State the Objective
Tell the children that they will pretend to be squirrels and that they will read and write words that end with ut, such as hut, nut, tut, cut, and shut.

Literacy Activities
Introduce target words

• Show the children the -ut target words.
• Read the words with the children.

Open and shut the nut hut

• Read The Nut Hut target text (see below) with the children and have them underline words that end in ut.
• Label a cardboard box hut, cut out a door, and place the word cards (see below) inside.
• Have the children take turns knocking on the door while saying “Tut, Tut can I have a nut?” and choosing a word card to read aloud.
  • If the word ends with ut, have the child keep the word card and shut the hut.
  • If the word does not end with ut, have the child pretend to use scissors to cut the nut.

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: tut→ hut; nut→ cut; cut→ tut
  • Change the vowel: hut→ hat; nut→ net; tut→ tot 
  • Change the ending consonant: hut→ hum; tut→ tub

Write sentences using target words and phrases

• Let the children write short sentences using target words.
  • We said, “____ (Tut) can we please have a ____ (nut)?”
  • I got a ____ (nut) from the ____ (hut).
  • I ____ (cut) the ____ (nut).
  • ____ (Tut) was not in the ____ (hut).
  • ____ (But) a ____ (nut) was in the ____ (hut).