State and Model 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

• Show the children how to make a chain by linking things together (e.g., paper clips, paper loops), pointing out that chain starts with the /ch/ sound, and invite the children to listen for words in the activity that start with /ch/.
• Have a couple of children model how to make a chain of children by either holding onto the shoulders of the person in front of them or by 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, having the children say this phrase each time another child is to be chosen: "Choose a child for our chain of children."
• When five children have been chosen for the chain, spread the remaining children and a few chairs around the room like an obstacle course for the chain of children.
• Demonstrate how the head child will lead the chain of children as they wind through the obstacle course saying, "Chugga chugga choo choo through the chairs and children!"
• Repeat with as many different chains of children as desired.
• Review with the children all the words you and they can think of from the activity that start with the /ch/ sound, such as chain, children, chugga, and choo.

Make a chain of /ch/ words

• Show the children the /ch/ picture strips, and help them identify the /ch/ word represented on each strip. 
• Have each child take 3–4 strips then show them how they can link the /ch/ strips together to form a chain using tape.
• Do this with as many /ch/ picture strips as time and attention will allow.
• Have the children stand side by side and drape the chain over their extended arms, identifying pictures and repeating the words with the children, emphasizing the /ch/ sound.

More Practice
Produce words that start with the /ch/ sound

• Remind the children of 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).
• Ask each child to think of a word that starts with /ch/ (support as needed).

Blend and guess the word

• Show the children the picture cards and have them identify what they are (support as needed).
• Have the children listen to and try to guess the segmented word you are saying (e.g., ch + ip = chip ), emphasizing each segment separately.
  • ch + eese = cheese
  • ch + ain = chain
  • ch + air = chair
  • ch + in = chin
• Offer support as you slowly blend the two segments into one word until the children can guess the whole word. 
• Show the picture card when the children guess the word, and lead the children in a cheer for the /ch/ word (e.g., "Cheer for /ch/ /ch/ /ch/ cheese!").