State the Objective
Tell the children that they will slip letters into slits to make words with the short-i (/ĭ/) sound, such as lid, pin, fit, and slip.

Literacy Activities
Identify the target letter and sound 

• Write the letter I and explain that it makes more than one sound, including the short-i sound.
• Have the children write the letter I and say the /ĭ/ sound.
• Show and read short-i words (e.g., fit, lid, pin, slip, slit), stretching out the /ĭ/ sound.
• Read the Slip It In target text (see below) with the children.
• Have the children underline or touch the letter I as you say the sound.

Slip letters in slits

• Show the children a box with slits, or spread your fingers apart to make slits.  
• Tell the children that they will make words by slipping letters into slits.
• Have the children write the letters f, i, and t on pieces of paper.
• Have the children say the /f/ sound and stick the f in a slit.
• Let the children say the /ĭ/ and /t/ sounds before sticking the i and t in slits.
• Ask, “What word did we make? /f - i - t/ makes fit!”
• Repeat with lid, pin, kit, and bin.

Slip words in slits

• Write short-i words (e.g., fit, pin, kit, bin, stick) on small pieces of paper.
• Point out that each word has the letter I, which makes the /ĭ/ sound.
• Make comments as children stick the words in slits:
  • “Pin fits in a slit.”
  • “Let’s stick it in a slit because it says /ĭ/.
  • “Did kit stick or slip in the slit?”

Read the text 

• Read the Slip It In target text (see below) with the children.
• Write the short-i words from the text: slip, pin, bin, fit, slit, stick, and clip.
• Have the children read the short-i words while extending the /ĭ/ sound. 

Blend words with /ĭ/

• Break the word pin into individual sounds (p + i + n).
• Ask the children, “What word did I say?”
• Repeat with lid, kit, bin, and fit.

Write short-i words from dictation

• Have the children write the word pin as you sound it out (p - i - n).
• Repeat with lid, kit, pin, and bin.