State the Objective
Tell the children that they will make a chain of children as they listen for words that begin with the /ch/ sound, such as chase, children, chain, and choose.
 

Literacy Activities
Make a chain of children

• Have a few children model how to make a chain of children by either holding onto the shoulders of the child in front of them or linking arms.
• Choose a child and say, “I chose a child to be in a chain of children.”
• Let that child choose another child to join the chain and so on.
• Each time a child is chosen, say, "Choose a child for our chain of children."
• Have the chain of children walk around and say, “Chugga chugga choo choo!” and “Cheer for the chain of children!”

Make a chain of /ch/ words

• Help the children identify the pictures on each /ch/ picture strip (see below).
• Show the children how to make a paper chain.
• Let each child take a few strips and make a chain.
• Have the children identify the pictures in their chains and emphasize the /ch/ sound.
• List words that start with the /ch/ sound
• Have the children help you list the words they played with (e.g., cheese, chip, cherry, chain).
• Tell them you can think of other words that start with /ch/ (e.g., chat, chair, check).

Blend and guess the word

• Help the children identify the picture cards (see below).
• Segment a word into its beginning sound + rime ending (e.g., ch + ip = chip). 
• Let the children try to guess the word you are segmenting 
• Offer support as you slowly blend the segments until the children can guess the whole word. 
• Show the picture card when the children guess the word (optional).
• Repeat with other words from the picture cards. 
• Lead the children in a cheer for the /ch/ word (e.g., "Cheer for /ch/ /ch/ /ch/ cheese!").