Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Grow Green Grass
Objective
Students will identify the gr blend from a variety of blends upon hearing the /gr/ sound.
Target words and phrases
Grow, green, grass, grid, grab, grip
“We will grow green grass in a grid.”
“Grab the seeds to grow green grass.”
Materials
 Empty egg cartons (cut into thirds) – 1 for each student
 Grass seeds
 Green grass that has already grown in little pots or cups
 Water (preferably in a spray bottle)
 Dirt (in a bowl)
 Plastic spoons
 Old newspapers (to cover table)
 Word cards of gr and non-gr blends
 Aprons – 1 for each student
 Green Grass Log – 1 for each student
State and model the objective
Say, “Today, I have some seeds used to grow green grass. Green and grass both start with the /gr/ sound.
We spell /gr/ with the letters G and R. Let’s learn about the /gr/ word beginning as we help our green grass
grow!”
Identify and emphasize target words and phrases within an activity
 Note: This doubles as a science experiment.
 Show the students the grass seeds and the green grass that is already grown. Say, “Isn’t it great how I got
this green grass to grow? It started as grass seeds and now it is green grass!”
 After each student puts an apron on, give each student one of the empty egg cartons.
 Each student will use a spoon to put some dirt in each of his or her empty spaces. You may want to point
out that the egg cartons make a grid.
 Have the students grab some grass seeds to put into the dirt. Ask them to grab just a few, not a handful.
 Instruct the students to press the seeds into the dirt.
 Give each student a turn to spray water onto his or her seeds.
 Comment on how the seeds will grow gradually or a little at a time.
 Place the egg cartons in place of sunlight (such as near a window) or let the students take their cartons
home at the end of the day. Have the students observe how their green grass grows.
Read target words/patterns introduced in the activity
 Lay out the word cards and have the students pick out the words that begin with the gr blend. Read
through the gr words together.
Write about the activity using target words/patterns
 Give each student a Green Grass Log.
 Help the students fill it out each week as they measure how tall their grass has grown.
 Instruct the students to use complete sentences when filling out the log, and to use as many gr words as
possible.
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2013 SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Grow Green Grass
Gr and Non-Gr Blend Word Cards: Class Activity
2
grow
green
grass
grab
grip
grid
egg
seed
spoon
water
BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2013 SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University
Systematic & Engaging Early Literacy
Grow Green Grass
Green Grass Log: Class Activity
Week
How tall is your green grass?
Example: My green grass has grown! It is 1 inch tall.
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BYU David O. McKay School of Education
© 2013 SEEL, McKay School of Education, Brigham Young University