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.

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