State the Objective
Tell the children that they will find bugs as they read short-u words, such as bug, cup, mug, run, jug, yuck, and shut.
 

Literacy Activities
Introduce target words

• Show the children the list of target words.
• Read the words with the children, emphasizing the short-u (/ŭ/) sound.

Catch a bug

• Let the children write short-u target words (e.g., bug, cup, mug, run, jug, yuck, shut) on small drawings of bugs (example below).
• Hide the bugs around the room and place a cup or mug at the front of the room.
• Have the children take turns finding a bug and reading the word written on it.
• Have the child place the bug drawing inside the cup or mug.

Fill in missing words

• Have the children read the A Bug Is in a Cup target text with support (see below).
• Have the children write short sentences using target words.
  • There was a bug in your ____ (mug).      
  • The ____ (bug) got out of a ____ (jug).
  • I saw the bug ____ (run) up to the top of your ____ (cup).
  • ____ (Yuck)! A bug is in your ____ (cup).  

Identify, blend, and manipulate sounds

• Write words on the board and have the children make new words by changing a consonant:
  • Change the beginning consonant: hug→ mug; cut→ but; run→ sun
  • Change the ending consonant: cup→ cut; bug→ but; run→ rug