Literacy & ABCsToddlers5 Comments
With this letter block activity, I built on George’s current knowledge of letters and stuck them into something he always loves! Blocks!
Last week for the Summer Reading Series with A Mom with a Lesson Plan (she’s sharing a book report template today!), I shared the beginning stage of introducing letters with a fun and magical painting!
This week, we are progressing to the next stage of learning letters. Its more for recognizing the letters and becoming more familiar with them, labeling them when they can, but not necessary! This is a brilliant idea I grabbed from Allie of No Time For Flash Cards when she made letter blocks using tape.
Label a tub of blocks with letters.
Since I don’t have the large blocks like Allie has, I couldn’t fit a ‘tape letter’ onto my blocks… so I found a different way.
I created a document with the letters of the alphabet in big, bold letters (and spaces in between for room to cut). I also included extras of letters that I knew George already knew. My kids tend to learn the letter their name starts with first, as well as M for Mom and D for Dad. George is also getting the hang of L and H for his brothers’ names too. I added an extra 4 or 5 of each of those in my document as well as a few extra A’s and B’s because they’re good starting letters too. (I created a document to share with you too! If you want to change it up to add letters your kid already knows, you can “Save a Copy” and edit away!)
I printed out two copies of the letters and cut them all apart, keeping the copies separated.
I taped one set of the letters onto large wooden blocks (affiliate link) and the other set I dumped into a large container. A bowl would work too. I decided on the large container because it was fun for George to stick his hand deep into and pull out a letter!
After the prep work of getting the letters and blocks ready, it took me about 20 minutes, I called George to start the activity. (I know, I don’t usually prep much for activities, but I think these letter blocks will be used for multiple learning opportunities with both George and Henry, so I think it’ll be worth the time I put in.)
George pulled a letter out of the container and looked at the letter. If he knew it he’d tell me it, if not, he’d ask “Help!” and I’d tell him the letter and ask if he could find one like it in the letter blocks to match it.
To reinforce learning the letter, once he found the letter block that matched the letter he chose, I’d ask him again, “What’s that letter on the block?”
Build a tower with the letter blocks!
Add the matched letter block to a tower!
After a few blocks, I started playing with him.
But George wanted to draw the letter out of the container for me. So we took turns finding the letter block and adding it to the tower. Building a large masterpiece together.
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Mercedes Clark says
Great idea!
March 28 says
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on
the head. The problem is something which not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy I stumbled across this during my hunt for something regarding this.
Joleen Steel says
awesome! Makes me long for the days my kiddos were that young. Love this idea even for teaching the letters of the music alphabet. They could go play that note on the piano after they add it to the tower.