I shared this post years ago, when my children were young. I love looking back at the fun things we did to fill our days as I taught my kids the alphabet! I highly recommend doing sensory, art, and fine motor activities with your preschooler simply because it’s fun. These activities also provide opportunities to develop oral language and other early literacy skills. However, please note that research tells us that direct instruction in letters and sounds is the most efficient way to teach and learn the alphabet.
Tissue Paper “E”
My four-year-old boy really loved this one. I printed out a large E and gave him a bag of tissue paper squares. He painted on a water/glue mixture and very carefully applied each square. He was very serious about doing a neat job. I think he would not have enjoyed this had we used straight Elmer’s or a glue stick. It would have been too messy and frustrating.
My toddler had no interest in the project. He did enjoy using the glue paint to attach tissue paper to an index card and the newspaper.
Handprint Eagle
Here’s an eagle craft I did with my two oldest when my daughter returned home from kindergarten. She traced her own hands and cut out her own eagle beak, but I drew the rest of the pieces for her to cut out. This was fromNicci’s Little Angels.
Here’s a quick, simple project. My four-year-old cut out his own (left). You can find this idea all over the Internet, but for a free pattern go toFun with Mama.
Cut & Paste Elmo
Even though my kids have never seen Elmo onscreen, they love him. (You’ve got to hand it to Sesame Street’s marketing team.) This was a fun craft for them. I cut out the pieces. Can you guess which one my two-year-old made? Get the pattern from Fun with Mama.
Paper Plate Elephant
We got this idea from Activity Village. My four-year-old painted the plate (he chose the color). The next day I cut out the other pieces for him to glue.
E is for Envelope
I know this envelope craft isn’t the most beautiful thing to look at, but it is such a terrific, age-appropriate project for your toddler or preschooler. For instructions, visitNo Time for Flashcards.
Milk Jug Elmer
Okay, I feel a little bad about saying this, but I’ve never really liked the Elmer books about the patchwork elephant. The stories just don’t grab me. But when I saw this project on Pinterest, we had to read an Elmer book and save a milk jug. After I cut off the top of the jug and cut some more plastic to make the legs, my kindergartner used a water/glue mixture to attach the tissue paper.
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The envelope activity worked great for my kindergarteners today! I made upper and lower case Ee’s in different fonts, and had them cut them out and sort into the different envelopes. They LOVED that they were able to make a take-home game for themselves!
Hi ,i am statring a playcentre and would like to know what letters first you start introducing first and do you do the uppercase or the lower case letter recognition first
I do uppercase letters first. With my own kids, they have picked up recognizing lower case letters on their own without a lot of direct instruction – just by reading books and talking about letters. Also, after practice with upper case letters it isn’t too hard for them to start forming lower case letters on their own. But in a classroom setting it would be good to have more of a plan. I would recommend contacting some bloggers who are also preschool teachers, like Mary Catherine at http://fun-a-day.com/ or Deborah at http://teachpreschool.org.
Thank you for sharing these great ideas for the letter E on Artsy Play Wednesday! We will have to try the Elmo project as our four two-year old toddlers are big fans.
Lisa
The envelope activity worked great for my kindergarteners today! I made upper and lower case Ee’s in different fonts, and had them cut them out and sort into the different envelopes. They LOVED that they were able to make a take-home game for themselves!
Anna Geiger
I love how you made this into a game, Lisa!
Barbara Moore
Elmo is priceless! I was looking for something different for my pre-k class and I can’t wait to do this them next wee!
Anna Geiger
I hope they enjoy it, Barbara!
Jaclyn
How did you make the glue/water mixture?
Safiyya
Hi ,i am statring a playcentre and would like to know what letters first you start introducing first and do you do the uppercase or the lower case letter recognition first
Anna Geiger
Hello, Safiyya! I start introducing letters based on the order in which they’re easiest to write. You can see that order in this post: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/teaching-the-alphabet-to-preschoolers-why-and-how/
I do uppercase letters first. With my own kids, they have picked up recognizing lower case letters on their own without a lot of direct instruction – just by reading books and talking about letters. Also, after practice with upper case letters it isn’t too hard for them to start forming lower case letters on their own. But in a classroom setting it would be good to have more of a plan. I would recommend contacting some bloggers who are also preschool teachers, like Mary Catherine at http://fun-a-day.com/ or Deborah at http://teachpreschool.org.
Capri + 3--Theresa
Thank you for sharing these great ideas for the letter E on Artsy Play Wednesday! We will have to try the Elmo project as our four two-year old toddlers are big fans.
annageig
Thanks, Theresa! My boys really loved that one.