State the Objective
Tell the children that they will throw a paper ball with the letter U  at a U target as they recognize and name the letter U/u.

Literacy Activities
Throw U balls to an Umpire

• Write and name the letters U and u.
• Have the children say the short-u /ŭ/ sound as they write U and u in the air with their fingers.
• Have the children write the letters U and u several times on a paper.
• Let the children roll the paper into a ball and have them pretend it is a baseball.
• Set up the U target and the umpire (see below) and explain that an umpire is someone who makes sure baseball is played by the rules.
• Tell the children to throw their U ball at the U in the center of the target.
• Pretend to be the umpire and make comments, emphasizing the short-u sound:
  • The U ball hit the U.
  • The U ball hit /ŭ/ /ŭ/ /ŭ/ up above the U.
  • That U ball hit /ŭ/ /ŭ/ /ŭ/ under the U.
  • The U ball hit the /ŭ/ /ŭ/ /ŭ/ umpire! The umpire is /ŭ/ /ŭ/ /ŭ/ upset and unhappy. 

Write the letter U

• Have the children write U and u on and around the target.
• Repeat the umpire game, allowing the children to try to hit any of the U letters.