State the Objective
Tell the children that they will play with shadows and shapes as they listen for words that start with the /sh/ sound, such as shell, ship, shower, and shampoo.

Literacy Activities
Shine a light to make shadow shapes 

• Print two sets of /sh/ shapes (see below), cut them out, and spread one set on a table.

   

• Help the children identify the shapes, emphasizing the /sh/ sound.
• Tell the children that they will look at shadows of shapes that start with the /sh/ sound, like shark.
• Use the other set of /sh/ shapes to cast shadows on a wall or screen by:
  • Holding cutout shapes in front of a flashlight
  • Placing them on an overhead projector
  • Holding them in front of a computer camera lens (for online teaching)
• Have the children examine the shape and guess which shape on the table is casting the shadow.
• When they find the correct shape, have them shout out its name.
• Invite the children to take turns displaying a /sh/ shape as the rest of the children guess.

• Review the /sh/ shapes with the children, emphasizing the /sh/ sound (e.g., sh, sh, sh, shoe).

   

Identify /sh/ shapes

• Make “/sh/ finders” for the children: 
  • Write “sh” with a permanent marker on a piece of plastic wrap.
  • Center the toilet paper tube over the letters and gently wrap the plastic wrap’s edges around the tube.
  • Use a rubber band or tape to attach the plastic wrap to the tube.
  • Make sure that you can see the “sh” through the tube.
• Display the shapes (see below) together and display them on a wall, table, or computer screen.
• Help the children identify all of the shapes, pointing out which ones start with /sh/.

• Show each of the shapes again, letting the children aim their /sh/ finders at the /sh/ shapes as they shout their names.

   

Blend sounds into words 

• Have the children blend word parts into whole words by raising their left hand when they say the beginning /sh/ sound, raising their right hand when they say the ending, and clapping when they say the whole word together. 
  • For example: sh (raise left hand) + ip (raise right hand) = ship (clap hands) 
    • sh + ip = ship 
    • sh + eep = sheep 
    • sh + op = shop 
    • sh + ell = shell