State and Model the Objective
Tell the children that they will help Nikki Nightingale build a nest as they listen for words that begin with the /n/ sound, such as note, nest, nuts, and noodles. 

Literacy Activities
Build Nikki Nightingale a new nest 

• Put the /n/ objects or picture cards around the room and attach the nightingale graphic to a craft stick or pencil.
• Tell the children that nightingales are well known for their singing, and show them the Nikki the Nightingale puppet.
• Teach the children Nikki Nightingale’s /n/ song by singing a familiar tune (e.g., “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) using only the /n/ sound.
• Choose one child to fly Nikki Nightingale around the room to look for an /n/ object/picture card while the rest of the children sing Nikki Nightingale’s /n/ song.
• Have the child bring the object/picture card back and tape it on the outside of the bowl to make Nikki Nightingale’s nest.
• Have all of the children say together, “Now there's a ___ (e.g., nail) on Nikki Nightingale’s new nest.”
• Repeat activity, choosing other children to fly Nikki Nightingale around the room until all the objects/picture cards have been found.

More practice
Sing another /n/ song

• Take a few of the /n/ objects or picture cards mentioned in the Nice, Noodle, Nine and Nose target text and lay them on a table or put them on a whiteboard.
• Help the children sing the text to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” as you point at them.
• Have the children help you create other verses using other picture cards or items if desired.

March and say the sounds in words 

• Have the children march as follows to say each sound of the word nut: 
  • segment sounds: say /n/ (march right), say /u/ (march left), say /t/ (march right) 
  • blend sounds: jump with both feet and say nut to blend the sounds into the whole word. 
• Repeat with other words that start with /n/ (e.g., net, nap, not).