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Type of activity: This is a minimal pair pronunciation activity in which students have to differentiate between two sounds /ch/ and /sh/
Level: Pre-intermediate and above
Teacher's notes:
- Say these words to the students and ask them to tell you what the difference is: sheep and chair.
- The students should see the difference between the ‘ch’ sound and the ‘sh’ sound. Repeat the two words, if they can’t.
- Then tell them that they need to make a path from the top of the word square to the bottom by finding the same sounds in the words. The students can move diagonally, in a straight line but they must go from top to bottom. Also the words must touch; the students cannot jump over words.
- The first it they do this tell them to start with the ‘sh’ sound i.e. they should start at SHEEP.
A possible path is: SHEEP, SHE, SHEET, WASH, WISH, SHOP, LEASH, WASHINGTON, FISH, SHIN
- Once they have done the ‘sh’ sound, tell the students to find a path along via the ‘ch’ sound.
A possible path is: CHIP, CHAIR, CHIP, WATCH, CHOW, CHIN, WRENCH, DUTCH, FETCH, CHEAP
- At the end of the activity, go over the answers and then see if the students can make their own word squares using these two sounds.
WORD SQUARE:
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SHEEP
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CHIP
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CHOKE
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CHALK
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SHIN
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SHE
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CHAIR
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CHOP
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CHOOSE
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SHEET
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SHOW
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CHIP
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CHOICE
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SHIELD
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WASH
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WATCH
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WHITCH
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SHOW
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CHOW
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WISH
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SHARE
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CHIN
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SHOP
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TORCH
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WHICH
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WRENCH
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BENCH
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LEASH
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SHINE
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CHIME
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DUTCH
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WASHINGTON
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DISH
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CHEESE
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FETCH
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FISH
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CHEERS
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SHY
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CHEAP
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SHIN
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