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Teaching Letter Zz

Are you looking for letter Zz 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 Zz

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

How to practice writing uppercase letter Z

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

How to practice writing lowercase letter z

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

Other letter Zz activities

Crafts
Book List
Fine Motor
Sensory Play
Math Connections

Free Printables

Little Letter Z Book (rhymes and songs)
Zoo Math Activity Sheets
Dot Sticker Page (Z is for Zebra)

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.

Looking for a done-for-you alphabet curriculum?

Alphabet Curriculum for Preschool

$36.00

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!

Buy Now

MEMBERS GET MORE!

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.

CHECK OUT ALL THE ALPHABET PRINTABLES IN THE MEMBERSHIP

Reader Interactions

4 Comments

  1. Amanda

    November 13, 2019 at 5:43 pm

    I was wondering if you knew that P – Z have the letter O printable pack

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      November 15, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      Sorry about that, Amanda! I don’t have time to change all those links right now, but ALL of the packs on This Reading Mama’s site are here: https://thisreadingmama.com/free-abc-printable-packs/

      Reply to this comment
  2. Tracy

    August 23, 2016 at 2:13 pm

    I love your site. It is amazing!

    How do the Letter of the Week and the How to teach the Alphabet differ?

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      August 24, 2016 at 9:07 pm

      Hi Tracy! Are you referring to my ebook? It has many more suggested activities, which are laid out in a daily (flexible) schedule. If you’re interested, be sure to read the entire product description and sample pages so you know what you’d be getting!

      https://www.themeasuredmom.com/product/letter-of-the-week-curriculum/

      Reply to this comment

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