State the Objective

Tell the children that they will listen for words that begin with the /z/ sound, such as zoo, zebra, zip, and zoom as a bee named Zoe zips around a zoo to search for Zack, a zebra.

Literacy Activities

Read Zoe at the Zoo

• Show the children the pictures of Zack, a zebra, and Zoe, a bee (see below).
• Tell the children that Zach, zebra, and zoo begin with the /z/ sound

• Move your fingers around like a bee: press your index finger and thumb together, and flutter your 

  other fingers like wings (see picture below).   

• Read the Zoe at the Zoo target text (see below).
• Stop at each word that begins with /z/ and have the children move their fingers like bees and say /zzzzz/.

Help Zoe zip, zig zag, and zoom

• Let the children make their Zoe bees (moving fingers) zip, zoom, and zig-zag.
• Ask the children if the words zip, zig-zag, and zoom begin with the /z/ sound.
• Ask if the word bee starts with the /z/ sound and shake your head no.

Repeat phrases with words that begin with /z/

• Tell the children to listen for the /z/ sound as they repeat these phrases:
  • “Zoe zips around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zig zags around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zooms around the zoo.”
  • “Zoe zips, zig zags, and zooms around the zoo.”
  • “ZZZZZZoom. ZZZZZZip. ZZZZZZig ZZZZZZag.”