Children can develop an understanding of letter-sound recognition through this arts and crafts activity. After discussing the sound a specific letter makes, write the upper- and lowercase form of the letter on a piece of paper for each child. Provide children with items that begin with the letter and instruct them to use the items to decorate the letter. For example, if you're focusing on the letter "M," provide children with stickers of monkeys and different types of monkeys that they can use to decorate their letters.
Have a letter show-and-tell with your preschool students. Inform parents of the letter you have been studying in class, and explain that you would like the children to bring in something from home that begins with that letter. On the day the children bring in their show-and-tell items, invite each child to share what it is they have brought to show. For instance, when discussing the letter "S," children may bring in a pair of slippers or a bag of sand. Encourage children to provide some sort of information about the items they have brought in. For example, whose slippers are they and when are they worn, or where did the sand come from and how was it collected?
Hunting for items that begin with specific letters is another engaging way you can provide phonics instruction in a preschool class. Hide items around your classroom that begin with a specific letter. Explain to the children that they are to search for one item that begins with the focus letter, and send them off to hunt for items. Upon finding an item, children should return back to a designated meeting area. Have the children share the items they've found.
Encourage your students to name words that begin with particular letters. Print letters on the board, or hold up a letter printed on an index card. Upon showing the letter to the children, ask them to provide the name of and sound the letter makes. Once students are aware of the sound the letter makes, ask them to think of a word that begins with the letter, and invite them to share the word they've thought of. For example, the words tree, tug, toad, toe and turtle may be stated if the focus letter is "T."