Overview
The children will test which nest is the best as they recognize and produce words that rhyme with nest, such as best, rest, test, and guessed.
 
Literacy Activities
Find the best nest

• Cut a hole large enough for the children to fit their hands into on the top of each box and place a different material (cotton balls, newspaper, and sticks or twigs) in each box.
• Read the story The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman to the children (optional).
• Have the children test each nest by feeling it, then ask them, “Is this nest best?” 
• After the children have felt each nest, show them a picture of the bird, the mouse, and the squirrel, and have them guess which animal owns each nest. 
• When they have guessed the correct nest, tape the picture of the animal to the box and say, “You guessed the nest!”
• After the children have tested each nest, hold up the boxes one at a time and ask the children which nest they liked best.

Test big nests

• Make three more nests, each made of a different material (e.g., blankets, pillows, newspaper), large enough for a child to lay in.
• Have the children test each nest by pretending to take a rest in the nest. 
• After all the children have done nest tests, ask the children to say, “Best nest!” when you point to the nest they think was the best. 

More Practice
Identify rhyming words

• Tape two picture cards to the bottom of each nest box (one that rhymes with nest and one that doesn’t).
• Show the children the bottoms of the nest boxes one at a time. 
• As you lift up the nest, say, “Look! There are cards under the nest.”
• Help the children identify the two picture cards under each box and read the words on the two cards aloud.
• Have the children choose which word sounds like nest.