In this post you will find all activities for Take the L.E.A.P, “Who am I” – Spell 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!
“Spell It” – Block Names |
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Materials: various blocks, dot stickers | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of block names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Block Names: Using dot stickers, add letters to the various blocks and building manipulatives available in your classroom environment. Invite children to build with the various blocks and encourage them to string the letters of their name using these new materials. Encourage the use of name cards as a reference for those that need it.
Extend this experience: Add letters to nature elements or bring your blocks outside for children to explore and build with. Add writing materials to the areas that children are building in and let them visually represent the tower they built and the letters in their name as desired. | |
“Spell It” – Sensory Letter Hunt |
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Materials: letter manipulatives, name cards, sensory bin(s), sensory filler | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of sensory letter hunt is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Sensory Letter Hunt: Using sensory bin(s), sensory filler, and the letter manipulatives available to you in your classroom environment to create a letter bin for the children to explore and play in. Set out name cards and encourage children to search through the bin to find all the letters in their name. Once they have found them, challenge them to put them into proper order. As they order the letters accordingly talk about the different letters that make up their name and the sounds that each one makes.
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the individual letters that make up their name, remove the visual aide of the name card and challenge children to build their name independently. | |
“Spell It”– Name Puzzles |
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Materials: name cards, various materials based on name puzzle selected, name puzzle reference guide | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of name puzzles is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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 Puzzles: Create a name puzzle for each child ahead of time and store in a bag or other secure method. Set out the name cards and puzzle pieces. Invite children over to explore. Encourage them to build their name in the appropriate order using the puzzle you have created. Use their name cards as a visual reference where it is needed.
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the individual letters that make up their name, remove the visual aide of the name card and challenge children to build their name more independently. Leave name puzzles available for them to continue to explore independently. As they become familiar with their own name consider adding the names of others that are familiar to them (ex. mom, dad, siblings, pets, etc.) | |
“Spell It” – Sensory Bag Spelling | |
Materials: Ziploc bags, packing tape, hair gel, letter beads, other filler items (beads, pom poms, etc.), name cards | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of sensory bag spelling is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Sensory Bag Spelling: Work with the children to create a sensory bag by adding hair gel, letter beads, and other filler items to a Ziploc bag. Secure with packing tape. Set sensory bags out for children to explore and manipulate. Encourage them to search for the letters in their name and manipulate through the bag and into the proper order to build their name. Use name cards for visual reference for those that need it. As the children arrange the letters of their name talk about: · What is each letter? · What sounds do each of these letters make?
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the individual letters that make up their name, remove the visual aide of the name card and challenge children to build their name more independently. Encourage children to experiment with building other names that are meaningful and familiar to them. | |
“Spell It”– Hide and Seek |
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Materials: letter manipulatives or laminated letter cards | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of hide and seek spelling is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Hide & Seek: Hide individual letters for the names of all the children in your classroom throughout the learning environment. *Note: for children who need it, keep name cards handy so they can reference them as they go on a hunt for the individual letters in their name. Invite the children to take a hunt around their classroom and find all of the letters in their name. Once they have found them, encourage them to put the pieces back together in the right order.
Extend this experience: Challenge the children by making it a race against time to see if they can all find their names within a certain time. Bring your name cards outside and play this game in your outdoor learning environments. | |
“Spell It”– Wikki Names |
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Materials: Wikki Sticks, Name cards | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of wikki names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Wikki Names: Set out name cards and wikki sticks in your literacy area or at a table space. Invite children to come over and explore the materials presented to them. Encourage them to use their name card as they work to mold the wikki sticks into the letters of their name.
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the letters that make up their name, remove the visual reference of the name card. | |
“Spell It”– Stringing Letters |
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Materials: Letter beads, string, or pipe cleaners, name cards | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of stringing letters is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Stringing Letters: Set out letter beads, string, and pipe cleaners. Invite children over to explore and build their name using these materials. Use their name cards as a reference/guide for those that need it. As children are stringing the letters of their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds?
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the letters that make up their name, remove the visual reference of the name card. | |
“Spell It”– Paint Stick Names |
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Materials: Paint sticks, magnet tape, magnetic letters, name cards | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of paint stick names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Paint Stick Names: Prepare ahead of time: paint sticks with magnetic tape lining one side. Set out your magnetic paint sticks, magnetic letters, and name cards. Invite children over to explore and build their name with these materials. As children search for the letters that make up their name and stick to their paint stick, engage, and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds?
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the letters that make up their name, remove the visual reference of the name card. | |
“Spell It” – Popsicle Stick Spelling |
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Materials: Popsicle sticks | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of paint stick name puzzles is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice stringing them together in the appropriate sequence. | |
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.
Popsicle Stick Spelling: Prepare ahead of time: one popsicle per child with their name on it. Prepare several other popsicle sticks with individual letters on them. Set all letter sticks into a basket and name sticks into a separate basket. Invite children over to explore the materials as they search for their name stick. Encourage them to use the letter sticks to build their name. As they are building their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds?
Extend this experience: As children become familiar with the letters that make up their name, remove the visual reference of the name card. | |
“Spell It”– Tangram Names | |
Materials: Name generator document, tangram pieces | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of tangram names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice creating each letter using various classroom materials. | |
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.
Tangram Names: Prepare ahead of time: use the name generator tool to create name cards for the children in your classroom. Laminate these cards for durability. Set all tangram name cards and the tangram pieces in your literacy or tabletop area. Invite children over to explore the materials as they build the letters that make up their name. As they are building their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds? · Talk about the lines and shapes used to make each letter.
Extend this experience: Use the generator tool to create other name/object cards that are familiar and meaningful to the children. Encourage children to practice building these names using the tangram pieces. | |
“Spell It” – Popsicle Stick Names |
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Materials: Name generator document, popsicle sticks | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of popsicle stick names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice creating each letter using various classroom materials. | |
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.
Popsicle Stick Names: Prepare ahead of time: use the name generator tool to create name cards for the children in your classroom. Laminate these cards for durability. Set all popsicle stick name cards and popsicle sticks in your literacy or tabletop area. Invite children over to explore the materials as they build the letters that make up their name. As they are building their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds? · Talk about the lines and shapes used to make each letter.
Extend this experience: Use the generator tool to create other name/object cards that are familiar and meaningful to the children. Encourage children to practice building these names using the popsicle sticks. Bring these name cards outside and see if they can find sticks or other nature items to create their name with. | |
“Spell It”– Dot It Names |
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Materials: Name generator document, dot markets or dot stickers | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of dot it names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice creating each letter using various classroom materials. | |
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.
Dot It Names: Prepare a head of time: use the name generator tool to create name cards for the children in your classroom. Laminate these cards for durability. Set all dotted name cards, dot stickers, and/or dot markers in your literacy or tabletop area. Invite children over to explore the materials as they build the letters that make up their name. As they are building their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds? · Talk about the lines and shapes used to make each letter.
Extend this experience: Use the generator tool to create other name/object cards that are familiar and meaningful to the children. Encourage children to practice building these names using the dot markers and/or stickers. | |
“Spell It”– Unifix Cube Names |
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Materials: Name generator document, unifix cubes | |
Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of unifix cube names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name, and practice creating each letter using various classroom materials. | |
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.
Unifix Names: Prepare ahead of time: use the name generator tool to create name cards for the children in your classroom. Laminate these cards for durability. Set all unifix name cards and unifix cubes in your literacy or tabletop area. Invite children over to explore the materials as they build the letters that make up their name. As they are building their name, engage and discuss: · What letters make up their name? · How many letters in their name? · What are the different letter sounds? · Talk about the lines and shapes used to make each letter.
Extend this experience: Use the generator tool to create other name/object cards that are familiar and meaningful to the children. Encourage children to practice building these names using the unifix cubes. | |
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“Spell It”– Action Names |
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Materials: Name cards |
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Purpose: Before children are well prepared to write out their name, they first need to be able to spell out their name with individual letters and in proper order. The purpose of action names is to give children opportunities to see their name in print, to begin to recognize the individual letters that make up their name verbally as they move in various ways. |
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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.
Action Names: Draw a name card from the pile and hold it up as you say: “Jump up and down if your name starts with … [STATE LETTER/SHOW LETTER CARD]” “Spin in a circle if your name starts ends with … [STATE LETTER/SHOW LETTER CARD]” “Touch your toes if your name has a … [STATE LETTER/SHOW LETTER CARD]” Incorporate a different movement/action with each new name card you hold up.
Extend this experience: Create two large dice to leave within your learning environments. On one dice put various action items for the children to do. On the second dice, place Velcro dots so that they can secure letter cards to it that match some of the letters pertaining to the group of children playing. Encourage children to play together independently as a way to practice additional name recognition with their peers. *Note: using Velcro dots will leave room for children to tailor the letter dice to those that are playing at that time. |
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