Lesson 2: Rhyming Basket
Main Concept: 
Children will recognize and match rhyming words by sorting objects into rhyming pairs.

Warm-Up Activity: Is It a Rhyme?

• Say two words: “book/look?”
• They jump or clap if it rhymes, stay still if not.
• Make it silly by tossing in non-rhymes like “book/banana.”
  
  

Main Activity: Rhyming Basket
*** There is a optional printable for this instead of collecting objects ***

Part 1
Gather a small group of rhyming objects (e.g., cat/hat, ball/doll, spoon/moon, bear/chair). This is about the sounds NOT the spelling. Show two objects at a time and ask, “What are these?”. Once they’ve correctly identified the objects ask, "Do these sound the same at the end?" If they do, place them together. If not, set them aside. 

Part 2
Place a collection of small objects in a basket. Ensure that there are multiple rhyming pairs.

1. Have the child pull out an object and say its name aloud.
2. Ask them to find another object in the basket that rhymes with it.
3. If they struggle, offer two choices: one that rhymes and one that doesn’t.

Prewriting: Zig Zags
Sharp angles, precursors to letters like "z" and "v"

• Zig Zag Dance Path: Lay out painter’s tape in zigzag lines on the floor—have kids dance or stomp along the pattern.
• Zig Zag Zip Line: Use a marble or toy sliding down a zigzag cardboard ramp; kids trace the path it travels.
• Fold-a-Zig-Zag: Give strips of paper and help kids accordion-fold them—then glue to paper to make zigzag art.

Extensions:

• Rhyme Match Hunt: Hide small objects or pictures around the room. Have the child find two that rhyme and bring them back together.
• Continue the Rhyme Basket: Encourage the child to find rhyming objects around the house and create their own rhyming basket.