Teaching Letter Oo

Are you looking for letter Oo 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 Oo

• Say words that begin with Oo: Say each word after me. (Emphasize the /ŏ/ at the beginning of each word as you say it.) Octopus. Ostrich. Octagon. What sound do you hear at the beginning of each word? The sound is /ŏ/.
• Talk about what your mouth is doing as you say the sound: Look at what my mouth is doing as I say /ŏ/. Now you try. Put your fingers between your teeth as you say /o/. How wide is your mouth open – a lot or a little? (a lot) Put your hand on your throat as you say /ŏ/. Is it a quiet or noisy sound? (noisy)
• Introduce the letter on a flash card: (Hold up the letter O card in uppercase or lowercase.) This is the letter O. When we see this card, we say “O spells /ŏ/.” Your turn. (Students: “O spells /ŏ/.”)

How to practice writing uppercase letter O

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

How to practice writing lowercase letter o

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

Other letter Oo activities

• Crafts
• Book List
• Fine Motor
• Sensory Play
• Math Connections

Free Printables

• Letter Letter O Book (rhymes and songs)
• O is for Octopus (dot sticker page)

More alphabet resources

• Alphabet picture cards from A-Z
• Beginning sound clip cards
• Beginning sound coloring pages
• Beginning sound match mats
• Letter hunt & find worksheets

Find the rest of the alphabet HERE.

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