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Mystery Box - sh

At Smart Boarding School, we know that teaching phonics doesn’t have to be repetitive—it can be exciting, strategic, and full of discovery. That’s why we’ve created another edition of our popular Mystery Box Game, this time focusing on the /sh/ sound.


Students often encounter the /sh/ sound through a variety of spellings—sh, ch, and ti—making it one of the more challenging phonemes to master. This two-player game

Mystery Box - sh.jpg

gives children in Year 1 and Year 2 the chance to explore these tricky spellings through active play and thoughtful practice.

 

What Makes This Game So Effective?

The /sh/ Mystery Box Game is more than just phonics—it’s interactive, motivating, and designed to get students spelling, reading, and thinking. Whether in a literacy centre, working with a partner, or playing with a teacher, students will get valuable repetition and meaningful practice with common /sh/ sound words.

 

What You’ll Need

  • Page 2: The Mystery Box scoreboard—one for each player (laminate for multiple uses with whiteboard markers).

  • Pages 3–10: Double-sided cards featuring a wide range of words with the /sh/ sound. These words are spelled using sh, ch, or ti. Print the pages back-to-back and cut out the cards.

 

Game Instructions

  1. Lay all the /sh/ sound cards face down on the table.

  2. Player 1 points to a mystery card.

  3. Player 2 flips the card and reads the word aloud.

  4. Player 1 writes the word on their scoreboard.

  5. Player 2 checks the spelling. If correct, Player 1 scores 1 point.

  6. Player 1 chooses whether to:

    • Keep the card and apply the point change listed.

    • Discard the card with no change to their score.

  7. Switch turns. Continue until all cards have been played.

  8. The player with the most points at the end wins.

 

Why Teachers and Students Love It

  • Supports Sound-Grapheme Mapping: The game features /sh/ words with different spellings to help students identify patterns and recognise them in reading and writing.

  • Encourages Strategic Thinking: Players must decide whether to risk or save their points, adding a layer of excitement.

  • Makes Phonics Fun: Spelling practice becomes a game, so students are more engaged and eager to learn.

  • Suitable for Diverse Learners: Whether used with individuals, pairs, or small groups, the game can be adapted to different levels and abilities.

 

Example Words from the Game

  • sh: ship, shop, shell

  • ch (as /sh/): chef, machine

  • ti (as /sh/): station, action

Each card is paired with a visual to support understanding and memory.

 

Download the Free Game

Bring your phonics lessons to life with the /sh/ Mystery Box Game. It’s ready to print, easy to set up, and a fantastic way to support early readers as they master one of English’s trickier sounds.

Click the button below to grab your free download and give your students a reason to love phonics practice!

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