Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Go for the Gold
Goal: Students will write or say the hard /g/ sound (as in gold) when shown the letter Gg.
Target Words: go, gold, gift, glitter
Materials and Preparation
 Gold Glitter Stars (print on gold glitter paper or outline the star shape with gold glitter. If no glitter is
available, print the stars on yellow or gold paper and just call them gold stars. Write a letter Gg on each star.
Tape stars onto a wall.)
 Glue and gold glitter (optional)
 2 Gold Gift Boxes (wrap boxes in gold paper and place at opposite end of room from stars)
 Paper––1 piece for each student
 Pencils––1 for each student
Introduce
Say, “Who likes the color gold? Today we’re going to play a game called Go for the Gold and see how much
gold we can get. Can anyone tell me what letter says the /g/ sound like in game, go, and gold? You’re right!
The letter Gg says the /g/ sound. Let’s play Go for the Gold and listen for more /g/ sounds!”
Playful Practice
 Separate the class into two teams.
 Explain the goal of the game and demonstrate how to play:
o Have teams line up at the opposite end of the room to the gold glitter stars.
o A student from each team will run to the opposite wall, grab a gold glitter star, run back, and place the
gold star in the team’s gold gift box.
o The next person on each team will then run and the process will be repeated.
o Whenever a new runner starts, have the team shout, “Go for the gold!”
o When all the gold glitter stars are gone, count how many are in each gold gift box. The team with the
most gold glitter stars wins!
Ways to Emphasize and Repeat the Target Throughout the Activity
Comment on Actions and Objects
Good job! Your team grabbed a lot of gold glitter
stars!
The gold glitter stars are gone! They’re in the gifts!
Offer Choices and Turns
Would you like to count how many gold glitter stars
are in the gold gift box?
Which gold star will you get for the gift box?
Ask Questions
Do you like to get gifts and give gifts?
Have you ever seen a gold glitter star in the sky?
Make Playful Statements
Go for the gold!
This gift is full of glittering, gleaming gold!
Acknowledge Students’ Responses
Yes, you can grab a gold glitter star.
Yes, your goal is to get gold glitter stars in the gift
box.
Request Actions
Grab a gold glitter star!
Give your gift with gold stars to a good friend.
Review (Read and/or Write About) the Playful Experience
 As a class, write a story about seeing a gold glitter star in the sky. Include words beginning with the letter Gg
where possible.
 Choral read the story. Point to the first letter in each word as you read. Emphasize the /g/ sound each time
you get to a word that begins with the letter Gg.
 Have each student write a list of words that begin with the letter Gg in your story.
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Go for the Gold
Capital and Lowercase Letter Gg: Class Activity
Gg
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Go for the Gold
Gold Glitter Stars: Class and Home Activity
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Go for the Gold
SEEL AT HOME
Playing to Learn
Goal: Write or say the hard /g/ sound (as in gold) when shown the letter Gg.
You will need
Items in folder: Gold Glitter Stars (Print on gold or yellow paper. Cut out and
scatter at one end of the room)
From home: Two boxes (label them “gift” and place them at the other end of the
room); paper and pencil
Activity: Go for the Gold
1. Stand at the opposite end of the room from the gold stars.
2. To begin, one person will say, “On your marks! Get set! Go for the gold!”
3. Each person will run to the wall, grab a gold star, run back, and put the gold star in their gift box.
4. Repeat until all the gold stars are gone from the wall.
5. The person with the most gold stars in their gift box wins!
6. Write a short story together about a gift given to a good friend. Use as many Gg words as possible. Have
your child write the words that begin with Gg.
7. Read the story together, emphasizing the /g/ sound (e.g., /g/, /g/, good).
8. Send the short story to school with your child to share with a teacher and a friend.
Remember to be playful and have fun!
The activity can be repeated several times.
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
SEEL AT HOME
Playing to Learn
Goal: Write or say the hard /g/ sound (as in gold) when shown the letter Gg.
You will need
Items in folder: Gold Glitter Stars (Print on gold or yellow paper. Cut out and
scatter at one end of the room)
From home: Two boxes (label them “gift” and place them at the other end of the
room); paper and pencil
Activity: Go for the Gold
1. Stand at the opposite end of the room from the gold stars.
2. To begin, one person will say, “On your marks! Get set! Go for the gold!”
3. Each person will run to the wall, grab a gold star, run back, and put the gold star in their gift box.
4. Repeat until all the gold stars are gone from the wall.
5. The person with the most gold stars in their gift box wins!
6. Write a short story together about a gift given to a good friend. Use as many Gg words as possible. Have
your child write the words that begin with Gg.
7. Read the story together, emphasizing the /g/ sound (e.g., /g/, /g/, good).
8. Send the short story to school with your child to share with a teacher and a friend.
Remember to be playful and have fun!
The activity can be repeated several times.
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
4
BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2012 Project SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University