State the Objective
Tell the children that they will make a cake and that they will read and write long-a-silent-e words, such as ate, made, bake, sale, plate, share, and shake.

Literacy Activities
Introduce the target pattern

• Display long-a-silent-e words (e.g., ate, made, bake, sale, plate, share, shake).
• Read the words with the children.
• Explain that the e at the end of the words is silent and makes the vowel say its name.

Bake a cake

• Read the Let’s Make a Cake target text (see below) with the children.
• Tell the children to use spoons to mix flour and water in a bowl, or have them mix pictures of the ingredients (see below).
• Have the children draw a picture of a cake on a paper plate.
• Tell the children to write cake, plate, and make a cake from dictation on their cake picture.

Bake long-a-silent-e words

• Read the We Made and Ate Cake target text (see below).
• Have the children read the a_e word cards and put the cards in a bowl.
• Help the children write additional a_e words (e.g., place, scrape, late) on slips of paper to add to the bowl.
• Let the children mix the a_e words and pretend to make a “cake” out of the words and “bake” the cake in the pretend oven (a box).

Contrast the number of letters and sounds

• List long-a-silent-e target words (e.g., ate, made, bake, sale, plate, share, shake).
• Write a silent-e word (e.g., make) and ask:
  • How many letters does it have? (e.g., four, m + a + k + e)
  • How many sounds does it have? (e.g., three, m + ā + k)