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Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

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We’re starting our week with a fun and easy letter U handprint craft along with loads of ideas for crafts, activities, and songs to reinforce what your child learns. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

U is the 21st letter of the alphabet and makes two common sounds. It makes the short U sound like in umbrella, under, and up, and the long U sound like in unicorn, uniform, and ukulele.

This week, we’ll explore the letter U through stories, crafts, songs, sensory play, snacks, and movement.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Start with letter U sound and recognition.

Help your preschooler recognize the uppercase and lowercase letter U (Uu) and understand the two main sounds it makes.

This will set the stage for reading and writing success later on.

LETTER U THEMED BOOKS FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun books.

4 Books for Learning About the Letter U

Reading together is a great way to reinforce sounds and vocabulary. Try some of these Letter U-themed books:

Next, look at this list of letter u words.

LIST OF SHORT U AND LONG U SOUND WORDS

Introduce and review short U and long U words. Make flashcards or use magnetic letters.

Short U Words:

  • Up
  • Under
  • Umbrella
  • Utensil
  • Ugly

Long U Words:

  • Universe
  • Unicorn
  • Uniform
  • Ukulele
  • Useful

In addition, here are some fun crafts and projects with the letter U.

LETTER U CRAFT PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES

  • Create this fun and cute Letter U Unicorn craft to reinforce what you are learning.
  • U is for U-Turn!: Draw a giant letter U on the driveway or with sidewalk chalk outside. Drive toy cars along the U shape like they’re making a “U-turn.”
  • Pour salt or colored sand in a tray and let your child use their finger or a paintbrush to write the uppercase and lowercase U like the one we made here in our R is for Rainbow letter unit.
  • Letter U Collage: Cut out pictures from magazines or print images of things that start with U (like unicorn, umbrella, ukulele, utensils) and glue them to a giant U you draw on poster board.
  • Up, Up, Up- Play an energy-boosting game where every time you say “Up!” your child jumps or stretches, and “Down!” they sit or squat.
  • Sing a song using motions like “Put your arms UP!” and “Go UNDER the table!” Add “U” words into the lyrics and actions.

MORE LETTER U ACTIVITIES

  • If you’re keeping an alphabet book or binder, have your child decorate a “U” page with drawings or stickers of U words to add to it.
  •  Make a magical unicorn headband. Use cardstock to cut a unicorn horn and ears. Let your child decorate with glitter and tape it to a headband.
  • Make an underwater ocean scene using blue paper, fish stickers, sandpaper, and seashells. Try this Underwater Papercraft, talk about how “under” begins with U.
  • U is for Utensils Snack Time. Let your child explore utensils and practice using a fork, spoon, or child-safe chopsticks. Prepare finger foods like fruit cubes, cheese chunks, yogurt, veggie and bites. Talk about how we use utensils to eat, and that the word “utensil” starts with U!
  • Under or Over Game-Use a toy, ball, or stuffed animal and place it under or over different furniture items. Ask “Is it under the table or over the chair?” Let your child move the object and call out the answers.
  • Underwater Bin-Create a sensory bin with water, blue gems, plastic sea animals, and cups or scoops. Let your child explore what’s under the water. Add a letter U foam cutout or laminated card to float in the bin. Here is an ocean sensory bin.
Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Additionally, look at more activities to learn about letters in preschool.

MORE LETTER ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL

Finally, look at this easy craft for the Letter U.

UMBRELLA EASY LETTER U CRAFT

You will need:

  • Construction paper/patterned cardstock
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Glue stick
  • scissors
  • A little hand
Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

First, demonstrate for your child how to bend the pipe cleaner into an umbrella handle shape.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Trace both hands on construction paper using one or as many colors as you like, let your child cut out the traced handprints.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Arrange the paper handprints in an umbrella shape on the top half of the paper.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Let your child glue them into place.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Tuck the pipe cleaner handle under the umbrella and glue it into place as well.

Write an upper and lowercase U in pencil for your child to trace over in marker for practice.

Umbrella Is For Easy Letter U Handprint Craft

Hang it up and enjoy their masterpiece.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

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We are going to start with a lovely round of letter Q crafts for preschoolers and end with a unique felt craft that I have put together for you. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Every queen needs a crown right?

We are going to fashion the easiest one from felt that will hold up nicely for daily playtime long after the lessons are over.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

This simple no sew felt crown is to represent Q is for queen and uses letter beads to help your become familiar with the letter through fun repetition.

Also, you want learning to be interactive and hands-on.

There are lots of fun ways to practice letters with your preschoolers including crafts, songs, games, and more.

LEARN THE ALPHABET AND LETTER Q

Letter Q and Alphabet Books & Resources

Add these fun books about the letter Q to your preschool or kindergarten day.

Next, look at ways to teach the letter Q for preschoolers

HOW TO TEACH LETTERS TO PRESCHOOLERS: THE LETTER Q

Introduce the letter Q-Show your child the letter Q and say its name. Point out the different parts of the letter, such as the circle and the tail.

Start with a story– read a story to your child that features the letter Q. For example, you could read “The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog” or “Quacky Quack Goes the Duck.”

Practice writing the letter Q-Have your child practice writing the letter Q in the air, on paper, or on a whiteboard. You can also use playdough or clay to make the letter Q.

Point out the letter Q in everyday objects- Signs, books, and toys. You can also make a game of finding the letter Q on a walk or in a magazine.

Make a letter Q craft-Make a Q out of construction paper, pom-poms, or beads. Or make our Q for queen crown below.

Sing a letter Q song– For example, you could sing “The ABC Song” or “The Letter Q Song.”

Play a letter Q game-There are many different letter Q games that you can play with your child. For example, you could play a matching game with letter Q cards or a memory game with letter Q pictures.

Next, look at crafts for the letter Q.

LETTER Q CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Additionally, look at more alphabet letter activities.

MORE LEARNING YOUR LETTERS ACTIVITIES

Now, onto my tutorial for the Q is for Queen crown to top off your letter q crafts for preschoolers.

HOW TO MAKE A QUEENS CROWN- NO SEW FELT

You will need:

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

First, measure your child’s head approximately where you would like the crown to sit with a piece of string.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Cut out two strips of felt about 3” tall, you may need a piece of a third to make it long enough depending on the size of your child’s head.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Use the string to measure out the length of felt that you need.

Lay one piece over top of the other and cut triangular points along the length.

Use letter beads to spell out QUEEN on the front of the crown, repeat each letter as you help your child place it.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Let your child lay their beads in whatever pattern they like around the crown as well as some additional Q letter beads, the more they see and handle the letter the more familiar with it they will become.

Use tacky glue to attach each bead to the felt, you could also use hot glue but this glue allows your child to have ownership in the craft from beginning to end.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Glue the ends of the crown together and allow all the glue to dry completely.

How to Make a Queens Crown | Letter Q Crafts for Preschoolers

Once ready your child can wear it and practice finding the Q’s on their queen crown.

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

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I have a free alphabet frog lily pad game to help your child with letter recognition. Look at my pages How to Homeschool Preschool for more alphabet ideas and Free Toad and Frog Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas for more ideas to go along with a frog unit study.

This engaging game gives your child an opportunity to develop his letter recognition skills.

Besides recognizing upper and lower case alphabet letters is a skill needed for writing.

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

Too, as the child understands the sounds, it nurtures early phonics.

Some children tend to focus only on letter names and others don’t mind learning letter names and sounds simultaneously.

The important point is to keep it fun and go your child’s pace.

Do not force learning.

Activities about learning the alphabet letters upper and lower case and their sounds should be repeated constantly through the early ages.

BOOKS ABOUT THE ALPHABET FOR KIDS

Next, look at these fun books to help your child learn the alphabet.

You can bring some of them to life through a fun unit study about animals, food or even dolls.

10 Books For Learning the Alphabet

Preschool and kindergarten learners retain information through hands-on and reading aloud. Add one or two of these resources to your learning day.

Next, look at some of these other activities to go with alphabet frog lily pad game.

We made our way through the alphabet by doing unit studies for the letters of the alphabet

MORE ALPHABET LETTER ACTIVITIES

Next, look at ways to use the frog lily pad game.

HOW TO USE THE ALPHABET FROG LILY PAD GAME

First laminate the lower case letters, then cut out each lower case letter. Place the uppercase letters in alphabet order and have your child match them.

Next, move the upper case letters out of alphabet order. Mix up the pages and have your child do it again.

Too, flip over all but 1 page of the uppercase letters and have your child choose which lower case goes on it. Add the next two gradually. In contrast, have you child flip over all uppercase letters and choose which page to turn over and have your child remember which one.

In addition, glue the lowercase letter on to a small used bottle lids and have them pitch them on the correct letter. This is to encourage movement too and the emphasis is on fun.

Additionally, you can laminate the upper case letters and cut them out too and mix the upper case and lower case letters over all mixed up on the table or floor. Have your child try to make pairs.

One more idea is to have your child match and say the sound not letter name.

Jumpstart Learning with the Free Alphabet Frog Lily Pad Game

Finally, look at how to get the game.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE ALPHABET FROG LILY PAD GAME

Now, how to grab the free printable. It’s a subscriber freebie.

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Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

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Do you want a fun way to teach the letter i pre-k level? Also, look at my page How to Homeschool Preschool for more ideas.

Jump into this multi-sensory lesson that is part early literacy, part math, part science, and all fun just like preschool should be.

The “i” in “inch” makes a short “i” sound, like in the word ‘bit’ and ‘hit’.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Typically, it is recommended that you begin teaching your child the short vowel sounds first because they are easier for them to master.

Next, once your child can identify the numbers 1-12, they can be casually introduced to a ruler and the concepts of measurement. 

We are going to explain a ruler over all but for now just focus on measuring 1 inch.

MATH BOOKS FOR KIDS

Also, look at these math books to add to your reading day.

Books About Math Concepts Measuring, Counting

Add these fun books to help kids learn about standard and non-standard ways to learn about measurement.

Next, let’s wiggle into learning about the adorable inchworm with a little science lesson on the creature itself.

After you have introduced the letter ‘I’ and its sounds to your child you go further in by talking about things that start with the letter I like inch and inchworm of course.

If your child is not yet ready to write with a pencil and paper they can practice copying your I/i.

For instance they can use their finger to write in shaving cream, sand, finger paints, or even bubbles in the bathtub.

ALL ABOUT INCHWORMS

Inch worms are typically about 1 inch long, but the exact size depends on the species and how mature they are.

They are also called measuring worms or loopers and are the larvae of certain species of moths.

They are called inchworms because of their unique way of moving, which involves arching their body and then bringing their rear end forward to meet their front end. This creates a looping motion that gives them their name.

Inchworms have long, slender bodies that are typically green or brown in color. They have six pairs of legs, with the first three pairs located near the front of their body and the last three pairs located near the rear.

They also have a pair of prolegs, which are fleshy appendages that help them grip onto surfaces.

Inchworms eat a variety of plants, including leaves, flowers, and fruits. They can be a nuisance in gardens and orchards, as they can cause significant damage to plants.

When an inchworm is ready to pupate, it will spin a cocoon around itself. Inside the cocoon, the inchworm will transform into a moth. The moth will then emerge from the cocoon and fly away.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Make this adorable Inchworm Easy Paper Plate as you learn about its characteristics.

Let this video teach them How to Do an Inchworm For Kids to get some gross motor movements in for the day through simple yoga.

INTRODUCING INCHES

Introduce the concept of a ruler and measurement to a preschooler first.

Start with a simple ruler– because it is the one most used and seen I would start with a standard 12” ruler. Compare different rulers if you have them to show whether they are wood, plastic, pink or green the standard measurement stays the same.

Show your preschooler how to hold the ruler– The ruler should be held with the zero end at the bottom and the numbers increasing as you move up the ruler.

Explain the numbers and markings on the ruler- Tell them that each number and longer line represents an inch and there are 12 inches in a 1 foot ruler.

Each short line is showing part of an inch, have them count each of the 16 lines in an inch.

Don’t worry about them memorizing all of the measurement words, this is just a gentle introduction to measurement so that when you teach it more in depth later, they are already familiar with it.

Help your preschooler measure objects around the house- Choose objects that are different sizes and shapes.

MORE LETTER ACTIVITIES

Now let’s focus on learning about an inch.

LETTER I PRE-K MEASURING INCHES IN A FUN WAY

You will need:

  • A ruler
  • Sturdy cardstock
  • Ink pad
  • Fine line pen
  • Scissors
Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

First, use the ruler to help your child draw a one inch line on sturdy paper, draw a line along both sides of the ruler.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Change the direction of the ruler and draw lines down both ends to create a 1 inch rectangle.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Cut it out of the paper and again demonstrate that what you made is 1 inch long.

Press your child’s finger into ink.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Then press it onto the paper a few times. Fill in the length of your little handmade 1 inch ruler.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Use a fine line marker to add eyes and antennae. Let dry for a few minutes until it no longer smears.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

Challenge your child to go around the house and measure things that are shorter, longer, and equal to one inch.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

This is a great time to introduce these concepts to your child if they don’t already know them.

Letter I Pre-K Measuring Inches in a Fun Way

For example, use toys, fruits, vegetables, manipulatives and cabinet knobs.

Everything can be used to identify things that are bigger or smaller than 1 inch.

Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

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Today, I’m sharing free printable kindergarten worksheets and a fun winter alphabet scavenger hunt. Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum for more fun ideas and activities.

Although I’m a huge advocate of hands-on but beginning penmanship skills need to be reinforced too.

So a worksheet or two should be another tool we have to boost alphabet and phonics recognition.

Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

One way of doing that is by themed worksheets.

By focusing on a theme or unit study children are engaged with a topic while learning about the alphabet.

Then, another way to nurture penmanship skills is to play a game.

For example, with my printable winter themed alphabet scavenger hunt kids are doing both.

They’re enlarging their vocabulary with winter themed words and practice writing skills by noting things they find in the scavenger hunt.

BEST PHONICS FOR KINDERGARTEN

Next, along with learning the alphabet it’s important first to teach kids sounds that letters represent.

Through games and books, it makes teaching phonics easy.

11 Best Phonics for Homeschool Kindergarten

Teaching kids how to read doesn't have to be hard, you just have to have the right tools.

You'll love these phonics resources.

Additionally, you need a variety of ways to teach the alphabet not just worksheets.

I’ve uses games, songs, art and even dance.

8 WAYS TO TEACH PHONICS OF THE ALPHABET

Look at this list of easy ways to teach the alphabet for your kindergarten size kids.

  1. Play a is for apple and d is for dog as you spend time throughout the day.
  2. Kids love sensory trays. It promotes tactile learning. So use a sensory tray to dig for the letters of the alphabet or to find items to match a letter. Even place items for 2 different letters in the tray. Have your child match the item to the correct letter sound.
  3. Scavenger hunts encourage moving which is a natural part of learning at this age. Don’t fight the need to wiggle. Use the need to move while locating things around the house or better yet outside to fit the letter sound you’re focused on.
  4. Along with the printable kindergarten worksheets, read story books like Chicka Chicka Boom and Dr. Seuss’s ABC.
  5. Songs and dance also allows kids to move and learn.
  6. Some kids love to color letter worksheets.
  7. Too tracing letters is another way to engage senses. Kids can do this with their finger.
  8. Use edible peanut butter dough to form letter. Doesn’t hurt if your kids take a taste or two as long as they have no allergies.

Also, look at these free printable kindergarten worksheets.

FREE PRINTABLE KINDERGARTEN WORKSHEETS

Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Finally, look at how to grab the free winter themed scavenger hunt for kindergarten.

HOW TO GET THE FREE WINTER THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT

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That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

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