Letter A and Letter E
Learning the sound of A and making letter A and E with toothpicks/craft sticks
Instructions
- Have the child select one apple and take out of the refrigerator
- Remind them that an apple is a food referred to as a fruit
- Share the beginning sound of "A"- aaaaa.
- Ask the child what is the first sound in their name (Debi - d)
- Ask the child to find an object that begins with the same sound (Debi - d for a drawer)
- Ask the child for sound and letter name that is at the beginning of their name
- Using 3 toothpicks or large craft sticks make a capital A. Ask the child to copy this letter with their own 3 sticks. Keep saying the letter name A and the sound a
- Depending on the first letter in a child's name use the toothpicks and make that letter, too.
- Using 4 toothpicks to make a capital E
- Ask the child to make their own E
- Remove one toothpick and let the child replace to make the E again
- Remove two toothpicks and let the child replace to make the E again
Simplify
Draw on a piece of paper the upper case letters A and E - making the sides as long as a toothpick/craft stick. Encourage the child to place their toothpicks/craft sticks over the drawn letters. Ask questions such as how many toothpicks does it take to make an A or how many to make an E
Click here for fun vowel song reinforcing the sound of "a"
Extend
Encourage the child to make their own A and E without looking at an example but only by the name of the letter and sound of the letter.
QUESTIONS FOR CHILD
Can you think of another food that begins with A or E? (avocado, asparagus, artichokes, almonds, apricot, OR enchilada, eclair, eggplant)
Can you make a design using 5 craft sticks?
Curriculum Plan Resources
Skills Focus
- Shape - Square
- Color - Yellow
- Number - One, 1
- Alphabet Letter - A, E
- Senses - Touch
- Character Trait - Caring
- Target Words - In, Out, Empty, Full
Monthly Proverb
Swedish - The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm.
Did You Know?
Children who are not ready for kindergarten often have trouble succeeding in school. Those who do poorly in school are more likely to need to repeat classes, need special education, drop out of school, become teen parents, and get into trouble with the law. As adults, drop-outs have trouble making a living wage, and are at risk of poverty and homelessness
From Plan for the Washington Early Learning System – Draft 12/1/09 (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2005; Isaacs, 2008).
Books to Read
"The Mitten"
by Jan Brett (Activity 22)
"Little Blue and Little Yellow"
by Leo Lionni (Activity 8)
"How Kind"
by Mary Murphy (Activity 12)
"Little Blue and Little Yellow" VIDEO
by Leo Lionni (Activity 8)
"The Mitten" VIDEO
by Jan Brett (Activity 22)
"How Kind" VIDEO
by Mary Murphy (Activity 12)
Music Playlist
"The Hokey Pokey"
by Music for Little People Choir from album Toddlers Sing Playtime (Children) (Activity 14)
"Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K448 II."
Andante by Alicia de Larrocha from album Mozart: Concerto & Sonata for 2 pianos (Classical) (Activity 20)
"ABC (The Alphabet Song)"
from album Dora the Explorer (Children) (Activity 1)
"The Hokey Pokey" VIDEO
by The Learning Station (Activity 14)
"Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K448, II. Andante" VIDEO
by Mozart (Activity 20)
"ABC (The Alphabet Song" VIDEO
by Dora the Explorer
Monthly Materials List
Click Here to view the list!
Fingerplay / Poems / Songs
Select one poem for child to memorize this month and recite it at bedtime plus one song/fingerplay to learn. Here are two examples:
My NAME Song
(Activity 25 Month 1 - Sung to tune of BINGO)
There was a family had a child
and Carly (insert child's name) was her name.
C - A - R - L - Y C - A - R - L - Y C - A - R - L - Y (spell child's name)
And Carly (insert child's name) was her name
Kind To Others
(Activity 13 Month 1 - Fingerplay)
5 little children
Standing in a row ( hold up 5 fingers)
They are kind to others
Everywhere they go. (walk hand in front of body)
I am one of the children (point to self)
Standing in a row (hold up 5 fingers)
I'll be kind to others (point to self)
Wherever I go. (walk hand in front of body)
(This fingerplay works as a reminder to a child to be kind in any situation- without saying a word. Just walk hand in front of body to silently signal a child to remember to be kind or use actual sign language for the word kind.)