Learn About Letters Together: Letter Shapes (“Yy”) and (“Cc”)

Materials

alphabet chart
cups with sorted crayon colors
letter cards A–Z

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.
Language/L.PK.MA.5.a: Demonstrate understanding of concepts by sorting common objects into categories (e.g., sort objects by color, shape, or texture).

MA Draft STE Standards

Physical Sciences: Matter and Its Interactions: Structure and Properties of Matter/PS1.A: Describe, compare, sort and classify objects based on observable physical characteristics, uses, and whether it is manufactured as part of their classroom play and investigations of the natural and human-made world.

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: Letter Shapes (“Yy”) and (“Cc”)

ELA Focus Skills: Letter Recognition, Sorting and Classifying, Vocabulary

Educator Prep: Print out the Between the Lions alphabet chart or create an alphabet chart on chart paper. Display the chart in the area where the activity is taking place.

Display the crayon cups and remind children of the sorting activity they did earlier. Then tell children that this time they will sort letters into different groups.

Display the “Cc” and “Yy” cards.
Ask children to offer suggestions as to how they can group the letters, ask, What different categories can we make to group the letters?
Then trace each card as you say, Some letters have straight lines (“Y”); some letters have curved lines (“C”).

Have children take turns tracing the letters. Explain that after they trace the letter they are to put the letter in the “Yy” (straight line) group or the “Cc” (curved line) group.

Review the letter groups after all children have had a turn.

Educator Tip: If children have difficulty determining the difference between letters with a straight line and a curvy line, have them use a straight edge to hold up to the letter lines. If the letter follows the straight edge of a ruler, then it is a straight line letter.

Educator Tip: Guided and independent letter, sound, and word practice continues to take place in center activities. It is helpful to set up the literacy center immediately after the direct instruction and repeat instruction before children work in the literacy center identifying letters.