In this post you will find all activities for Take the L.E.A.P, “Who am I” – Make It. This portion of Take the L.E.A.P is the name recognition portion of this program and was designed to bring our Robins awareness and practice with name identification as well as building and writing their names. From the individual letters that make up their name to stringing them all together, our Who Am I? program will provide children with a solid literacy foundation, a positive sense of self, and continue to fill them with a love for learning.
Use the activities below to guide you as you embark on the journey to name recognition with your children!
“Make It” – I can make my name with … CHALK! |
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Materials: Chalk pieces (big and small), paper, chalk boards, outside space, name cards | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of writing with chalk is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
I can make my name with … CHALK! Set out chalk of various sizes, paper, chalk boards, etc. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice writing the letters of their name in sequential order. Use their name card as a reference if it is needed. As they are writing their names, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter. Bring your chalk outside to your outdoor learning environments so children can practice writing their name on the sidewalk/outdoor easels/etc.
Extend this experience: Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
“Make It” – I can make my name with…DRY ERASE MARKERS! |
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Materials: Dry erase markers (fat and skinny), dry erase boards, name cards | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of writing with dry erase markers is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
I can make my name with … DRY ERASE MARKERS! Set out dry erase markers of various sizes, dry erase boards, and erasers. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice writing the letters of their name in sequential order. Use their name card as a reference if it is needed. As they are writing their names, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter.
Extend this experience: Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
“Make It” – I can make my name with… PAINT BRUSHES! |
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Materials: Paint brushes (various sizes), liquid watercolor, paper, name cards | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of writing our name with paint brushes is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move to their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
I can make my name with … PAINT BRUSHES! Set out paint brushes of various sizes, paper, and liquid watercolors. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice writing the letters of their name in sequential order. Use their name card as a reference if it is needed. *Note: for children who need the support you might consider writing their name on their paper in highlighter and letting them paint/trace over it. As they are writing their names, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter.
Extend this experience: Bring this experience outside with cups of water and paint brushes. Encourage children to paint their names on various surfaces. Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
“Make It” – Rainbow Names |
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Materials: Crayons, markers, colored pencils, paper, name cards | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of rainbow names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
Rainbow Names: Set out crayons, markers, colored pencils, paper, and other writing materials as needed/desired. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice writing the letters of their name in sequential order. Using various colored writing utensils. Each time they write their name have them choose a new color, creating a rainbow of their name! Use their name card as a reference if it is needed. *Note: for children who need the support you might consider writing their name on their paper in highlighter and letting them trace over it. As they are writing their names, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter.
Extend this experience: Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
“Make It” – Magic Name Art |
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Materials: white paper, white crayons, paint brushes, liquid watercolor | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of magic name art is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
Magic Name Art: Set out white crayons and paper. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice writing the letters of their name in sequential order with the white crayon on paper. Once they have written their name on paper offer liquid watercolor and paint brushes to brush over their writing. As they watch the magic happen, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter.
Extend this experience: Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
“Make My Name” – Name Tracing |
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Materials: sentence strips, highlighters, dry erase markers | |
Purpose: Now that we have had time to practice name recognition and talk about the letters that make up our names, it is time to practice writing our name with more traditional tools and materials. The purpose of name tracing is to give children opportunities to see their name in print and practice writing with new and various tools. These tools will vary in size and shape to give children a lot of practice and exposure to the different ways to manipulate the tools for writing. | |
Introduction: During community meeting or other group times, sing songs that call on children to recognize their name as you sing/say it out loud. Encourage them to move their bodies as they hear their name sung. Refer to our “Name Song” reference tool for ideas on some songs you can sing! Write out children’s names onto sentence strips and introduce in your community meeting experiences. · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
Name Tracing: Prepare a head of time: using sentence strips and a highlighter create a name card for each child. Laminate these cards for durability and reuse. Invite children over to explore and get creative with the materials. Encourage children to practice tracing their name using the sentence strips and dry erase markers. Have paper towels or erasers available for children to wipe clean and try again. As they trace the letters in their name, engage and discuss: · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter.
Extend this experience: Incorporate other opportunities for children to practice writing their name throughout their days. Some examples might be: · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. | |
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“Make My Name” – Playdough Names |
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Materials: |
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Purpose: Now |
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Introduction: During Encourage Refer Write · Talk about the letters that make up each child’s name. · Initially you may want to add their picture next to their name.
Playdough Create Set out Invite Encourage As they · What are the letters that make up their name? · How many letters are in their name? · Talk about the shapes and lines that make up each letter. Use
Extend Incorporate · Encourage children to sign their artwork/other work. · Create a sign in and out system that requires them to sign their name. |
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