State the Objective
Tell the children that they will put objects that start with N in a nice, new box as they listen for words that start with the /n/ sound, such as not, nose, net, and nail.

Literacy Activities
Nail nice /n/ things to the new board 

• Show the children the box with packing material inside and tell them that they will nest objects that start with /n/ in a nice, new box. 
• Have the children take turns choosing a picture card (included below), identifying the picture, and showing it to the other children. 
• Have the children decide together whether or not the picture on the card begins with the /n/ sound. 
  • If it does, have the children say together, “Nest the ___ [e.g., nose] in the nice new box!” then help the children nestle the picture in the box.
  • If the picture does not start with the /n/ sound, have the children say together, “No ___[e.g., dog] in the nice, new box!” and set the card aside. 

• Continue until all the picture cards have been used. 

   

  
  Identify the target letter

• Say a word that begins with the /n/ sound (e.g., nice) and ask the children if the word begins with the same sound as nail, emphasizing the /n/ sound (e.g., /nnn/ nail). 
  • If the word begins with the /n/ sound, have the children touch their nose.
  • If the word doesn’t begin with /n/, have the children shake their heads “no.”
• Repeat several times with various words, using many more /n/ words than non-/n/ words.

Tongue twisters with /n/

• Cut a necktie out of paper or use a real one; tack it to the bulletin board.
• Invite a child to choose one of the picture cards and tack it on the necktie as everyone says, “Ned nailed a ____ (e.g., nose) on his necktie.”
• After a child “nails” a picture card on the necktie, lead the other children in saying the sentence with all the words that are on the tie.