State and Model the Objective

Tell the children that they will help Yellow Yak yank things into his yard as they listen for words that start with the sound of the initial letter Y, such as yard, yes, yellow, and yummy.

Literacy Activities

Let Yak yank things in his yard

• Attach a piece of yarn to each picture card (see below). 
• Place a strip of paper or masking tape on the floor and tell the children that one side of the tape is the yak's "yard." Place the yak picture (see below) in his yard. 
• Tell the children that Yak loves things in his yard and says “yes” to things that begin with the sound of the initial letter Y. 
• Let the children yank things that begin with the sound for y into Yak's yard. 

• Have the children say, “Yes! Yank the ___ (e.g., yoyo) into the yard!”

   

   

Make a Y with yarn

• Give each child small strips of yarn (one long, two short). 
• Have the children “write” an uppercase Y with glue sticks, then apply the yarn pieces to make a yarn Y (optional).
• Say, “Yay! You made Ys with yarn!”
• Review the items that Yak had in his yard that start with the sound of the letter y and have the children yell, “Yes, the ___ (e.g., yarn)!” for each item.