- Bear Snores On, Max Found Two Sticks, Night in the Country, Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound (books)
- glue
- multiple photocopies of book covers
- O-shaped small objects (pretzels, stickers, rubber bands, etc.)
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.
Letter Shaping (“Oo”)
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Skill Focus: Letter Formation, Letter Recognition, Vocabulary
Educator Prep: Before the activity, make photocopies of the book covers, one for each child.
Display the books. Hold up Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. Have a volunteer point to the “Oo” in the title. Trace the “Oo” and talk about the circle shape.
- Then make an O shape with your mouth and trace your lips. Say, Let’s all make an O shape like this. Now trace around your lips.
- Then hold up an O-shaped pretzel and, as you trace it, ask, What letter shape is this pretzel? Place the pretzel over the “Oo” in the title of the book and say, This pretzel is the same shape as the “Oo” in the title.
- Show children the photocopies of book covers. Explain to children that these are the covers of the books they have been reading to learn about sounds. Tell children that you want them to take one of the sheets, and when they see an “Oo” in the title or author/illustrator name they should glue an O-shaped object over it.
- Help children write their name on the page and glue objects on any “Oo” letters in their name.