Practicing your sound while talking about animals is FUN and challenging. Below you'll find several practice ideas; you can pick the same activity each day, or mix it up. Click HERE each day you practice to submit your homework.

Tip 1: If your child cannot correctly produce the words, even with your help, you can (1) have them say only their sound or the syllable containing their sound, (2) have them give each animal a simple name containing their sound, or (3) model the words while your child watches and listens. Tip 2: While practicing these words, focus on the target sound ("SH" & "ZH"). Don't worry about errors on other sounds your student can't produce yet. For example, if they can't say "L," and they say "weash" instead of "leash," that's okay because we're focusing on "SH."

Quick Ideas:

• Say the names of 3-5 animals that have your sound in them 5 times each (find examples in the pictures above). Can you think of any more?

• Search images online/in books to find pictures of animals with your sound in their name. Using your hands in circles around your eyes for binoculars, practice talking about a few pictures by saying 5 short sentences like, "I see a sheep!" "I spy a baby sheep!" "I see a TINY sheep!"

• Sing about 5 animals together using the tune of this song (e.g. "/sh/ is for sheep. /sh/ /sh/ sheep, /sh/ /sh/ sheep, /sh/, sheep."). Warning, this song can get stuck in your head and lead to extra practice opportunities ;)

Expansion Ideas:

• Take a virtual field trip to the zoo! (See the links below.) As you do, you can

  • • • Talk about what you see and learn using your best sounds.

      • Can you find an animal that starts with your sound?

        • • Make 3 sentences describing this animal ("Sheep eat...")

• Practice writing or drawing about an animal that starts with your sound. You could practice writing simple facts about the animal, or writing a story about the animal. Tell at least 2 people about what you wrote or drew.

Ideas for virtual field trips:

• Reid Zoo: http://reidparkzoo.org/cameras/elephant-cam/

  • • You can see a live camera for several animals (African Wild Dog, Elephant, Flamingo, Giraffe, & Lemur) or learn about more of their animals here: https://reidparkzoo.org/animals/

• Houston Zoo: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

  • You can see a live camera for several animals (Giraffe, Otter, Elephant, Flamingo, Rhino) or learn about more of their animals here: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/animals/

• Smithsonian's National Zoo: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

  • You can see a live camera for several animals (Giant Panda, Cheetah, Naked Mole Rat, Lion, Elephant) or learn about more of their animals here: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/list

• San Diego Zoo: https://sdzwildlifeexplorers.org/videos

  • You can see a live camera for several animals (Ape, Baboon, Burrowing Owl, Condor, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Koala, Panda, Penguin, Platypus, Polar Bear, Tiger) or learn about more of their animals here: https://sdzwildlifeexplorers.org/animals

• Atlanta Zoo: https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/

  • You can see a live camera for the pandas or learn about more of their animals here: https://zooatlanta.org/animals/

• Youtube: search for an animal that has your sound in its name and see what National Geographic or other sources can teach you.

• No-Internet Version: Library! Go to your local library and look at books about animals! :)

Adults, remember the internet can contain surprises that aren't appropriate for your child. When searching google images, youtube, or other internet sources, preview the page or video before viewing with your child. I cannot be responsible for all of the content out there :)