Awareness material or experiences

• Read short books with high content.

Instructional material

• Write the words to the book, Brown Bear on a flip chart. Point to each word as you read the story.
• Also read, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, by Bill Martin, Jr. Encourage the students to clap each word as it is read.

Practice material

• Give each student several blocks. Say a short sentence, i.e. "I like pizza." Have the students repeat the sentence and move a block forward as they say each word. Have the students count the number of blocks and state how many words were heard. Gradually increase the length of the sentences.
• Tape different shapes or put small hoops on the floor. Say a sentence at a normal rate, then repeat the sentence slowly. Have the students jump from one shape to another as you say each word. Have the students count the number of shapes or hoops to determine the number of words.
• After reading a story printed on a chart, cut the story into sentences. Give each student a sentence and have him or her cut the words in each sentence. For older students, have them try to rebuild each sentence and read it aloud. Reconstruct the story with the sentences.
• Write a chart story with the students. Give each student a word from the chart story on an index card. Have the students match their word cards to the words in the chart story. Have the students cooperate and count the word cards to determine the number of words in the story.
• Print a sentence, beginning with a short, simple sentence. Encourage your students to count the words. Have them point to, ink stamp, underline, or circle each word. Gradually increase the length and complexity of the sentences.

Whole Language Application

• The students can compose a pattern book. Use a variety of patterned books as examples or use the pattern from Brown Bear. If you use themes in the class, then replace the animals with objects from the weekly theme. For example, if your theme is occupations, then use that in your pattern.

Doctor, doctor, who do you see?  I see a farmer looking at me.	Farmer, farmer, who do you see?  I see a plumber looking at me.	Plumber, plumber, who do you see? I see a police officer looking at me.