- Between the Lions alphabet chart
- highlighter marker
- letter card “Ss”
- name chart
- word card sound
- curved
- lowercase
- sound
- straight
- uppercase
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.
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: Target Letter (“Ss”) and Word (sound) #2
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
ELA Focus Skills: Gross Motor Skills, Letter Recognition
Educator Prep: Print out the Between the Lions alphabet chart or create an alphabet chart on chart paper.
Use the “Target Letter and Word” routine to review the letter “Ss” and the word sound.
Then have children attempt to make an “Ss” shape with their body. Hold up and trace the letter card as you say, How do you think you can make an “Ss” shape with your body?
- Allow children to try before demonstrating for children by shaping your arm and leg into an “Ss.”
- If children have trouble balancing, have them try to make an “Ss” while lying on the floor.
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.&
Target Letter and Word Routine
Introduce children to the target letter by showing them the letter in context of the target word sound.
- Hold up the target word card. Point to the letters as you say the word.
- Talk about the meaning of the word.
- Point to the first letter of the word as you name the letter. Highlight the letter in a different color.
- Cover all of the letters following the first letter on the word card. Focus children’s attention on the letter. Ask children what they notice about the shape of the letter.
- Ask, Does it have straight lines? Curved lines? Both straight and curved lines?
- Hold up the letter card. Talk about the difference between the lowercase and uppercase letters. Have children find the letter on an alphabet chart.