Materials:

• A small basket or bag, plus a few household items (or pictures)
• Choose a sound
• Pick one sound to focus on today (for example, /m/, /s/, or /t/)

Try it:

Step 1: Say the sound together : “Today we’re listening for /m/.”

Step 2: Hunt for matches: Collect 3–5 items that start with the sound. Say each word aloud: “mmm… marker.”

Step 3: Stretch the first sound: Place items on the table and say each word slowly: “mmm… mouse.”

Step 4: Say one sentence: Choose one item and make a sentence together: “The mouse is on the table.”

Leveled Support

Beginner: Use pictures instead of objects, or offer two choices: “Is this /m/ or /s/?”

Challenge: Ask what sound they hear at the end of the word, or listen for the middle sound in short words.