We Dug Up a Bug

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Objective

Read and write words that end with ug.

See Standards

Lesson Plan

Target Words:

bug
mug
jug
dug
slug

Materials:

Plastic tub
Milk jug
Mug
Picture cards*
Word cards*
Word-building cards*
We Dug up a Bug target text*

*Items included below.

State the Objective

Tell the children that they will dig for bugs and slugs and that they will read and write words that end with ug, like bug, mug, jug, dug, and slug.

Literacy Activities

Introduce target words

Show the children the target words.
Read the words with the children.
Read the We Dug up a Bug target text (see below) with the children.

Dig for bugs and slugs with a mug

Hide the bug and slug picture cards (see below) and word cards (see below) in a plastic tub.
Tape the -ug jug label (see below) to the jug.
Have the children take turns digging for bugs and slugs with a mug.
If they dig up a word card, have them read the word aloud and decide if it ends with ug or not.
- If the word ends with ug, have the children put the word into the -ug jug.
- If the word does not end in ug, have them set the word aside.
If the children dig up a bug or a slug, have them say, “Ug! A bug!” or “Ug! A slug!” before they drop the bug or slug into the -ug jug.

Pass around a bug in a mug

Have the children sit in a circle and pass around a bug in a mug.
Tell the children to say a word that ends in ug (e.g., bug, jug, tug, rug, hug, mug) when they hold the mug.
Have the children write the -ug words that were said.
Invite the children to write a sentence about a bug using -ug words (e.g., The bug was in a jug.).

Identify, blend, and manipulate sounds

With word-building cards (see below), have the children make new words by changing a consonant or the vowel.
Change the beginning consonant(s): bug→ dug; mug→ jug; dug→ slug
Change the vowel: dug→ dig; hug→ hag; bug→ big
Change the ending consonant(s): mug→ mud; bug→ bun; dug→ duck

We Dug Up a Bug

We dug up a bug and put the bug in a mug.
And we put the mug with the bug on the rug.
We saw a slug and put the slug in a jug.
And we put the jug with the slug on the rug.

Then Mom saw the mug and the jug on the rug.
“Ug! There is a mug with a bug and a jug with a slug on the rug!”

So, we took the mug and the jug outside.
We let the bug out of the mug.
And we let the slug out of the jug.
Good-bye, bug!
Good-bye, slug!

SEEL At Home

Objective
Read and write words that end with -ug.

Materials

A plastic tub half-filled with pretend "dirt" (e.g., rice, beans)
A mug
Pictures of bugs and slugs
Milk jug (with the top cut off)
Word cards

Activity: We Dug Up a Bug with a Mug

Hide the bug and slug pictures and word cards in the tub of pretend dirt.
Take turns using a mug to dig in the tub, looking for bugs, slugs or word cards.
If you or your child dig up a slug or bug picture say, "Ugh! A bug!" (or "A slug!") and put the picture in the jug.
If you or your child dig up a word, read it and decide whether it or not it has the -ug ending:
- If the word does end with -ug, put it in the jug.
- If it doesn't, put it aside.
Have your child color the bug and slug pictures and write bug or slug next to the appropriate pictures.
Encourage your child to write a sentence or two about a bug using some of the -ug words (e.g., "The bug was snug on the rug.").
This activity can be repeated several times.