- Between the Lions alphabet chart
- cookie sheet
- letter card “Tt”
- two boxes or bags, one filled with magnetic uppercase letters (“C,” “H,” “K,” “L,” “M,” “T,” “U,” and “V”) and one filled with magnetic lowercase letters (“c,” “h,” “k,” “l,” “m,” “t,” “u,” and “v”)
- curved
- different
- find
- letter
- same
- straight
- top
MA Standards:
English Language Arts/Foundational Skills/RF.PK.MA.1.d Recognize and name some uppercase letters of the alphabet and the lowercase letters in one’s own name.Head Start Outcomes:
Literacy Knowledge/Alphabet Knowledge Recognizes that the letters of the alphabet are a special category of visual graphics that can be individually named.PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 7 Develop familiarity with the forms of alphabet letters, awareness of print, and letter forms.Letter Sort (“Tt”)
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Skill Focus: Compare and Contrast, Letter Recognition, Sorting, Vocabulary
Educator Prep: Print out the Between the Lions alphabet chart or create an alphabet chart on chart paper.
Use the Letter Sort Routine to help children distinguish letter shapes and recognize the shape of the target letter “Tt.”
Letter Sort Routine
- Place plastic uppercase letters “C,” “H,” “K,” “L,” “M,” “T,” “U,” and “V” in a bag.
- Divide a piece of paper in half by drawing a line down the middle.
- Draw both a straight line and a curvy line at the top left side of the paper and just a curvy line at the top right side.
- Explain to children that they will decide if letters have straight lines or just curvy lines.
- Pull the letter “C” out of the bag and say, Where should I place this letter “C”? Wait a moment or two for responses; then say, The letter “C” is a curvy line. It has no straight lines, so I will place it on the side of the paper that has only a curvy line.
- Repeat until all letters are sorted.
- When children have sorted all the letters, encourage volunteers to identify them by name.
Educator Tip: Guided and independent letter, sound, and word practice continues to take place in center activities. If desired you can set up the literacy center immediately after the direct instruction and repeat instruction before children work in the literacy center identifying letters.