State the Objective
Tell the children that they will get ready for a road race while listening for words that start with the /r/ sound, such as red, rev, race, road, and radio. 

Literacy Activities 
Get the race car ready to race 

• Make a race car road on the floor with masking tape.
• Have the children pretend to get ready for the road race by echoing the phrases below, emphasizing the /r/ sound: 
  • Remember to put gas in your red race car. 
  • Reach for the radio and make it roar. 
  • Make the red car race!
• Teach the children The Race Car Wheels song (see below), making up actions for each verse.
• Give each child a paper plate or circle for a race car steering wheel. Say, “Rev the engine!” (make an /r/ sound like a car engine), and begin the race by saying, “Ready, set, ride!"
• Sing The Race Car Wheels song with the children as everyone carefully “rides” in their pretend race cars along the road.

Repeat words that begin with the target letter

• Read the words from the first verse of The Race Car Wheels song slowly.
• Have children raise their steering wheels whenever they hear a word that begins with the /r/ sound. 
• As children raise their steering wheels, pause to let them repeat the /r/ word that they heard. 
• Repeat with other verses as desired.