- paper with the word dam written at the top (one per child)
- pencils
- curve
- line
- straight
- write
MA Standards:
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.
Literacy Knowledge/Early Writing: Copies, traces, or independently writes letters or words.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts/Reading and Literature 7: Develop familiarity with the forms of alphabet letters, awareness of print, and letter forms.
Word Play: Writing Words
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Fine Motor Skills, Vocabulary, Word Recognition
Help children practice writing the word dam.
- Give each child a paper with the word dam written at the top.
- Have children use their fingers to trace the letters with you.
- Distribute pencils.
- Let children write the word. Younger children can simply trace over the written letters. More capable children can copy the word below.
- Encourage children to write the word several times.
Adaptation: For children who are ready, use lined manuscript paper. Show them how you made the letters “sit” on the lines. Tell them to refer to your letters-on-the-lines as they make their own.