State Objective
Tell the children that they will try to get a hen in a pen while they read and write words with the short-e (/ě/) sound.

Literacy Activities 
Help a hen get in a pen

• Write the letter E and say that it can make the short-e sound.
• Have the children write the letter E in the air and say “/ě/.”
• Teach the children an action for short-e by having them point to their elbows and say “/ě/.”
• Show the children a box (or drawing of a box) and tell them it is a pen, a place where hens stay.
• Tell the children that they will use a net (see below) to help get a hen (see below) in a pen.
• Let the children put the hen in a pen.
• Comment:
  • “Get the hen in the net.”
  • “The red hen is in the net!”
  • “Set the hen in the pen.”

Read the Ten Men and a Hen text

• Read the Ten Men and a Hen text (see below) with the children.
• Have the children point to their elbows each time they hear the short-e sound.
• Reread the text, and have the children help you read the words with short-e.
• Have the children write words from the activity (e.g., red, hen, let, men, ten, pen).