Start with any letter of the alphabet and have the children write the shape of the letter on paper. Have the children also say the phonetic sound the letter makes. To make the connection even stronger, tie it all together with a movement related to the letter. This could be having the students make the letter's shape with their bodies or moving like something that begins with that letter. For example, the letter "s" would be drawn, the kids would make the "ssssss" noise for the letter, and then could move around the room like snakes. Association exercises help kids remember.
Kids love to color pictures. Not only does coloring help them express their creativity while learning, it also gives them a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Have kids complete a worksheet of an alphabetic letter with a picture to color and guided ways to write the letter. This will help them to later associate the shape and picture with that letter. The exercise also gives the students a chance to help each other out.
Cut a firm apple in half. Use a knife to carve out a letter "A," for instance, in the cut side of the apple. Have the child stamp the apple on a piece of construction paper while repeating the letter's sound. The juice from the apple may be sufficient to make a stamped impression, but you can dip the apple in paint to make the stamped image as well.
Cut a large heart shape out of red construction paper. Draw an upper case and a lower case "H" on the heart. Use scissors to cut the heart into pieces to make a puzzle. Kids can discuss the sound the letter makes as they assemble the puzzle. Like the other exercises, this strengthens letter association with words that begin with that letter. You can keep the puzzle in a bag or envelope for storage. Laminate the pieces for extra durability. The same activity can be repeated with other shapes and corresponding letters.