Jiggle and Jive

Objective

Associate the uppercase letter J and lowercase letter j with the /j/ sound as in jab, jump, and jiggle.

Target Words:

Materials:

Overview
The children will do a dance called the Jiggle and Jive as they say the /j/ sound in words such as jive, jump, and jiggle.

Literacy Activities
Get a J

Have the children form a circle.
Have the children trace the letters J and j on the large letter cards taped to the floor.
Have the children write the letters J and j in the air with their finger while saying the /j/ sound.
Give each child a J sticker (or a small letter card with tape) and have them put it on their hands.
Ask the children if they know what sound the letter on their hand makes, and have them say the /j/ sound together as a group.

Jiggle and Jive

Teach the children the Jiggle and Jive song.
Explain that a jive is a kind of dance.
Show the children how to dance to the Jiggle and Jive song by jabbing the hand with the J sticker in and out, then jiggling and jumping according to the words of the song (danced to the tune of Hokey Pokey).
Make sure the children all have their J sticker on their right hands, then have them join in the Jiggle and Jive song and dance.
Have the children move the sticker to their left hands, then have them do the song and dance again.
Repeat the song using the children's left feet, right feet, heads, and whole selves as desired (have the children move the sticker each time).

More Practice
Read target words in a text

Read the Jiggle and Jive song to the children.
Have the children circle every letter J and j.
Read the text again and have the children say the /j/ sound each time you come to a letter J or j.

Write the target letter

Help the children write the uppercase letter J and lowercase letter j while they produce the /j/ sound.
Have the children draw a picture of something that begins with the /j/ sound in the space below the letters (e.g., jacks, jug, jar, jump rope, juice, jam).
Emphasize that the letter J makes the /j/ sound.

Jab your J in,
Jab your J out.
Jab your J in,
And jiggle it around.
Jiggle, jaggle, jiggle,
And jump, jump, jump.
Jiggle, jaggle, jump, and jive!

Objective

Associate the uppercase letter J and lowercase letter j with the /j/ sound as in jab, jump, and jive.

Materials

Activity: Jiggle and Jive

Teach your child the Jiggle and Jive song and actions (refer to the song below when necessary).
Tape a letter card to your right hand and your child’s right hand, then sing the song and do the actions as many times as desired.
Tape the letter cards on different body parts to use in the song each time it is sung (e.g., left hand, right foot, left foot, head).
Read the Jiggle and Jive song with your child and have him or her circle the letter J or j in words that start with the /j/ sound.
Help your child think of other action words that begin with the letter J (e.g., jump, jog, juggle).
Have your child write the letters J and j as you encourage him or her to sound out the rest of the word (support as needed).
Take turns choosing a word, reading it, and then doing the action.
The activity can be repeated several times.