State and Model the Objective
The children will pretend to whirl, swirl, and twirl a drink in a blender and then read and write words with -ir and -ur, such as whirl, swirl, twirl, girl, and curl.
 
Literacy Activities
Twirling girl

• Show the children the paper-doll graphic with curls.
• Invite the children to take turns twirling the girl.
• Comment, "The girl twirls and her curls swirl and whirl!”  
• Have the children give the command "Twirl the girl!" to other children.
• Have the children twirl each other. 

Swirl and whirl colors

• Have the children make signs that say, "Swirl!" and "Whirl!"
• Place a drop of food coloring in the clear cup that is about 3/4 full of water.
• Explain that the water needs to be swirled. 
• Invite the children to hold up their signs and say, "Swirl!" and "Whirl!"
• Slowly stir the food dye in the water. 
• Let the children pretend to swirl and whirl the water.

Swirl and whirl and twirl in a blender

• Show a picture of a blender that whirls, swirls, and twirls.  
• Have the children pretend to be a blender, jiggling back and forth and whirling, swirling, and twirling.  
• Let the children hold a pretend blender jar (a cup) and make whirling, twirling, and swirling motions.  

More Practice
Read target words in texts

• Read the Twirl, Swirl, and Whirl target text to the children.
• Engage the children in reading the target text with you.
• Have the children twirl when they hear a word spelled with -ir and -ur.
• Read the text again, fading support. 
• Repeat with the A Blender Whirls, Twirls, and Swirls target text.

Write about the activity using target words and patterns

• Let each child practice writing words as you say them: swirl, whirl, twirl, girl, curl. 
• Let the children write about what they did during the activity (i.e., “We twirled the girl with curls.”).