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Teaching Letter Nn

Are you looking for letter Nn activities to use with your preschooler or kindergartner? Maybe you’re a classroom teacher browsing for more ideas.

Research tells us that a direct, explicit approach to teaching the alphabet is more effective than indirect teaching. Enjoy the crafts, art ideas, and book list, but know that using a scripted routine like the one below is the most efficient way to teach letters and sounds. Make it your own!

How to introduce letter Nn

  • Say words that begin with Nn: Say each word after me. (Emphasize the /n/ at the beginning of each word as you say it.) Net. Neck. Necklace. Night. Noon. What sound do you hear at the beginning of each word? The sound is /n/.
  • Talk about what your mouth is doing as you say the sound: Look at what my mouth is doing as I say /n/. Now you try. What is your tongue doing? Put your hand on your throat as you say /n/. Is it a quiet or noisy sound? (noisy)
  • Introduce the letter on a flash card: (Hold up the letter N card in uppercase or lowercase.) This is the letter N. When we see this card, we say “N spells /n/.” Your turn. (Students: “N spells /n/.”)

How to practice writing uppercase letter N

  • Sky-write the letter: To make the letter N, we start at the top and pull down. Then we go back to the top, slant down, and pull up. Watch me put my hand in the air and write an N in the sky. I start at the top and pull down. Then I go back to the top, slant down, and pull up. Now you try. Start at the top and pull down. Then go back to the top, slant down, and pull up.
  • Have students finger-write the letter: Make an N by moving your finger on the table. Start at the top and pull down. Then go back to the top, slant down, and pull up. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying, “N spells /n/.” Remember to underline the N when you say /n/. (Practice multiple times.)

How to practice writing lowercase letter n

  • Sky-write the letter: To make the letter n, we start in the middle, pull down, up, over, and down. Watch me put my hand in the air and write an n in the sky. I start in the middle, pull down, up, over, and down. Now you try. Put your finger in the air. Start in the middle, pull down, up, over, and down.
  • Have students finger-write the letter: Make an n by moving your finger on the table. Start in the middle, pull down, up, over, and down. (Other options: sand or salt tray, shaving cream, etc.) Now do the same thing while saying, “n spells /n/.” Remember to underline the n when you say /n/. (Practice multiple times.)

Other letter Nn activities

Free Printables

More alphabet resources

Find the rest of the alphabet HERE.

Looking for a done-for-you alphabet curriculum?

Alphabet Curriculum for Preschool

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Our curriculum includes lessons for teaching both upper and lowercase letter names and sounds. You’ll get three lessons per letter, built-in review, simple handwriting practice, rhyming, syllable counting, phonemic awareness, and a whole lot more!

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Members of The Measured Mom Plus get access to even more printables – plus helpful video trainings and no-print resources! Not a member yet? Learn more here.

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Reader Interactions

14 Comments

  3. Jacquia

    Hi ! I’d just like to thank you for sharing such helpful information and resources to prepare my 4 yo for kindergarten. I began to worry that he would be considered “delayed” because he couldn’t recognize every single letter of the alphabet , numbers nor consistent interest in reading. But after reading your blog, it is I who had to change my way of thinking and how I practiced with him, I am on a new path that’s not about repetition so that he will remember but having fun and trying new activities to learn, I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I stumbled across your site. Truly truly , thank you!

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      Thank you, Jacquia – it made so happy to read your comment! It’s true that playful learning is really the key with our youngest learners. Thankfully, there are many ways to do this! I love creating new ones and sharing them here. 🙂

      Reply to this comment

  4. Meredith

    A coworker showed me this website. I am a Montessori guide and love your language section. I work with all ages but in the morning I work with toddlers (16 months – 36 months) and we focus on the sounds of letters. Do you have a free printable section for the sound (letter) N, especially the rhymes and songs? Thank you again!

    Reply to this comment

  6. Laurie Stewart

    THANK YOU!!!!!! As a teacher, I’m sure you know how invaluable these resources are — and for FREE?!?! You are clearly a fantastic teacher!!! Your babies are blessed to have you homeschooling them! 🙂 I can’t wait to use these in my Kindergarten class!!!

    Reply to this comment

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