- chart paper
- marker
- lowercase
- uppercase
MA Standards:
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.
Learn About Letters Together: Air Writing (“Pp”)
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA focus skills: Letter Recognition
Use the Air Writing Routine to help children begin to write the letter “Pp.” Display the letter “Pp” on a card or chart paper.
Air Writing Routine
- Stand with your back to children so they can imitate you as you “air write” the uppercase and lowercase letters.
- Instruct children to place their hands up high.
- With your pointer or index finger, trace the letter in the air from top to bottom the way you would write the letter.
- Think aloud as you show children the direction to move their finger as they form the letter.
- Comment on the special features of the letter shape.
- Talk with children about the difference between the uppercase and lowercase forms.
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.