Shaving
cream: squirt a little shaving
cream on the table and let the children explore letter
formation. It's a great way to clean your table and sticky
hands! You can also use baking trays as your writing surface.
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Sand trays:
purchase inexpensive storage containers with lids (Ziplock,
Gladlock, etc.) and pour in about 2 inches of sand. Place
container on a baking sheet to contain spills. |
Wipe off markers:
white boards or
laminated paper, provide
wipe-off markers and paper towels. Kids love erasing their
work and starting over. I use sheets that have the kids'
names in boxes, on the base line and on lined paper. I also have
the alphabet written with space and a line under each letter for
the kids to practice that letter.
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Chalkboards:
kids love using chalkboards to write their letters and get very
excited about using colored chalk. You can also have them paint on
the chalkboards using water.
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Do A
Dot: write a large letter on a
sheet of paper. Give kids Bingo daubers and have them
dot the letters following the proper letter formation
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Air letters:
have kids use their fingers to practice making letters in the
air. Click
here for a link that teaches lower case letter formation
through a song.
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| Use
That Body: have kids make
the letters with their bodies, following proper letter
formation. |
Tactile
Letters: have kids practice
tracing with their fingers a variety of tactile letters.
Letters can be cut from sandpaper; beans, coins, or other hard
objects can be glued down and traced; sand can be glued on letters
and traced.
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Finger
Paint: have kids practice
letters in finger paint--a great take home project! Mistakes can
be wiped clean again and again, allowing for unlimited practice.
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String Letters: have kids
outline a pre-written letter using thick white glue. They then use
pieces of string set in the glue to make the letter.
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Dough
Letters: kids use
playdough to form their letters. Click here is great recipe
for homemade playdough that is simple to make, lasts a long time
and is cheap!
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Flashlight letters:
Give children a flashlight and have them practice forming letters
in a dark area (bathroom, large cardboard box with one side out
out so you can observe, etc.)
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