- Between the Lions alphabet chart
- letter cards A–Z
- alphabet
- find
- hunt
- letter
- order
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.
Learn About Letters Together: ABC Hunt and Build
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Alphabet Awareness, Comprehension, Letter Recognition, Sequencing
Educator Prep: Print out the Between the Lions alphabet chart or create an alphabet chart on chart paper.
Hide all the letter cards around the room, most in plain sight. Tell children they will hunt for the letters and bring them back to the circle. Then, together, the group will build the alphabet by putting the letters in ABC order.
- To start the hunt, say, Go.
- Have each child bring the letter(s) he or she found to the circle. Give help as needed so each child finds at least one letter.
- Go around the circle and have each child name the letter(s) he or she found.
- Place the “A” card on the floor or a table to start an alphabet line. Then say, What letter comes next?
- Prompt children to check the alphabet chart if they’re not sure.
- Continue to add letters until the alphabet line is complete.
- Have children point to the letters as they sing “The ABC Song.”
Adaptation: If very young children have trouble recalling the sequence, have them go to the alphabet chart and find the last letter in the line, and then point to the next letter. Ask, What letter is that?
Adaptation: Groups of varied ages may wish to pair older and younger children to hunt together so that the older ones can help the younger ones find the words.