Have children decorate a letter "S" to instill recognition of the shape and sound this letter makes. Draw the letter "S" on poster board and cut it out. Provide children with the letter and discuss the shape and the sound the letter makes. Encourage children to trace the letters with their fingers to gain an understanding of how the letter is formed. To decorate the craft, provide children with items that start with the letter "S" and have them glue the items onto the letter. Items to consider include sugar cubes, sand, star stickers and silver glitter. Point out the items, discuss their names and stress the initial sound in each of the items to promote recognition of the letter "S" makes.
Play this game to foster recognition of the sound the letter "S" makes. Instruct children to stand up and encourage them to dance around. While the children are dancing, randomly shout out the word "statue." Upon hearing the word, children must freeze and pretend they are statues. Any child that does not stop and act like a statue is out of the game. The last child to remain standing wins this letter "S" game.
In this activity, children must search for objects that begin with the letter "S." Fill a sand table with sand. If you don't have a sand table, fill a large bin with sand. Hide a variety of objects inside the sand, some that begin with the letter "S" and some that don't. Encourage children to sift through the sand for the items that are hidden and state the names of the objects that begin with the letter "S." If children are exhibiting difficulties, provide help by pointing out items that begin with the letter.
Kids practice using scissors and gain an understanding of the look and sound of the letter "S" in this activity. Provide children with pieces of construction paper and magazines. Review the sound and shape of the letter "S" and show kids some pictures of items that begin with the letter. After reviewing the letter, have kids search through the magazines and cut out pictures of the letter "S," as well as items that begin with the letter. Have them glue the letters and pictures to their construction paper to create a letter "S" collage.