State and Model the Objective

Tell the children that they will follow Zoe through the zoo while listening for words that begin with the /z/ sound, such as zoo, zebra, zip, and zoom.

Literacy Activities

• Hide the zebra graphic somewhere in the room.
• Display the Zoe at the Zoo target text for all the children to see and remind the children that Zoe and Zoo both start with the /z/ sound.
• Read the story to the children, pointing at each word as you read it and inviting the children to say the "ZZZZZZZ" parts.
• Give each child a bumblebee card and read the story again.
• Let the children make their bumblebees do the actions that occur in the text as they look for Zack the Zebra (zip, zoom, zig-zag).
• If desired, hide the zebra card again and repeat.
• Have the children recall words from the activity that start with /z/. 

More Practice

• Tell the children to listen for the /z/ sound as they repeat the following phrases:
  • “Zoe zips around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zig zags around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zooms around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zips, zig zags, and zooms around the zoo.”
  • “ZZZZZZoom.  ZZZZZZip. ZZZZZZig ZZZZZZag.”