Learning the letters of the alphabet for preschoolers includes concepts such as letter recognition, letter shapes, and letter sounds. The ‘Alphabet Song’ is typically the way children initially begin to become familiar with the 26 letters of the alphabet. To help your students get started, we will focus on introducing the amazing letter “A” and 15 fun and educational activities to engage preschoolers.
15 Letter “A” Alphabet Activities
- Read a book
From short stories to picture books, learning about the alphabet and the letter “A” is as easy as ABC.
- Sing a Song
Singing is a great way to get early readers engaged in learning. In addition to ‘The Alphabet Song ,”there are several others such as “Alice the Camel” or ‘The Ants Go Marching Down” that are sure to entertain preschoolers.
- Flash Cards
A great way to familiarize young students with letter recognition and sounds is by using flash cards. Practice with uppercase “A,” lowercase “a,” “A” images, and the sounds that the letter makes.
- Color
Present an outline of the letter “A” and “a.” Have children color them in with crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
- Stamp
Apple stamping is a fun fall activity for preschoolers. Lay out construction paper (or any paintable medium) and different colored paints. Cut apples in half lengthwise, dip them in paint, and stamp the paper. Toddlers will have fun creating their own apple masterpieces.
- Craft
There are an endless number of crafts to do with the letter “A.” Some ideas include: making little alligators out of clothespins, creating an ant puppet with construction paper and a popsicle stick, or creating a miniature acorn bird feeder by covering it with peanut butter and birdseed.
- Go on an Adventure
“A” is for adventure! Take preschoolers on an outing to the local aquarium. Amusement parks and apple orchards are other “A” places that can be fun for little learners.
- Connect-the-Dots
Design a variety of connect-the-dots activities for early learners. Plan dots to make both an uppercase and lowercase “A” or get creative with “A” images, such as an ambulance, airplane, or arrow.
- Sticker Fun
Give children some stickers to stick on, in, or around the letter “A.” Maybe have stickers of items that begin with the letter “A,” like apples, aliens, and apes.
- Letter Dice Game
Embellish a block with uppercase “A’s” and lowercase “a’s.” Design a game piece that has two ladders or two sets of stairs (one for “A” and one for “a”). Roll the letter dice and mark which size letter was rolled. See who makes it to the top of the ladder (or stairs) first: “A” or ”a!”
- Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt makes for a great sensory table experience! Fill the table with water, sand or your choice of filler. Mix in alphabet objects or letters of the alphabet; foam letters or magnetic letters work well. Have preschoolers search for the letter “A.”
- Body Discovery
What body part begins with the letter “A?” Arms, of course! Play games that incorporate the use of arms. The Hokey Pokey and Airplane are perfect for this type of learning activity.
- Tracers
Have preschoolers work with a variety of writing tools to trace the letter “A.” Tracers are a fun way for toddlers to be introduced to writing, both print and cursive letters.
- Snack Time
There are many delicious snacks that represent the letter “A.” Bring in sliced apples, applesauce, or maybe even apple pie. Make up some ants on a log (peanut butter* and raisins on celery) or have fun with animal crackers.
*be mindful of any food allergies*
- Match Game
Early learners can learn by playing different matching games. Pair together uppercase and lowercase letters (A with a), sounds with pictures (long A with ape) , or letters with images (A with an apple) using a variety of reading tools.