered that s and h can work together to make one quiet sound: /sh/.
You can find sh in words such as shoe, ship, fish, and brush. Keep listening for the sound when you read, talk, and look around your home or classroom.
Every sound you learn helps you become a stronger reader and writer. Keep practicing, keep smiling, and keep exploring words!
