Show preschoolers how they can change letter coloring sheets into their favorite animals. This project works best with coloring sheets that have large outlined letters on them.
Color in the letter's outline then draw a tail, long nose, pointy ears or other distinguishing features to turn it into an animal.
For example, turn the capital letter "E" into an elephant by coloring the outline gray. Turn the letter on its side, then add a trunk, long ears and skinny tail to create an elephant.
Reinforce the letter's phonetic sound by giving each animal a name beginning with the appropriate letter. For example, name the elephant Elsie or Edward.
Alternatively, the DLTK-Teach website recommends turning letters into silly looking people. For example, they draw crazy hair and other features on the letter "H" to turn it into a clown named Harry. The letter "K" becomes a king by adding a crown and other royal accessories.
The website has free downloadable templates for these and many other characters. Children cut out template pieces and paste them together to make these figures or their own zany creations.
In her book "26 Easy and Adorable Alphabet Recipes for Snacktime," Author Tracy Jarboe suggests turning snack time into a letter-learning opportunity. She recommends snack ideas for each letter of the alphabet, ranging from "Apple-Apricot Kabobs" for the letter "A" to "Zany Zoo" for the letter "Z."
For example, Jarboe turns a half bagel, two round crackers, some peanut butter and chocolate chips into a bear for the letter "B." She strings o-shaped cereal on a piece of thin licorice to create a "Nifty Necklace" to represent the letter "N."
Preschoolers can make many simple alphabet snacks themselves during class time. For example, give each child a small ball of bread dough and ask them to make "P" shaped pretzels. A parent or teacher's helper could bake the shaped pretzels in the school kitchen and return them at snack time.
They can make letter-shaped jigglers by pressing alphabet cookie cutters into gelatin that has already set. Preschoolers can also use food markers to write their letters on plain flat cookies.
This game can be played together during circle time and independently by one or more children during free play time.
You will need a canvas chart with 26 pockets; each pocket should have a letter printed on it. Teachers' stores usually sell canvas pocket charts. You will also need a variety of small toys or novelties to represent each letter of the alphabet. For example, use a plastic toy ant to represent "A" or a piece of yarn to represent "Y."
Place the small items in a bowl and put it near the pocket chart. During class time, demonstrate how to play the game by selecting an item from the bowl, saying its name, sounding out its first letter and then tucking it into the appropriate pocket.
Each day, spend time at the chart, learning a new letter and reviewing letters from previous days. As children become more familiar with the letters and their sounds, ask them to put the objects in their appropriate pockets.