State and Model the Objective
Tell the children that today they're going to grow some green grass as they listen for the /gr/ blend at the beginning of words.

Literacy Activities
Grow green grass

(Note: This doubles as a science experiment.)

• Show the children the grass seeds and the green grass that is already grown. Say, “Isn’t it great how I got this green grass to grow? It started as grass seeds and now it is green grass!”
• After each child puts an apron on, give each child one of the empty egg cartons.
• Each child will use a spoon to put some dirt in each of his or her empty spaces. You may want to point out that the egg cartons make a grid.
• Have the children grab some grass seeds to put into the dirt. Ask them to grab just a few, not a handful.
• Instruct the children to press the seeds into the dirt.
• Give each child a turn to spray water onto his or her seeds.
• Comment on how the seeds will grow gradually (or a little at a time).
• Place the egg cartons in a sunny location (such as near a window) or let the children take their cartons home at the end of the day. Have the children observe how their green grass grows.

More Practice
Read target words

• Lay out the word cards and have the children pick out the words that begin with the /gr/ blend.
• Read through the /gr/ words together.

Write about the activity

• Give each child a Green Grass Log.
• Help the children fill it out each week as they measure how tall their grass has grown.
• Instruct the children to use complete sentences when filling out the log, and to use as many /gr/ words as possible.