State the Objective 
Tell the children that they will bring a big bag to the beach and listen for words that start with the /b/ sound, such as big, bag, ball, and beach.

Literacy Activities
Pack a bag to take to the beach

• Read Not the Piano, Mrs. Medley (optional).
• Put objects that begin with /b/ or picture cards (see below) in a big bag.
• Use gestures to represent other items to put in the bag:
  • Ball: make a round shape with hands 
  • Bird: flap arms 
  • Bike: pretend to pedal and steer
  • Book: put hands together in an open book shape and pretend to read
  • Baby: rock an imaginary baby in arms
  • Broom: pretend to sweep
• Comment that the beach bag is big and bulky.

Take a bus or bike to the beach

• Tell the children that they will take a big beach bag to a beach.
• Make comments and ask questions about getting to the beach:
  • Take a bike or a bus to the beach?
  • Take a bumpy bike or bouncy bus to the beach?
  • Better get to the beach on a bus or a bike?
  • Be on a bumpy bike biking to the beach.
  • Be on a bouncy bus bringing us to the beach.
  • The bus (or bike) better bring us to the beach.

Unpack the beach bag at the beach 

• Have the children name each object as it is removed from the bag.

• Say with the children “We brought a ___ to the beach in our big bag!

   

Identify and blend /b/

• Say phrases and have the children raise their hands each time they hear the /b/ sound:
  • I brought belongings in this big bulky beach bag to the beach.
  • I borrowed and bought things to bring to the beach in the big beach bag.
• Have children blend word parts into whole words: 
  • “/b/ (put out left hand) + /at/ (put out right hand) = bat (clap hands).”
  • Repeat with more words that begin with /b/ (e.g., bag, book, ball, bug).