- large poster board
- letter card “Xx”
- markers
- two boxes—one filled with magnetic uppercase letters “C,” “M,” “P,” “S,” and “X” and one filled with magnetic lowercase letters “c,” “m,” “p,” “s,” and “x”
- curved
- different
- same
- slanted
- straight
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 (“Xx”)
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Skill Focus: Compare and Contrast, Letter Recognition, Matching and Sorting, Vocabulary
Use the target letter “Xx” and other letters children have learned previously for a sorting activity. Divide a large poster board into five rectangular or circular sections. Write a large letter (“Cc,” “Mm,” “Pp,” “Ss,” “Xx”) at the top of each section.
- Show children the letter “Xx” card.
- Trace the uppercase “X” and say, This is an uppercase “X.” In this box, there are all uppercase letters. Tell children they are going to find all the uppercase “X” letters and put them in the “Xx” section on the poster board.
- Then tell children they will sort all the letters and put them on the matching section on the board. Explain that children are to name and describe each letter before they place it on the board.
- Demonstrate with the uppercase letter “X.” Hold up the letter and trace it as you say, This letter has two long slanted lines that cross in the middle. It is an “X.”
- Have children work in pairs to continue to sort the letters.
- Repeat the process sorting lowercase letters.