Printable "th" Digraph Christmas Tree Worksheet | Grade 1-3

This Grade 1-3 "th" digraph worksheet provides a festive way for students to practice phonics during the holiday season. By focusing on 20 words, students strengthen their ability to recognize and use common consonant digraphs. This activity ensures phonological awareness remains a priority while maintaining engagement through a creative coloring task.

At a Glance

At a Glance

• Grade: 1-3 · Subject: ELA
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.A — Know spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs
• Skill Focus: "th" Digraph Phonics
• Format: 1 page · 20 problems · Coloring activity · PDF
• Best For: Holiday phonics practice or speech therapy
• Time: 15–20 minutes

What's Inside

The worksheet features a large Christmas tree graphic adorned with 20 individual ornaments. Each ornament contains a high-frequency word starting with the "th" digraph, such as "thick," "think," and "those." The layout is clean and student-friendly, providing clear instructions for either verbal repetition or sentence construction. This single-page PDF is designed for immediate use, requiring no additional materials other than crayons or colored pencils.

Zero-Prep Workflow

• Print: Print copies for your class or small group in under 2 minutes.
• Distribute: Hand out the worksheets with coloring supplies and explain the choice between word repetition or sentence creation.
• Review: Monitor progress by listening to pronunciation or checking oral sentences during the 15-minute activity.

This resource serves as an ideal sub plan or morning work option during the busy holiday weeks.

Standards Alignment

This resource is primarily aligned with `CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.A`, which requires students to know the spelling-sound correspondences for common consonant digraphs. By interacting with 20 different "th" words, students demonstrate mastery of this specific phonetic component. Additionally, it supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.J by encouraging the production of complete sentences. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this worksheet during a literacy center or as a festive "fast finisher" task. For formative assessment, circulate and ask students to read ornaments aloud; note if they distinguish between voiced and unvoiced "th" sounds. The activity typically takes 15–20 minutes to complete, depending on whether students write or speak their sentences. It can also be used in speech therapy sessions to target specific articulation goals.

Who It's For

This activity is tailored for Grade 1-3 students refining decoding skills. It is useful for English Language Learners (ELLs) who need targeted practice with the "th" sound, which is often challenging in second-language acquisition. Pair this worksheet with a holiday read-aloud or a digraph anchor chart to provide a comprehensive instructional experience for all learners in the general education or special education setting.

Phonological awareness and the mastery of consonant digraphs like "th" are foundational components of early literacy development. According to Fisher & Frey (2014), the gradual release of responsibility model is most effective when students engage in repetitive, scaffolded practice that bridges the gap between isolated sound recognition and contextual application. This worksheet facilitates that transition by providing 20 distinct "th" digraph words within a festive, low-stakes coloring activity. By requiring students to either repeat the word or generate a sentence, the task addresses both decoding and encoding skills. Research indicates that integrating seasonal themes into phonics instruction can increase student engagement and retention of complex phonetic patterns. This resource aligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.1.3.A, ensuring that Grade 1-3 students develop the necessary spelling-sound correspondences required for reading fluency. The inclusion of both voiced and unvoiced "th" sounds allows for nuanced speech therapy applications and targeted intervention for struggling readers.