State the Objective 
Tell the children that they will make an effort to exercise as they identify the letter E and the short-e sound (/ĕ/) in words such as exercise, energy, and exit. 

Literacy Activities 
Exercise with energy

• Run in place and tell the children you are exercising.
• Show the children the letter E and tell them that it makes the short-e sound (/ĕ/).
• Introduce the hand signal for short-e (hold a cupped hand behind your ear).
• Let the children do different exercises (e.g., running in place, jumping jacks, toe touches) while saying “/ĕ/, /ĕ/, /ĕ/, exercise!” 

Say, read, and write E

• Read the Exercise with Energy target text (see below), acting out each line.
• Reread the text, pausing to have the children echo each /ĕ/ word.
• Write the words every, exercise, energy, excited, exhausting, and end in a list.
• Read the list out loud, extending the /ĕ/ sound in each word.
• Have the children write the letter E for each short-e sound you emphasize.