Literacy: Sun-bleached Letter Puzzle

Objectives Materials Method

Letter
recognition
Matching
Foam bath letters
Dark construction
paper
Place the letters on the paper and let them stand in the sun for a while.
Once the paper has faded, it is ready to use. The area under the letters
will not hae faded and will appear as the original color.
!elp your child place the appropriate letter on the paper where it
belongs.
Literacy: Sand Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learn how to
write letters
"and, salt, or sugar
#ake Pan
Put some sand, sugar or cream of wheat in a s$uare cake pan or bo%
for drawing purposes.
!elp your child trace a letter.
"ay the sound as the child is tracing the actiity.
!ae the child say the sound with you.
Literacy: Foam Alphabet Puzzle
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the
alphabet
Foam alphabet
pu&&le
"mall tub or bowl
'ice or sand
Place the rice and the letters from the foam pu&&le into the tub.
!ae the child find a letter and show them how to put it in the pu&&le.
!ae the child say either the letter name or the sound the letter makes
(or both).
Literacy: Hih!ay Letters
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
#reate letters that
look like a road
(black letters with
white stripes
running through
them)
#ar
!ae your child run oer the letters with their cars.
Practice saying the sound the letter makes as they do so.
Literacy: "racin Lines !ith #ars
Objectives Materials Method
#an trace
straight and &ig+
&ag lines
Large piece of
paper
Masking Tape
Marker
"mall #ar
,sing the masking tape, stick the paper to a hard surface.
Draw roads on the paper. First a straight road from one side of the
paper to the other. Then a &ig+&ag road.
"how the child how to drie the car along the road.
-ently correct the child when they drie the car outside of the line (off
the road).
Literacy: M$M Letters
Objectives Materials Method
*egins to
recogni&e some
of the letters of
the alphabet
Paper
Marker
M.Ms
On the paper draw dots that form a letter of the alphabet.
"how the child how to use a crayon to draw between the dots.
!ae the child place M.Ms on each of the dots.
Literacy: %iploc& 'a (ra!in
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
-allon si&e &iplock
bag
Food coloring
!air -el
Mi% the food coloring and the hair gel in the &iplock bag.
!ae your child trace letters on the outside of the &iplock bag
Literacy: Sand Paper Letters
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
Letters cut out of
sandpaper
#ard cut into /0
s$uares
-lue the sandpaper letters onto the card.
!elp your child trace the letter with their finger.
"ay the sound the letter makes as you do so.
Literacy: )arn Letters
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
"andpaper
1arn
#rayons
"cissors
#ut the yarn into arying lengths from / inches to 2 inches.
Draw seeral large letters on the sandpaper.
"how then how the yarn sticks to the sandpaper. 3ow let them use the
yarn to trace the letters.
'epeat the phonetic sound as they are working on each letter.
Literacy: #oo&ie Sheet Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
#ookie sheet
Magnetic letters
Dry erase pen
On the cookie sheet, write seeral letters.
!ae your child search through all /0 letters to find the one you hae
written on the cookie sheet.
They can then place each magnetic letter oer the corresponding
written letter.
Literacy: *ope Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the
sounds of the
letters
-ross Motor
Deelopment
'ope ,sing the rope, form a letter on the ground.
3ow moe along the rope (hop, skip, slide, tiptoe, march, gallop)
'epeat the sound of the letter oer and oer.
Literacy: Alphabet #ups
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
4 #ups
4 Mailing labels
"harpie
"omething to hide
(such as a pompom
or small ball)
Place the mailing labels on the cups and write a letter on each mailing
label, so that each cup is associated with a different letter.
"how your child the item you are going to hide.
5sk your child to close their eyes as you hide the ob6ect under one of
the cups.
Then hae your child read one of the letters on a cup. 5s they read it,
hae them lift up the cup to see if the ob6ect is under the cup.
7f they are incorrect, inite them to read a different cup and then lift it.
#ontinue playing until they find the hidden ob6ect.
Literacy: Letter Scavener Hunt
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
*aby food
containers
Letter stickers (or a
sharpie)
Let your child place one letter (or write one letter) on each container.
-o on a scaenger hunt and start filling the containers. For e%ample, #
is for car and carrot.
Literacy: Alphabet "ape
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
Matching
identical ob6ects
8ooden blocks
Tape
Put some tape on the floor and write the letters from 5 to 9 on the tape.
!ae the wooden blocks in a pile ne%t to the tape and as your child
picks up each block, hae them place it on the corresponding letter on
the tape.
Literacy: Alphabet "reasure Hunt
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
Plastic or wooden
letters
"and or Dirt
!ide the letters in the sand.
7nite your child to scoop the sand and hunt for hidden letters.
:ach time they find one, hae them say the name or the sound of the
letter.
Literacy: Alphabet Playdouh
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
Paper
Playdough
On the paper draw the outline of seeral large letters.
!elp your child roll the play dough and then place it within the outline of
the letter.
'epeatedly say the letter name and sound. !elp them think of words
they know that start with that sound.
Literacy: Alphabet Order +ame
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters in order
5 set of alphabet
cards or foam or
plastic letters
Place the letters in a large pile.
"ing the alphabet song with them and ask them what the first letter is. 7f
they struggle, try giing hints (such as showing them the alphabet in a
book)
Once they hae located the 5, sing the alphabet song together again.
(1ou may do this while pointing to the letters in a book which has the
alphabet.)
5sk them what comes after 5. 1ou may need to gie a similar hint
again.
!ae them locate the * and place it ne%t to the 5.
'epeat until you hae gone through the alphabet or your child is bored.
Literacy: *oc& Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learning the
letters
"mall rocks
Paper
"harpie
On the paper draw circles about the si&e of the rocks on the paper so
that the circles form a letter.
!ae your child place the rocks on the circles so that when they are
done, the rocks form a letter.
5sk your child if they can identify the letter and the sound it makes.
'epeat this with different letters.
Literacy: (evelopin #omprehension
Objectives Materials Method
Deelop
comprehension
5 story book 'ead a book to your child.
5fter each page, ask a $uestion about what you 6ust read.
7f they struggle, help them with the answer. Make the $uestion slightly
easier ne%t time.
Literacy: #hal&board Letter ,rasin
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
#halkboard
#halk
;+tip
#ontainer of water
On a chalkboard write a letter.
!ae your child name the letter and say the sound of the letter.
-ie your child a $+tip which you hae preiously dipped in water. !elp
them trace the letter so that the chalk disappears.
'epeat with another letter.
Literacy: -ords that Start !ith ...
Objectives Materials Method
5ssociate the
first letter of a
word with a
known letter
<%4 inde% cards
/ large pieces of
paper
"harpie
#rayons
On the inde% cards, draw seeral pictures of ob6ects that begin with a
particular letter, such as =puppy,> =pen,> =popcorn,> and =parrot.>
Then on some other inde% cards draw pictures of ob6ects that begin
with another letter, such as =bone,> =backpack,> =books,> and =bus.>
On one piece of paper write the letter, such as =P,> and one the other
piece of paper write the other letter, such as =*.>
:ncourage your child to color the pictures and to name the ob6ects.
Once they hae completed coloring and naming the ob6ects, hae them
pick a card.
"how them the letters on the piece of paper and ask them the sound of
the letters.
:%plain that they are going to sort the cards according to the first letter
of the word.
!ae them say the name of the ob6ect and say it slowly. 'epeat it
slowly, while emphasi&ing the first letter.
5sk them if the word starts with a =p> or a =b.> !elp them if they are
unsure.
Place the card on the paper of the appropriate letter.
'epeat until they hae sorted all the cards.
Literacy: Letter Focus
Objectives Materials Method
Learn one of the
letters of the
alphabet
Paper
"cissors
Letter stickers
5lphabet felt
stickers
"and paper
-lue
"harpie
#rayons
,sing the "harpie, write the letter on the paper that you are going to
focus on with your child.
#ut that letter out of different colored pieces of paper and sand paper.
!elp your child glue them onto the paper.
'un their inde% finger oer the sand paper letter.
!ae your child stick the letter stickers and felt letter stickers onto the
paper.
:ncourage them to try writing the letter (een if they can only scribble).
#onstantly repeat the sound of the letter with them.
1ou can also tell them words that begin with that letter. (=T> is for truck.
=T> is for train. =T> is for tummy.)
Literacy: #hal&board Letter ,rasin
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
#halkboard
#halk
;+tip
#ontainer of water
On a chalkboard write a letter.
!ae your child name the letter and say the sound of the letter.
-ie your child a $+tip which you hae preiously dipped in water. !elp
them trace the letter so that the chalk disappears.
'epeat with another letter.
Literacy: #anvas Letter
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
#anas
Masking Tape
5crylic Paints
,sing the masking tape put the first letter of your child?s name on the
canas (or the entire name if you are able to).
5llow your child to paint the entire canas.
Once dry, remoe the masking tape.
During the actiity, keep reminding them of the name and sound of the
letter(s).
Literacy: "racin Letters
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
Paper
Pen
#rayons
8rite one letter or seeral letters of the alphabet using dots.
"how your child how to use a crayon to trace the letters.
:ncourage them to try alone. !elp when needed.
Literacy: 'ottle #ap Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
Match 7dentical
Ob6ects
@uiceAMilk *ottle
#aps
Foam "ticker
Letters
"tick foam letters on the top of the bottle caps so that you hae two of
each letter. (7f you do not hae foam letter stickers, you could write the
letters on the caps using a marker.) They can be the same case (upper
or lower) or a combination for a more adanced actiity.
Place them in a pile and then ask your child to pick up a cap.
!ae them say the name of the letter and the sound of the letter.
3ow hae them look for the other cap which has the same letter on it.
'epeat until you hae matched all the letters.
Literacy: Scrabble Search
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
#ontainer of rice
"crabble letters
Paper
Pen
On a piece of paper trace around each of the scrabble letters and write
in the letters.
Place the scrabble letters in the container of rice.
!ae your child find a letter and place it on the paper oer the
corresponding letter.
Literacy: Maic Letters
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
Paper
8hite #rayon
Paint *rush
8ater
8ater #olors
On the paper draw one large letter using the white crayon.
!ae your child paint on the paper using the water colors.
The letter is then reealed.
5sk your child to name the letter and say it?s sound.
'epeat with other letters of the alphabet.
Literacy: #ereal /ame
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the
representation
of their name
Paper
"harpie
"chool -lue
Fruit Loops or
#heerios
On the paper write your child?s name so that it fills the paper.
!ae your child trace the letters with the glue.
3ow they can place the cereal on the glue while it is still wet.
Literacy: "oilet *oll Letters
Objectives Materials Method
5ssociate words
with particular
letters
Toilet 'olls (the
number depends on
how many letters
you want to focus
on)
*ottle Tops (the
same number as the
number of toilet
rolls)
Paint
Letters printed on
paper (either all or
6ust a few)
Pictures or words
starting with each
letter of the alphabet
!ae your child paint the toilet rolls.
Place the one end of the toilet roll in a bottle top. This will proide
stability for it to stand.
!elp your child stick a letter to each of the toilet rolls. 5s you do so,
hae them say the sound of the letter.
Then hae them look at the pictures and say the word that describes
the picture, such as =cat.>
!elp them understand that the word =cat,> for e%ample, starts with the
sound =c.>
!ae them identify the =c> toilet roll and stick the picture on the toilet
roll.
'epeat with the other pictures.
Literacy: Alphabet Monster +ame
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
Different colored
paper
"cissors
"harpie
:mpty bo% (such as
a cereal bo% or
Pringles can)
-lue
8obbly :yes
#ut circles from the paper (about /.4 inches in diameter). Twenty si% for
either lower+case or capital letters. Fifty two for both.
8rite a different letter on each circle.
7n the empty bo% cut a hole for the mouth.
#oer the bo% with colored paper. -lue on eyes (and hair if you desire
using yarn).
Lay the letters on a flat surface and then hae your child pick up a letter
and say the sound and then place it through the mouth of the monster.
Literacy: 'a o0 '1s
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
5ssociate words
with particular
letters
Large bag
7tems that start with
the letter * (such as
ball, book)
7tems that do not
start with the letter *
(such as pen, shoe)
Place the items in the bag.
!ae your child reach into the bag and pull an ob6ect out.
5sk them what the ob6ect is.
"ay the word emphasi&ing the first letter and ask them if it starts with a
=*.>
"ince they probably won?t know, tell them and repeat the e%ercise with
the other ob6ects.
Literacy: Play (ouh -ritin
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace
the letters of the
alphabet
Play dough
Pencil or pen
'oll the play dough out on a flat surface.
!ae your child hold the pencil.
-uide your child?s hand and write a letter of your choice repeatedly.
!ae your child say the sound of the letter.
3ow hae your child try. This will likely be difficult but can be done
repeatedly.
Literacy: "racin lines
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace Paper
#rayon
Marker
On the left hand side of the paper draw seeral pictures of animals, one
under each other (such as a fish, a cat, a duck, and a cow).
On the right hand side of the paper draw something that resembles
where they like to be (such as the ocean, a chair, a pond, and a field).
Draw straight, cured, or &ig+&ag dotted lines between the images of
the left and those on the right.
!ae your child hold a crayon and guide their hand to trace the dotted
line. 5fter that they may like to try alone.
Literacy: A'# Match
Objectives Materials Method
5ssociate words
with particular
letters
Paper
Marker
"cissors
Ob6ects beginning
with letters you want
to focus on
#ut small s$uares (B> % B>) from the paper and write some letters on the
s$uares, such as 5, *, #.
Find small ob6ects that begin with those letters, such as an apple, a
ball, and a cup.
Place the letters on a flat surface and then hae your child select an
ob6ect and name the ob6ect.
'epeat the name of the ob6ect, while emphasi&ing the first letter.
!ae your child guess which letters the word begins with. Proide help
where needed.
Literacy: Letter Sort
Objectives Materials Method
Learn the name
and sound of a
letter
Paper
Marker
"cissors
#ut /C or /4 small s$uares (/> % />) from the paper.
Pick two or three letters you want to work with, such as * and T.
8rite these letters on the s$uares. 1ou might hae DC * s$uares and
D4 T s$uares.
@umble the letters together and place them in a pile.
!ae you child select a letter and say the sound of the letter.
'epeat. 7f the letter is the same as before, place these letters together.
Otherwise, make a new pile.
8ithin a short time, you should hae two (or three, depending on how
many letters you are focusing on) piles of letters.
Once these piles are established, hae your child guess which pile the
letters should go in.
Literacy: )arn S!irls
Objectives Materials Method
*egin to trace #ard
Marker
"cissors
1arn
:lmer?s -lue
#ut large (at least DD> % DD>) s$uares.
On the s$uares draw swirls, circles, lines, and &ig+&ags.
!ae your child trace along the lines with the glue. 5ssist where
necessary.
3ow cut the yarn the right length and hae your child place the yarn on
top of the glue.
7t is probably easiest for your child to begin with a straight line, and then
a circle, then swirls, then finally &ig+&ags.