Which of the following instructional activities is best suited to support first-grade students who are learning how to decode and encode the word 'hen'?

Although this activity involves letter recognition, it does not effectively address the phonemic awareness necessary for decoding and encoding. Graphing letters may distract students from the essential sounds and their connections to the word's spelling, making it less effective for first graders learning to read.

While this activity helps students manipulate sounds, it may be too complex for first graders just starting to learn to decode and encode. The focus on counting chips and changing sounds might overwhelm them, diverting attention from the fundamental task of recognizing and writing the original word.

This activity promotes fluency and comprehension but does not specifically target decoding and encoding skills. Repetition of the word in context is beneficial, yet it lacks the explicit focus on phonemic awareness and the writing process crucial for first-grade learners mastering basic decoding and encoding.