Build It

The phonics portion of our program is known as “Letter Loon.” In this program, we will promote the study of individual letters, letter sounds, as well as the formation (lines and shapes) that make up these letters. From letter poems, show and share, and writing practice with various materials, our Letter Loon program is sure to set a solid foundation for our Robins as they explore and develop lifelong literacy skills. This portion of our literacy program is broken into three categories:

Recognize letters (See it) – engaging children in hands-on and active learning experiences that fosters letter recognition.
Letter sounds (Say it) – engaging children in hands-on and active learning experiences that fosters knowledge of letters sounds.
Letter formations (Build it) – engaging children in hands-on and active learning experiences that encourages building of letters. This will include the use of various writing instruments as well as different manipulatives and materials in the classroom.

“Build It” – Constructing Letters
Materials: Plastic letter pieces, letter mats, letter cards and formation poems (for reference)
Purpose: The purpose of constructing letters is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce your letter formation poems and demonstrate (on chart paper) how to write the letters. · Can children air write the letters as you speak the poem out loud? Constructing Letters: Take out your plastic letter pieces and show the different pieces. As you pass around each item for the children to really explore and manipulate. · Talk about how these pieces connect to the letters you are studying. Set your letter mats and pieces at a table. Invite the children over to practice building with them. Review your letter formation poems as you trace the outline of the letters they are building. Extend this experience: To extend this activity set out your letter cards and see if children can match the letter card to the letter they built. Use your big blue blocks outside and invite children to try and build letters using these blocks (or others and nature items) to make these letters.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Light Board Letters
Materials: Light Bright Boards & pegs, Letter Cards, Letter formation poems
Purpose: The purpose of light board building is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce your letter formation poems and demonstrate (on chart paper) how to write the letters. · Can children air write the letters as you speak the poem out loud? Light Board Letters: Set out your light bright boards, pegs and light bright letter cards. Invite children over to build letters using the light bright boards and pegs. As they create the letters refer to your letter formation poems and talk about the lines and shapes needed to make each letter. Extend this experience: Leave light bright boards and letter cards out for children to explore freely during play. For an added challenge take away the letter cards and see if children can make the letters without this guide.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Sand Tray Letter Writing
Materials: Sensory tray, play sand, various writing tools, letter cards and formation poems (to reference).
Purpose: The purpose of sand tray letter writing is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce your letter formation poems and demonstrate (on chart paper) how to write the letters. · Can children air write the letters as you speak the poem out loud? Sand Tray Letter Writing: Set up your sensory trays with sand, letter cards, and various writing tools (stylus, Q-tips, popsicle sticks, etc.). Invite children over to explore and practice writing the letters in the sand. Encourage them to try various tools (including their finger) to write as you refer to your formation poems and talk about the lines and shape of each letter. Extend this experience: Find various writing tools in nature and invite children to explore writing the various letters outside. Ex. if you have a sand box try some sand box letter writing.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Magic Letters
Materials: Mini Buddha Boards, Cup of water, small paint brush, letter cards/formation poems (for reference)
Purpose: The purpose of magic letters is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce the sound(s) of the letters that you are exploring. · Say the sounds out loud together. · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Magic Letters: Set up mini buddha boards with small cups of water and letter cards for children to reference. Invite children over to explore and create the letters with these new tools. As children are practicing their writing, talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. Extend this experience: For an added challenge, take away the letter cards for a reference and encourage children to practice letter making just by hearing the poem and/or by memory.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Mini Magnet Boards
Materials: dry erase boards, magnet pieces, markers, formation poems and letter cards (reference)
Purpose: The purpose of mini magnet boards is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce the sound(s) of the letters that you are exploring. · Say the sounds out loud together. · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Mini Magnet Boards: Set out your dry erase boards and magnetic letter building pieces. Add letter cards, and formation poems as a guide/resource for the children. Invite children over and encourage them to explore and build letters using the materials provided to them. As they build out each letter, read and refer to the formation poem and how it relates to the lines and shapes they used to create the letters. Extend this experience: Set out dry erase markers and encourage children to trace around their magnetic letter.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Playdough Letters
Materials: playdough letter mats, playdough, letter stampers, cookie cutters, etc.
Purpose: The purpose of playdough letters is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce the sound(s) of the letters that you are exploring. · Say the sounds out loud together. · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Playdough Letters: Make a fresh batch of playdough with your class and set it out in your learning environments for them to explore. Add playdough letter mats, cookie cutters, letter stamping tools, and other manipulatives for them to explore. Encourage children to create the letters you are learning about using the playdough. As they roll, knead, and mold each piece into formation refer to the formation poems and talk about the lines and shapes they need to make each letter. Extend this experience: Leave playdough and letter exploration materials out and available often. Encourage children to explore and play freely with these materials throughout the day. Once they have made a letter, see if they can find a manipulative that represents that letter.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Chalk Board Letters
Materials: Mini chalk boards, chalk, erasers, letter cards and formation poems
Purpose: The purpose of chalk board letters is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce the sound(s) of the letters that you are exploring. · Say the sounds out loud together. · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Chalk Board Letters: Set out mini chalk boards, chalk pieces, and letter cards. Invite children over to explore and practice writing their letters with these materials. Offer letter cards a reference for those that need it. As children are writing and exploring use your letter formation poems to talk about the lines and shapes needed to make the letters. Extend this experience: Bring large pieces of chalk outside and let children explore writing letters on various sidewalk or pavement places. · Talk about the difference in this experience versus the mini chalk boards. · Use letter formation poems as children practice writing letters.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Stencil It
Materials: Letter stencils, paper, drawing/writing tools
Purpose: The purpose of stencil it is to enhance your introduction of the new letters for each unit and to give children an opportunity to practice the formation of letters with various tools and materials. In order for formal writing and reading to take place, children must first be able to connect the relationship between letters and the shapes and lines that make them as well as have had time develop the motor skills needed to be successful in this process.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. As you review: · Name each letter. · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter. · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” Pass letter manipulatives around as you talk about them. Let the children see and feel the letters up close. Introduce the sound(s) of the letters that you are exploring. · Say the sounds out loud together. · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Stencil It: Set out letter stencils, paper, and various writing tools. Invite children over to explore and practice tracing the letters onto paper. As children are writing and exploring use your letter formation poems to talk about the lines and shapes needed to make the letters. Extend this experience: Bring large pieces paper and stencils outside to explore further. Offer children paintbrushes and liquid watercolor to use as their tracing tool. · Talk about the difference in this experience versus the traditional writing tools. · Use letter formation poems as children practice writing letters.
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist n the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.

“Build It” – Magic Letter Wands
Materials: Magic Wand Letter Mats (start with uppercase dot mats), magnetic chips, magnet wands, sleeve protectors, letter formation poems (uppercase)
Purpose: Children will be able to practice letter formation and fine motor practice that will assist in early writing skills. Children will be placing chips to form letters. Then by guiding the “magic” magnet wand to pick up the chips, they will practice the lines and curves of each letter.
Introduction: During community meeting with your children, revisit and review the letters of the unit. Use these points to guide your letter discussion. · Name each letter along with their sound! · Talk about the lines and shapes that make up each letter – practice air writing! · Connect to the children as you ask, “whose name begins with this letter?” · Can you think of a word that begins with the letter? · Revisit letter songs and sing them together. Magic Letter Wands: Start out with uppercase letter formation mats placed in sleeve protectors, magnet wands, and magnetic chips. Before covering their letter mats, have children use the wands to practice air writing the letter focus, using the wand guide in the corner of their mat. This will assist them in the last portion of the activity. Invite children to cover their letter mat with magnetic chips, placing a chip in each dot. Once complete, model for children in using the wand to pick up the chips as if they were writing the letter, using the “wand guide.” This may take hand over hand guidance and multiple tries. After modeling, children can practice independently. Extend this experience: Have children create the letter with their chips without the letter mat template for an added challenge or have children utilize the uppercase and lowercase guides to increase complexity (these guides offer lines instead of dots to have more focus on the motion/ formation). · How can you make the letter _____ with these chips on the table?
Closure: Read Alphatales Letter Book(s) with your classroom. Visit our L.E.A.P Playlist in the music app and sing along to some phonics songs.