State the Objective
Tell the children that they will run around and sing about red roses while listening for words that begin with the /r/ sound, such as ring, roses, and run. 

Literacy Activities
Run around the roses with /r/ actions 

• Read the book Rosie's Roses by Pamela Duncan Edwards, emphasizing the /r/ sound (optional). 
• Have the children stand in a circle and put the roses in the middle of the circle. 
• Teach the children the Run Around the Roses song (see below). 
• After the children have learned the song, have them sing it while running around the roses on the floor. 
• As a group, make a list of different actions that start with the /r/ sound (e.g., reach, roll, ride).
• Replace the word run in the Run Around the Roses song with a different /r/ action (e.g., reach, roll, ride) and sing the new versions of the song while acting out the words.

Identify the target sound

• Ask the children to listen for the /r/ sound as you mention different action words (e.g., run, roll, rest, reach, relax).
  • If the word starts with the /r/ sound, invite the children to repeat the word (emphasizing the /r/ sound) and do the action.
  • If the word doesn’t start with the /r/ sound, have the children freeze.

• Sing the Run Around the Roses song again as a group and have the children clap whenever they hear a word that begins with the /r/ sound.

   

Blend sounds into words 

• Have the children blend word parts into whole words by tapping their head when they say the /r/ sound, touching their toes when they say the ending, and clapping when they say the whole word:
  • /r/ (tap head) + /ed/ (tap toes) = red (clap hands)

• Repeat with other /r/ words:

  • /r/ + /ed/ = red 
  • /r/ + /at/ = rat
  • /r/ + /ound/ = round 
  • /r/ + /oll/ = roll