Prepare for this activity by cutting a tree out of a large piece of brown butcher block paper. Glue scraps of green construction paper onto the tree to represent leaves. Place red paint into bowls, one for each child. Put alphabet sponges in a large container in the middle of the table. Read the story, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom," by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault. Sit at a table with the students and give the preschoolers a handful of alphabet sponges. Show the children how to dip a sponge into the paint and place it on the tree to make a letter shape. Talk to the children about how the letters on the tree are similar to the letters on the tree in the story. Hang the tree on a wall in the classroom when dry.
Show the children how to make letters with their hands and body. Choose letters that will be easy for the children such as T, F and I. Play a child-friendly song and let the children dance to it. Stop the music and call out a letter that the children have to make. Once the children have all made the letter, start the music again, continuing to stop the song and having the children make a letter. Some young children will need help making the letter, while others will not.
Read the preschoolers the story "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See," by Bill Martin, Jr., and Eric Carle. Talk about what a character is and the characters in the story. Give the children construction paper and markers. Assign each child a character to draw. Have the children show the class their character. Write the name of the character and who it was drawn by on the bottom of each piece of construction paper. Display the characters on a bulletin board to remind the children of the story. Invite parents and guests to view the bulletin board and the children's work.