State and Model the Objective
The children will play with plump plums as they practice the /pl/ blend at the beginning of words.

Literacy Activities
Plead for plump plums

• Show the children a platter with plenty of plump plums (real or picture cards if plums are unavailable).
• Give each child a paper plate, or let the children take turns with a plastic plate.
• Let each child plead for plums to be placed on their plastic (or paper) plate.
  • Optional variation: Let the children sit in a line or circle to pass the plum from person to person until it gets to the person holding the plastic plate. Then pass the plate to another child and begin again.

More Practice
Read target words

• Display the Pass the Plump Plum text so all the children can see (e.g., project it on the board or give each child a copy).
• Read the text to the class.
• Reread the text, this time searching for words that begin with the /pl/ blend. Have the children underline /pl/ every time it appears in the story.

Write about the activity

• As a class, make a list of /pl/ words from the text and the activity.
• Pass out paper plums to each child.
• Instruct the children to write a sentence on each plum about the text or activity.
• Let the children take turns reading the sentences from their plums to the other children.
  • Optional variation: Have the children glue or tape their plums onto their paper plate.