2
Thumb or sum? Sounds th and s
Connect Primary 6 Term 1, Unit 1: pp. 10–17
GoalHear and say the sounds th and s and tell similar words apart.
New words
thumb · the short, thick finger on your handthink · to use your brainsink · to go down in water; also a place to wash dishespath · a narrow way to walk onpass · to go by
Explanation
English has two sounds that are easy to mix up. For th, put your tongue between your teeth and blow softly. Your voice does not make a hum. For s, keep your tongue behind your teeth and make a hissing sound like a snake. Some words sound almost the same, but one sound changes the meaning: thick and sick, think and sink, path and pass, mouth and mouse. Listen and say the pairs slowly. Say them again, a little faster.
| th | s |
|---|---|
| thick | sick |
| thin | sin |
| think | sink |
| path | pass |
| mouth | mouse |
Worked examples
Listen and say. Find th.
Listen and say. Find s.
Seven seals sit in the sun.
Thirty thin threads lie on the thick path.
Now you. Say the five pairs from the table to a grown-up. The grown-up points to th or s and you say the word.
Class activity
Mouth and mouse. Write the ten words of the table on ten cards. The grown-up reads a card. The child puts it in the th pile or the s pile. Then mix the cards and play again, faster.
Practice
1
Which word begins with th: sink or think?
think.
2
Listen. Which word do you hear: thick or sick?
…
thick.
3
Look. Does the word begin with th or s?
s.
4
Which word has th at the end: path or pass?
path.
5
Complete with s or th: _ink (a place to wash plates) and _ink (use your brain).
sink and think.