letter sounds

B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study

January 13, 2024 | 1 Comment
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I have a B is for bird craft, a tutorial for a toilet paper roll bluebird and resources for an entire bird-themed preschool study. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

What a fun nature topic for littles!

Backyard birds are plentiful almost anywhere and you can even double up on the B’s and cover blue jays, blue-footed boobies, bald eagles, or bluebirds like we are today.

B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study

There are a lot of topics to choose from when doing a bird unit study.

Focus on birds in your area, nests, eggs, feathers, bird calls, or birds’ life cycles.

Whatever you want to concentrate on, hands-on fun activities are best with preschoolers and help them learn while having a blast.

Use these bird figures throughout your study with playdough, in sensory bins, create nests for them made from sticks gathered from the yard.

Place one in front of your child to inspire them to draw their version, and try to find each one in the books you read throughout the week.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

I like to start a new letter unit by grabbing whatever letter tiles we have for that letter, letter magnets, and flashcards and putting them out for a child to investigate and study.

They can be used throughout the week for any language arts activity.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Place a white sheet of paper in the bottom of a shallow container. Then cover it with a thin layer of bird seed and provide your child with a few flashcards with letters and numbers.

Make them yourself, or just let them practice freely with this simple letter-writing tray.

Book- An Egg is Quiet has wonderful illustrations and simple language. It teaches about different eggs- from birds to sea turtles. This series also contains a Nest is Noisy.

Craft/Activity- Try this printable for Bird Letter Recognition. It’ so much fun for your child to feed crackers with letters on them as they say the sound to the bird.

Song/Fingerplay- Start off practicing the sound of the letter B. Learn what upper and lowercase look like, words that start with b, and even the sign for B. Letter B | Sing and Learn the Letters of the Alphabet.

Snack- The early bird gets the worm or so they say. So, start your b is for bird craft unit with a healthier version of dirt and worms that is delicious to eat.

Science Focus Day 2

Science can focus heavily on the life cycle or the different species, the parts of a bird, or feathers. Or whatever you want to talk about with your child.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Print this fun Letter B boo k for kids to flip through, color, or trace words and letters as they like and they can reference tit throughout the week.

Book- For a beautiful reference that covers a wide variety of birds from backyard birds to flightless birds, swans, nests, eggs and everything in between The Big Book of Birds is the one.

It is an oversized book perfect for little hands with charming illustrations they will love.

Craft/Activity- Make a toilet roll bluebird. See below for instructions on making this bird, then when it is done use a reference book to help identify the different parts of a bird.

Song/Fingerplay-Learn all about different birds and some of their characteristics in the catchy Birds Song.

Snack-Wow what a fun idea this Robin Bread–aka PB and J Shaped Like a Bird big visual impact with little effort is my kind of treat!

Math Focus Day 3

Count feathers, and eggs in the refrigerator, count how many robins you see in the backyard today. Simple preschool math is all around you and it is so easy to incorporate the bird theme.

Letter/Sound Recognition- I don’t always encourage technology but it also has its place even in preschool. This is one of my favorite products for teaching in preschool.

It comes with the entire alphabet in magnets in the base.

When the letter is placed in the base it tells the child the name of the letter as well as the sound that it makes.

I think this is a great independent practice activity and can be used throughout learning the entire alphabet.

Book- Incorporate another activity into math focus through reading Counting is For The Birds where your child gets to count backyard birds as they come to eat at the feeder.

Craft/Activity- Grab an inexpensive pack of colorful feathers, you can even find them at Dollar Tree and use them to sort by color.

Arrange them from shortest to longest.

Or simply for counting and basic addition and subtraction.

Song/Finger Play- Here you will find the words and hand motions for the simple rhyme Little Robin Redbreast.

Snack- This quick video shows you how to make an Apple Bird Snack full of healthy fruits in a fun design your child will love.

History/Geography Focus Day 4

What better topic to focus on today for geography than learning about your own state’s bird?

If you don’t already know, find out what your state bird is, and do a little research on it. If you want to expand on that look into other states around you or maybe the state where Grandma lives.

Grab a map and look for the states that you’re going to be researching, it’s never too early to introduce simple math skills.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Grab a brown paper lunch bag and right lower and uppercase B on it, go around the house and find as many objects as you can that start with the letter b and place them in the bag.

Have your child draw out the objects one by one and practice the beginning sound before the word like a bird.

Some ideas are a piece of paper in the color blue, a butterfly, birds, a ball, a bow, and letter b tiles.

Book- Since we are learning about state birds today, I found this cute book- United Tweets of America.

Song/Fingerplay- Sing a Song of Sixpence

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocketful of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing.
Wasn’t that a dainty dish
To sit before the king?
The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money.
The queen was in the parlor,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked off her nose.
They sent for the king’s doctor,
Who sewed it on again?
He sewed it on so neatly,
The seam was never seen.

Snack- Owl Rice Cakes are relatively healthy and are a great way to talk about the parts of a bird as you build his wings, eyes, and beak.

B is For Bird Craft Preschool Theme

While you teach your preschooler about the letter sound of B, add some of these fun books and resources to your unit study.

Birds Figurines, 23pcs Realistic Eagle Parrot Robin Owl

Early Educational Toys - These Parrot Birds Figures Set Are Great For Education Purposes. It Will Help To Improve Children's Concentration And Outsight, Develop And Train Their Imagination And Creativity.

An Egg Is Quiet:

This stunningly beautiful and wonderfully informative book from award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston makes for a fascinating introduction to the vast and amazing world of eggs. Featuring poetic text and an elegant design, this acclaimed book teaches children countless interesting facts about eggs. Full of wit and charm, An Egg Is Quiet will at once spark the imagination and cultivate a love of science.

The Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series)

Following up the hugely successful The Big Book of Bugs, The Big Book of Beasts, and The Big Book of the Blue, The Big Book of Birds is a fact-filled tour of the world’s most wonderful winged creatures. Yuval Zommer’s distinctive illustrations show off some of the most colorful, flamboyant, impressive, and wacky birds of the sky. Picture-book charm pairs with informative nonfiction to make a beautiful, large-format title for parents to share with young children and for older children to read by themselves.

LeapFrog Tad's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set Small

Choose a level and push the letter tiles into the letter slot to reinforce letter names, phonics and word skills . Magnetic back makes it great for fridge play in the kitchen

Counting Is for the Birds

Count up to twenty colorful backyard birds as they gather to crack seeds at the feeder while a cunning cat lurks below! What will be the fate of these colorful birds? The surprise ending will delight readers of all ages.Frank Mazzola's striking digital paintings, coupled with his lighthearted verse and engaging facts, will make bird lovers out of young and old alike.

United Tweets of America: 50 State Birds Their Stories, Their Glories

Welcome to the United Tweets Pageant! This colorful parade of state birds competing to be Top Tweet will have readers of all ages laughing aloud. From Alabama's Yellowhammer to Wyoming's Western Meadowlark, each bird is a winner, and each bird loves to show off the state it calls home. Hudson Talbott has created an inspired introduction to states and their birds. His vibrant, detailed illustrations infuse the birds' interactions with energy and humor, making this a great way to spark kids' interest in United States history, geography, and, of course, wildlife!

A Bird Is a Bird

What is a bird? And how is it different from a mammal or a reptile?Some birds are huge and some are tiny. Some birds are fantastically colorful and some are plain. But what do all birds share? Early nonfiction expert Lizzy Rockwell explains that birds have beaks, wings, and feathers, and hatch from eggs. Other animals might have some of these features in common, but only a bird has them all. Only a bird is a bird! A clear text and beautiful illustrations cover dozens of different birds and their shared characteristics, as well as the unique qualities of unusual birds, such as penguins and peacocks.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Three basic foundations for language arts in preschool are:

Letter recognition,
Learning letter sounds, and
Learning to form letters.

Choose fun hands-on activities to teach these to your child and use repetition as well.

Book –Only A Bird is a Bird and this book teaches children all about what makes a bird as well as some of the differences with splashy colorful illustrations and language. It is perfect for early years without talking down to them.

Craft/Activity- Grab your letter tiles and spell out a few bird-related words like bird, egg, nest, and feather. Remove the beginning letter, set it near the words in a pile and read each of the words to your child without the beginning sound.

Help your child determine which letter makes the beginning sound for that word. It is not important that they can read the word itself.

This is simply helping them to make a connection and understand that letters put together to make words and reinforce the beginning letter sound with the actual image of the letter.

Song/Fingerplay- Two Little Blackbirds has cute hand motions that are fun and easy to learn, this will be a very popular chant for weeks to come.

Snack- These Crow-eos are too cute but are very easy to make for a quick and simple bird-themed snack.

Toilet Paper Roll Bluebird

You will need:

Empty toilet paper roll
Blue construction paper or craft foam
Yellow construction paper or craft foam
Rusty red craft paint
Black pipe cleaner
Google eyes
Gluestick
Scissors

First, cut your blue craft foam just under 4” tall by 5 ¾” around and glue it to the empty toilet paper roll.

At the same time cut a small tail and a pair of wings out of the same color.

To give a little texture to the feathers you can make little snips along the edge of each.

Then cut a small triangle of yellow for the beak.

And to give your child a little more Independence you can either allow them to cut it out completely independently or trace the shape and let them practice using scissors by cutting it out themselves.

Now paint the belly of the bluebird with rusty red paint.

If you don’t want to use paint you could also just have them glue red paper to the bird.

Mixed media projects are a great way to introduce your preschooler to new art mediums.

Twist two little bird feet out of black pipe cleaners and hot glue them inside the toilet paper roll so they just peek out.

Once the glue on the belly has dried your child can begin assembling the bluebird by attaching the wings, beak, and google eyes.

For a more secure hold, you can use hot glue but if you want to let your child do it they can use regular school glue and pin them into place with either tape or clothes pins until the glue dries.

You can either stop here if you’re happy with your bluebird or place a scrap piece of the blue on top and around the circle shape to finish off his head, secure in place with glue

Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study

January 11, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

E is for eagle, and you can take this high-flying preschool letter E unit in several different directions. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

You can focus just on eagles, cover birds of prey, and talk about the eagle as a symbol of America, or birds in general.

These amazing birds deserve a special unit study, and they work out perfectly when you are focusing on the letter E.

Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study

Whether you gather your books from a visit to the library or on Amazon I have some great suggestions for you as well as crafts and activities that don’t require very many specific supplies.

For the most part, you can do these lessons with what you likely already have on hand.

Adding a few videos and a couple of printouts makes it a very low stress but highly educational preschool study.

It’s worth investing in fantastic plastic figurines with this as they will find their use through the years in small-world play, sensory bins, and even dioramas as your child gets older.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

E-E- E is for Eagle, don’t forget to practice that sound throughout the day as you play in sensory bins, make crafts, and yummy snacks.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Create a sensory bin with any base you have on hand -beads, rice, or shredded paper. Place items in the bin that start with Ee including letter tiles as well.

Raid the toy box or print items from free images. Have your child roll the die and count out the number of items that start with e or the letter e that matches. This also helps with beginning math skills.

Book- Is a Bald Eagle Really Bald focuses on the Bald Eagle as the national symbol, its meaning on our Great seal, as well as facts about how eagles live in the wild.

Craft/Activity- Create this cute E is for Eagle Handprint Craft, I just love sweet little handprint keepsake crafts to remember how small they were.

Song/Fingerplay- This Powerful Bald Eagle song is not your typical catchy children’s song (it is catchy though).

But I think it’s fantastic that it focuses on teaching about the bald eagle from the colors to their unique characteristics.

Snack- These Bald Eagle Snacks are so cute and look like a lot of fun to make, they look complicated but it’s really just coating marshmallows in melted chocolate and adding a few items.

Science Focus Day 2

Zoology is one of the first sciences children learn.

Today focuses on what habitat eagles live in (around lakes and reservoirs with lots of fish and forests around).

And they learn what eagles eat (fish, rabbits, waterfowl, rodents, and other small creatures), and their life cycle.

You could also research and see what other types of eagles beyond the well-known bald eagle like the golden eagle, black eagle, and harpy eagle.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Go on a letter E hunt, finding objects that start with the letter E around the house or in books. Here is a list of 50 items to help give you ideas. Remember to make the sound each time you find something!

Book- Bailey the Bald Eagle and the Great Flight centers around fears and how to face and overcome them.

Reading stories like this helps to teach your child how to verbalize feelings, encourages empathy, and is healthy for social-emotional growth.

Craft/Activity- How about some Life Cycle of an Eagle Coloring Pages, while I prefer hands-on activities to worksheets they are great occasionally like this one that demonstrates the life cycle and coloring pages are great if your child enjoys them.

Song/Fingerplay- A funny little rap The Bald Eagle hip hops its way through facts about the eagle, sounds, and how they build their giant nests, and is perfect for a little dancing.

Snack- Create your mix of “eagle food”.

Toss together fish (Swedish fish candy or goldfish), snakes (gummy worms), and rabbits (Annie’s Organic grahams or fruit snacks) as you talk about the things that eagles eat.

Math Focus Day 3

Count eggs, count bald eagle toys, or any other small items you have on hand.

Use a tape measure to measure how large an eagle nest is (up to 9 feet wide) and their wingspan to introduce your child to using new math tools.

Count eggs, count bald eagle toys, or any other small items you have on hand.

Letter/Sound Recognition- As I said, I like hands-on activities for preschoolers, but worksheets can have their place from time to time. This Find the Letter E Worksheet can be circled, marked with a dot marker, or colored over.

It doesn’t require a lot of writing that little hands are not ready to do just yet, just a simple seek-and-find.

Book- A great science reference series is “The Big Book of’ Series”.

Look at this gorgeous large layout on Bald Eagles in The Big Book of Birds.

This volume will get lots of use even when class is not in session because the illustrations are bright and pretty, also there is so much to look at for littles.

Craft/Activity- Grab these free Eagle Number Puzzles print and laminate and let your child match the number, the number of eagles, and if they are ready for it the third part with the number written out as a word.

Song/Fingerplay- This Letter E Song by ABC Mouse lists many words that start with E and the images that go with them to help commit the words to memory in a fun melody.

Snack- Take your pick of either an Eagle Marshmallow Pop or Eagle Quesadilla for a fun on-theme treat to enjoy together.

History/Geography Focus Day 4

The bald eagle is the national symbol for the U.S. Help your child locate Washington DC on a map and where it is to wherever you are.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Most of us have a basket of those oversized LEGOs for preschoolers in the house already, print a few letters and let your child work on building the Letter E with a familiar toy.

Book- The Bald Eagle American Symbols is another good book to have at hand that focuses on the bald eagle as our national symbol through the eyes of Bill the bird keeper.

Craft/Activity- Make a Paper Plate Bald Eagle for your preschooler to fly around, see the directions below.

Song/Fingerplay- I love the idea of learning signs for words that begin with the Letter E E.

Not only is it great for building finger muscles as they form the words and learn sign language, but using a multi-sensory approach when learning is very successful.

Check out this Letter E Signing f or Babies (great for preschool).

Snack- You have to enjoy a deviled egg or whatever your preschooler’s favorite choice of egg is for a snack or breakfast.

Not only can you practice making the e-e-e-egg sound but you can talk about how eagles lay eggs like other birds.

Books about E is for Eagle

14 Fun Resources for Studying about Eagles

Add some of these fun activities, books and resources to learn about eagles.

1. Eagle and Birds of Prey: Discover the World of Birds of Prey―How They Grow, Fly, Live, and Hunt

Eyewitness: Eagles and Birds of Prey is a guide to birds of prey of all shapes and sizes. From majestic falcons to soaring vultures, you'll get a bird's eye view of their amazing world. Learn about their styles of flight and their hunting techniques. Explore the preying and feeding habits, from specialist feeders to scavengers.

2. Science Comics: Birds of Prey: Terrifying Talons

Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic―dinosaurs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, robots, and more. Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these graphic novels are for you!

3. Big Book of Birds (The Big Book Series)

4. EAGLE 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

HIGH-QUALITY JIGSAW PUZZLE: The stunning, lifelike image is mounted on premium chipboard. Random cut pieces are thick and sturdy – they come fully separated with cleanly cut edges (dust-free!) that fit together snugly and hold up to repetitive use.

Makes amazing wall décor. Glue it, then mount the masterpiece!

5 PCS Birds of Prey Figurines

This set brings you some of the most amazing birds of prey from around the world!

5 Piece Set includes Bald Eagle, Falcon, Hawk, Owl, and Vulture.

6. Supertoob: USA,Figure Playsets

Use birds of prey figurines including a Bald Eagle to make a diorama or sensory bin, they are also great used for art inspiration. My eagle came from the USA Safari Toob.

7. Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators

Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky helps birds and imaginations take glorious flight in this breathtaking nonfiction picture book with six giant gatefolds.
Arnosky will draw out kids' inner explorer as he explains why there are no feathers on a vulture's head, which bird is the deep-diving champ, what makes an owls's wings perfectly silent in flight, and much more.
Readers can use this gorgeously illustrated book to bring the wilderness right into their rooms-or as a guide on their next expedition.

8. 100 Facts Birds of Prey- Hawks, Eagles, Ornithology, Educational Projects, Fun Activities, Quizzes and More!

Flip through 100 fascinating facts covering everything from hunting prey to patrolling airports, then test your knowledge with fun quizzes. Each page is packed with activities, projects and mind-blowing facts for a truly engaging experience. With stunning photographs and beautiful illustrations, this fun-filled book is sure to challenge young readers and prepare them for academic success.

Simulated Bald Eagle Figurines Plastic Eagle

Your child will love these to use in sensory bins or dioramas or just as a model to paint or play with.

Is a Bald Eagle Really Bald?

A bald eagle doesn't sound like an attractive bird. But it's pictured on the Great Seal of the United States and on the dollar bill. Why was this bird chosen as a national symbol?

Bailey the Bald Eagle and the Great Flight

Bailey is a bald eagle who comes from a long lineage of high flyers, with her grandfather even holding the world record for being the highest flyer. So, it comes as a bit of a surprise to her family when she is scared of heights. This fear keeps her down every day, literally, but it also helps her meet some amazing friends she never would have otherwise. This story is about how we are all afraid of something, but it's how we overcome those fears that matters most.

My Little Book of Bald Eagles

This is a delightful story about a new family of bald eagles. From newborn's first lessons in life to the first solo flight, this beautifully illustrated book is ideal for introducing young children to the wonders of nature.

Harpy Eagle (Apex Predators of the Amazon Rain Forest)

It's early morning in the Amazon rain forest. A large monkey is climbing through the branches of a tall tree. Suddenly, there's a flash of white and black feathers. An enormous harpy eagle swoops between the leafy branches and snatches the monkey from the tree. Then the giant predator carries its prey high into the treetops and begins to eat. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about harpy eagles and their Amazon rain forest home, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as figuring out how the bird's body is adapted for hunting, and investigating how much weight the eagle can carry in its talons, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.

Wild Life Realistic Harpy Eagle Figurine -

This Harpy Eagle Figurine would make an amazing addition to your dioramas, sensory bins, trays

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Letter/Sound Recognition- Place Post-it notes with lowercase and uppercase e’s all over the floor. Include a few others with different letters.

Have your child hop on all the E and make the sound as they do.

Book- My Little Book of Bald Eagles is a great book for 3-5-year-olds. It tells the story of a newborn eaglet through his very first solo flight.

Craft/Activity- Watch this short video All About Bald Eagles for Kids. They will learn all kinds of fascinating facts and see real videos of them in action.

Song/Fingerplay–This song heavily focuses on the letter sound. The repetitiveness will help it stick in your child’s mind- Letter E.

Snack- Sometimes you just need a quick and easy snack without a lot of prep. Make this Bacon and Egg Treat in the microwave quickly with just 3 items to reinforce e is for egg.

Finally, look how to make this adorable eagle craft.

Paper Plate Bald Eagle

You will need:

3 paper plates
Brown craft paint
Yellow craft paint
Scissors
Glue
Google Eye

First, cut one paper plate in half to create two wings.

Cut a thin bell shape with a flared-out tail at the end of the second one using the majority of the plate.

Also, the ruffled edge of the plate as the tail to give it a little extra fun texture.

Use the third plate to cut out a head with a beak.

Or if you prefer you can cut the beak out separately and have your child glue it on later.

Now to get the look of the bald eagle. Have your child paint just the ruffled part of the head brown.

And the same for the body with the tail.

It will be the reverse. Have them paint the smooth part of the plate brown and leave the ruffled part white. They will then paint the wing entirely brown except for just the tips.

Paint the beak yellow and glue on a googly eye.

Glue the wings together in the center and spread them out in any formation you like.

Glue the head to the body.

Now attach the two parts.

You may want to use hot glue for this final part so it will dry faster and stay together better. A glue stick may not hold all the weight together.

Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask

January 9, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

G is for Gorilla is a fun opportunity to learn not only the letter sound but incorporate a fun much loved zoo animal unit. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool and my page Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports.

While this can be a heavy zoology-based unit study there are still plenty of great ideas for math, art, geography, language arts, and more.

Throughout I have bundled it all here for you to make it easy to pick and choose your favorite activities.

Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask

Gorillas are exclusively native to Africa.

This provides a solid lesson in geography where you can search the map for Africa, locate the Congo on the map, and locate where each of the two different species of gorilla call home.

For your lessons you might want to invest in a fun set of figures if you don’t already have some.

This adorable little gorilla family can be used in many ways, dramatic play, sensory bins, with playdough, and more.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Letter/Sound Recognition- Fill in this cute Letter G Animal Alphabet Dots Printable with do a dot markers or round stickers.

Book- Gorilla does a great job introducing the concept of empathy and sorting out feelings in a cute story about a gorilla and a little girl who dreams of seeing gorillas in real life.

Craft/Activity- Dramatic play is an important part of a child’s social and emotional development, this activity Zoo Animals – Dramatic Play Activity allow them to become zookeepers, create cages, and care for animals through pretend play.

Song/Fingerplay- ABC Mouse does letter songs and learning so well, I found this very catchy little song on YouTube to go over letter sounds and recognition The Letter G Song.

Snack- Keep it simple with single ingredients snacks that start with G, here are ideas for 5 Snacks For Kids That Start With G.

Science Focus Day 2

Science comes into play learning about gorillas, rain forests, and even other zoo creatures your child might spot there.

As a matter of fact, if you are able this would be a great time for a field trip to the zoo to see these animals in person.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Grab whatever letter tiles you have and spell out gorilla. At the top of a piece of construction paper write out G-O-R-I-L-L-A, spreading it out so there is enough space for the tiles to fit under each letter.

Give your child the pile of letters and let them match it below your written example. As they match each one, tell them the name of the letter if they don’t already know it.

This is not about learning to spell a big word like gorilla but more about learning to recognize letters and that letters put together create a word.

Book- Goodnight Gorilla is a classic sweet board book centered around a sneaky gorilla and an unsuspecting zookeeper.

While it doesn’t have a lot of words it tells a silly story through very expressive illustrations.

Craft/Activity- This Goodnight Gorilla: A STEAM Activity for Preschoolers was too good to pass up for our science activity, especially since it went so well with our book choice today.

Song/Fingerplay- Raffi songs are fantastic for kids with his warm voice and simple folk lyrics that tell stories, check out The Gorilla Song.

Snack- These Chocolate Banana Oat Pancakes look delicious and are a great portrayal of the key figure in our lessons.

Math Focus Day 3

You need not overthink math at this age, it is simply recognizing numbers and learning to add and subtract small amounts.

Grab items from around your house and count, like the gorillas in their plastic toys or banana bunches at the grocery store. Gather leaves into two piles and introduce concepts like more/fewer.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Shaving Cream Writing- Yep, it is as simple as it sounds.

Spread a thin layer of unscented shaving cream on a shallow tray and let your little one write with their finger.

I recommend printing and laminating your letters so they can be used over and over.

Remember to practice the sound the letter makes as they draw it with their finger.

Book- One Gorilla A Counting Book, I think the illustrations here are just darling and are perfect for simple math.

Craft/Activity- For preschool I especially like to avoid worksheets, but they also have their place.

I think a color by number like this is great for building fine motor skills and in preschool it is phenomenal for number recognition as they find and color a1-6 repeatedly. Repetition is a great teaching tool in preschool.

Song/Fingerplay- Cute and catchy you might have the Baby Gorilla Song stuck in your head before the week is out, it is to the tune of a familiar favorite-Baby Shark.

Snack- Make ‘Gorilla Goodies’ by creating a trail mix of whatever dry ingredients you have on hand, no need to run to the store for special ingredients.

Mix up pretzels, marshmallows, raisins, dry cereal, nuts, cookie pieces, candy, etc.

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Take a look at a map and find Africa, locate where gorillas live around the Congo. Incorporate social studies by talking about zoos and zookeepers and what they provide to communities.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Reinforce the letter sound and name by pre-writing with their finger on a salt tray. If you have a preschooler who loves to lick their finger, use vanilla or chocolate pudding.

Book- Ivan: A Gorilla’s True Story

Craft/Activity- This Simple and Fun Wildlife Craft Mountain Gorilla Layered Art Project may just need a little extra help from you but is completely doable by a preschooler.

Song/Fingerplay- I found The Mountain Gorilla Song that sings about a specific type of gorilla and can be used to talk about the two different species, eastern and western.

Snack-Simply because kids find poop so funny, Gorilla Poops, would make a nice addition to your study. Make them in different sizes and turn it into a lesson on larger/smaller.

Books for Learning About G is for Gorilla

G is for Gorilla Preschool Unit Study Theme

Bring learning to life for your preschooler with these G is for Gorilla books and resources.

4 Pcs Realistic Gorilla Figurines

Gorilla Family: Set of four gorilla animal toys with two adults and two kids.

Gorilla

Hannah loves gorillas and longs to see a real one. Unfortunately, her father is always too busy — or too tired — to take her to the zoo.

Photo Credit: www.youtube.com

"The Letter G Song" by ABCmouse.com

"The Letter G Song"

Good Night, Gorilla

Good night, Gorilla. Good night, Elephant. It's bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who's that short, furry guy with the key in his hand and the mischievous grin? Good night, Giraffe. Good night, Hyena. Sneak along behind the zookeeper's back, and see who gets the last laugh in this riotous good-night romp.

One Gorilla: A Counting Book

Here is a list of the things I love.One gorilla.Two butterflies among my flowers--and one gorilla.Tree budgerigars in my house--and one gorilla.

Gorillas

All the wild gorillas live in Africa. They are peaceful and intelligent, and live in family groups called troops. Here are descriptions of the physical characteristics of these primates as well as information about how they live, including how they eat, raise their young, and adapt to their environment. Gibbons's trademark style features kid-friendly explanations and visually presented facts.

Ivan: A Gorilla's True Story

The real-life inspiration for The One and Only Ivan. A gorilla captured as a baby, Ivan was brought to a Tacoma, Washington mall to attract shoppers. Gradually, public pressure built until a better way of life for Ivan was found at Zoo Atlanta. From the Congo to America, and from a local business attraction to a national symbol of animal welfare, Ivan the Shopping Mall Gorilla traveled an astonishing distance in miles and in impact. In a spare, powerful text and evocative illustrations, Newbery medalist Katherine Applegate and artist G. Brian Karas present the extraordinary real story of this special gorilla.

Little Gorilla

As beloved Little Gorilla grows up, he discovers that love grows with him. Perfect for bedtime or snuggle-time, this warm and timeless classic reassures readers that as they grow and change, they are always loved. Just about everybody in the great green forest loves Little Gorilla. His mother loves him. His father loves him. Even Big Boa Constrictor loves him. But Little Gorilla begins to grow . . . and Grow . . . and GROW. And then, when Little Gorilla isn’t so little anymore—everyone still loves him! A soothing, rhythmic text and expressive illustration create a heartwarming story about the security and constancy of love.

Gorilla mysteries

Discusses the habits of gorillas, giant apes of frightening appearance but gentle behavior, long misunderstood by their human close relatives.

Photo Credit: blog.allaboutlearningpress.com

G Is for Gorilla Gulp (With Teaching Tips for Letter G)

What goes together better than peanut butter, cocoa, and bananas? We can’t think of a better combination—and we think your little monkeys will be nodding between gulps of chocolatey goodness!

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Letter/Sound Recognition- Take a small gorilla toy or something like a pencil to use as a pointer and go through books, newspapers, pictures on the wall or anywhere else and locate all the Gg’s that you can.

Place the toy or pointer over it

Book- Gorillas by Gail Gibbons is great as a science reference because her books are so engaging for younger (and older children as well) with bright photographs and plenty of information to take in.

Craft/Activity- Make our fun Gorilla Mask while you talk about the characteristics of the gorilla, it’s fun for dramatic play and pretend.

Song/Fingerplay- Another fun and catchy song that is fun to dance too is The Letter G, Gimme G song, introducing movement adds another layer of fun making what they learn stick.

Snack- G is for Gorilla Gulp Shake is a great snack to practice letter sounds as you pronounce g-g-gorilla and g-g-g-gulp.

Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask

You will need:

3 paper plates
Black craft paint
Grey craft paint
Ribbon or yarn
Scissors
Glue sticks
Paint brushes
Black marker

First, flip one plate upside down and let your child paint the entire backside of the plate black, set aside to dry.

Flip a second plate and paint the center a gray color, let it dry.

Take the third plate and paint the center black.

Once all the paint is dry cut ears and a little lock of hair from the center of the black plate.

And cut a gorilla face from the gray, the center of their face is kind of a squished heart shape.

You want the gray portion to be just a little smaller than the center of the main black plate.

Measure/Eyeball the eye holes with your child’s head.

Make it about 1 ½” apart should be great for a preschooler’s face.

And make them a little oversized to give them plenty of visibility.

Cut out of the whole black plate.

Lay the gray face under the eye holes and trace with a pencil then cut them out.

Draw features on the face like nostrils, mouth, and some little wrinkles.

Glue the gray face piece to the black plate and then the ears and hair tuft.

Finally punch holes on either side of the mask.

And tie the ribbon or yarn through to create a tie to hold on the mask.

Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile

January 7, 2024 | 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Create this R is for rainbow craft. And find plenty more ideas to enjoy a rainbow (and rain) themed unit with your preschooler. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

Rain and rainbows are a perfect theme for introducing the letter R.

They are fun, colorful, and a natural part of life.

But rather than just focusing on rainbows you can use it as a starting point to create a fun little unit all about weather.

Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile

Add a special focus on r is for rainbow and incorporate math, language arts, science, and history as well.

There are plenty of great ideas to keep your preschooler busy and engaged throughout the study.

And you can choose as many or as few as you like to customize it to what fits your family and your schedule.

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Start the week by demonstrating for your child how to make the letter R sound. You can use catchy videos to help what they learn really stick.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Learn the Letter R with a favorite of mine, Jack Hartmann.

His videos are so much fun while sounding out the letter. And words that start with the letter as well as hand motions, dancing, and memorable teaching.

Book- The sweet story A Rainbow of My Own is a great read aloud to tie in with the rainbow theme and is presented in easy-to-understand language.

Craft/Activity- I found a matching upper and lower case Rainbow Alphabet Activity that goes along with my book selection for the day- A Rainbow of My Own.

Song/Fingerplay- A little twist on an old classic, this version of Singing in The Rain will have your little one up and dancing.

Snack- Keep it simple but I think this Froot Loops Rainbow Craft and Snack will still be a big hit, just look how cute it is.

Science Focus Day 2

Keep preschoolers engaged with hands-on experiments and simple discussions about how it rains as well as why rainbows appear after a rain.

This Rain Cloud in a Jar activity is a fantastic visual for young children to understand why and how rain falls.

Letter/Sound Recognition- The Rainbow Alphabet Matching Game offers a free printable for matching lower and uppercase letters.

Book- The simple text of Rainbows introduces young learners to the science behind rainbows. Including why rainbows occur and what they are made of.

Craft/Activity – Try this super fun and engaging Scented Rainbow Science For Preschoolers activity, preschoolers love that fizzing foaming reaction.

Another fantastic science activity is the Rainbow Skittles Experiment.

Song/Fingerplay- While your child may already know the colors of the rainbow, they will still enjoy singing along to The Rainbow Colors Song.

Snack-Rainbow Yogurt Bark is healthy but will appeal to both their eyes and taste buds. I think this is a great easy snack that they can also help prepare.

Then add some R is for rainbow craft math.

Math Focus Day 3

Additionally, you can keep it very simple by creating a math activity with a single piece of blue construction paper and a marker.

Cut out 10 raindrop shapes and number them 1-10, have your child place them in order.

To make it a little more challenging line them up and pull out a number or two and have your child place the number in the correct spot.

As they advance you can also use them to ask your child to demonstrate things like show me one more than 3, one less etc.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Create the Raindrops Letter Matching craft.

Use construction paper or craft foam for an easy and fun game, focus on a few letters or all.

Book- Before you get the rainbow you get – Rain! A cute storybook about finding joy in the rain and all the fun it brings.

Craft/Activity-Another fantastic idea for math is to practice simple Math With a Rainbow Abacus that will delight your child while they learn basic number sense.

Song/Finger Play-Revisit Jack Harmann for a catchy song about the Colors of The Rainbow.

Snack- Enjoy a snack or lunch starting with R, here are some ideas to get you started -Ravioli, rice, ramen, ranch dressing, raw carrots, raisins, Romaine lettuce, and raspberries.

History/Geography/ Focus Day 4

This topic is a great time to introduce community helpers like meteorologists to your child.

Watch a few minutes of the weather report and talk it over with your child.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Remember that you do not always have to focus on just the letter you are learning for the week.

It is truly best to continually review what you have learned and at least introduce new letters and sound organically if not for mastery just for familiarity.

Cut rainbow colors of construction paper into ¼ their size and write the name of the color at the top so your child can see it.

Have them go on a hunt around the house and find objects of that color, as they place them practice sounding out the first letter of each object.

Book- The Rain Came Down.

Craft/Activity- Let your child enjoy dramatic play time as a meteorologist. Create this Fun Felt Weather Chart that is fantastic for daily use during your morning time.

Song/Fingerplay- Let’s go back to practicing The Letter R Sound.

Review upper and lower case, and learning words that start with the letter R.

Silly and memorable you may find your preschooler singing this song all day.

Snack-This treat covers rainbow and rice krispies! These Rainbow Rice Krispies look delicious and are a fun way to celebrate the theme.

Books for Learning About R is for Rainbow Craft

8 R is for Rainbow Books

R is for rainbow. Add some books and resources for a fun unit study rainbow theme.

A Rainbow of My Own

A small boy imagines what it would be like to have his own rainbow to play with.

Rainbows (Amazing Sights of the Sky)

One of the best things about a rainy day is the possibility of seeing a rainbow, but there's more to rainbows than meets the eye! Simple text introduces readers to the science behind rainbows. Including why rainbows occur and what they are made of.

What Makes a Rainbow?: A Magic Ribbon Book

A rainbow of ribbons magically appear when you open the pages of this innovative book! Toddlers will love listening to the charming story and seeing a different colored ribbon with the turn of each page. The last page is sure to delight with all the colors of the rainbow. What a fun way to learn colors!

Rain!

One rainy day in the city, an eager little boy exclaims, “Rain!” Across town a grumpy man grumbles, “Rain.” In this endearing picture book, a rainy-day cityscape comes to life in vibrant, cut-paper-style artwork. The boy in his green frog hat splashes in puddles—“Hoppy, hoppy, hoppy!”—while the old man curses the “dang puddles.” Can the boy’s natural exuberance (and perhaps a cookie) cheer up the grouchy gentleman and turn the day around?

The Rain Came Down

"On Saturday morning, the rain came down. It made the chickens squawk. The cat yowled at the chickens, and the dog barked at the cat. And still, the rain came down."The barking dog wakes the baby, the dog barks louder, and a policeman comes. His police car blocks traffic, and a woman in a taxi yells, so the taxi driver honks his horn. The truck driver in front of him gets mad and starts honking back. The beauty parlor owner comes out to look, and she bumps into the barber, and they begin to argue. A painter bonks the barber on the head with a can of paint, and then the baker opens up his umbrella and pokes the pizza man. On and on and on until suddenly . . . . . . the rain stops!The sun comes out, everything shimmers, and all of the bickering townspeople make amends–even the arguing children, who get free ice cream cones.

Who Likes Rain?

With spring come April showers. It's time to put on a raincoat, grab an umbrella, and head outdoors. The worms like rain, and so do the fish and frogs. But what about the cat and dog? In this lyrical picture book, one spunky little girl discovers just who likes rain―and who doesn't―as she explores the rainy-day habits of the world around her.

Newton's Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Famed for his supposed encounter with a falling apple that inspired his theory of gravity, Isaac Newton (1642–1727) grew from a quiet and curious boy into one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton's Rainbow tells the story of young Isaac―always reading, questioning, observing, and inventing―and how he eventually made his way to Cambridge University, where he studied the work of earlier scientists and began building on their accomplishments. This colorful picture book biography celebrates Newton's discoveries that illuminated the mysteries of gravity, motion, and even rainbows, discoveries that gave mankind a new understanding of the natural world, discoveries that changed science forever.

Quiet Bunny's Many Colors

Quiet Bunny loves the bright colors of spring: the yellow ducks, green frogs, and blue jays everything but his own mousy-brown and wintry-white fur. It takes the help of a wise old owl for Bunny to realize that it's the rainbow of colors, including his own, that makes the world so beautiful.

Also, add day 5.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Of course, throughout the week you have been repeating the letter R’s sound, pointing it out whenever you see it,

Also, you’re doing a language arts rich activity like reading aloud.

But take another day to do some additional intentional activities.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Squishy sensory fun is a great practice idea for pre-writing skills, use the Rainbow Bag Writing Tray to introduce “writing” with a finger before picking up pencils.

Book- Who Likes Rain? I feel like this one is a wonderful combination of picture book and science book, as it talks about who and why they like (and need) the rain.

Craft/Activity- Create this Fun Rain Mobile below for an art project in line with our theme that can be hung up anywhere.

I am also quite certain that most kids would love to dig into a sensory bin with this DIY Rainbow Spaghetti as the base, colorful and squishy fun.

Song/Fingerplay- If you are not already familiar with them The Laurie Berkner Band is another really good resource for children’s songs covering a lot of topics and “Umbrella” is so contagious!

Snack-A healthy and easy treat to start off the day this Rainy Day Breakfast will be fun and delicious.

Finally, look at this r is for rainbow craft rain mobile.

Fun R is for Rainbow Craft Rain Mobile

You will need:

White and blue craft foam
Rainbow colored pipe cleaners
String
Scissors
Hot glue/tacky glue

First, lay two sheets of white craft foam together and cut out two symmetrical clouds shapes as large as you would like it to be.

Use a small cylinder-shaped object to bend lengths of rainbow colored pipe cleaners into somewhat similar shapes and sizes.

Layer the rainbow colors and attach with glue, talking to your child as you do it together about the order the colors appear in the rainbow.

You can use hot glue for a quicker dry time but if you want to let your child do as much of the project as possible opt for a strong hold tacky glue instead.

Cut varying lengths of string and glue across the bottom of one of the cloud shapes.

Make a small loop of string and attach to the top of the same cloud to create a hanger.

Cut raindrops from craft foam and glue onto the strings.

Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study

January 5, 2024 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today I have a letter H handprint craft and a fun preschool horse study that little learners will love. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.

It may be your main topic, but you can expand and turn it into a study all about farms.

Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study

Another great idea is reviewing letters that you’ve already gone over.

For instance, if you’ve already covered P, put emphasis on P is for pig, or C is for cow along with hen, hay, and hog for H.

Too, listen to YouTube videos for prior letters but then go forward introducing another letter sound.

H is for Horse Preschool Theme and Letter H Sound

Add some of these fun books and resources for Letter H handcraft and for horse theme. Also, use a farm theme.

Big Red Barn

Margaret Wise Brown's simple, rhythmic text about the cycle of a day on a farm, where a family of animals peacefully plays and sleeps, has charmed generations of children. This board book edition features sturdy pages and is just the right size for toddlers.

As in her classic Goodnight Moon, Brown engages children and helps settle them down for sleep as they follow along with the animals from morning to night in the barnyard.

In the barnyard there are roosters and cows, horses and goats, and a pink piglet who is learning to squeal. Felicia Bond's atmospheric illustrations add to the tranquil simplicity of this gentle story.

Big Red Barn makes a lovely baby shower gift and is a wonderful addition to any preschooler's library.

Little Blue Truck Board Book

Beep! Beep! Meet Blue! Filled with truck sounds and animal noises, Little Blue Truck is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

A muddy country road is no match for this little pick-up—that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck.

Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.

Little Blue Truck is a joyful cacophony of animal and truck sounds that will have youngsters beeping and quacking—and begging for one more go-round! This board book edition is perfect for little hands.

The Little Red Hen

This timeless story of having your cake (and eating it, too!) comes to life with Paul Galdone's dynamic, amusing pictures. A classic storybook for all young readers--and a cautionary tale for lazy ones. Little Red Hen is a time-tested tale about how we reap what we sow.

When the Little Red Hen asks a cat, dog, and mouse for help planting some wheat, she gets no takers: "‘Not I!’ said the cat. ‘Not I!’ said the dog. ‘Not I!’ said the mouse."

They won’t water, cut, or grind the wheat... or help bake a cake with it, either. So in the end, the Little Red Hen eats the cake all by herself as well!

Paul Galdone’s delightfully detailed ink and wash illustrations—packed with charming details—add plenty of sly humor to the well-loved story that not only offers a sage message, but also shows children what it takes to make a cake from the ground up!

A Home in the Barn

Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown's words are brought to beautiful life by
Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney. This must-have for every child’s library is perfect for cozy wintertime readings.

"A glorious tribute to Brown's timeless classic." —Booklist (starred review)

This never-before-published picture book from beloved children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown tells the comforting, snowy story of animals seeking shelter from the cold in a big warm barn. An Indie Next List Pick!

Margaret Wise Brown's classic picture books include Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, Big Red Barn, and many more.

Jerry Pinkney was "widely acclaimed for his picture books honoring his Black heritage as well as for his richly detailed works reimagining well-loved fairy and folktales," noted Publishers Weekly. His version of The Lion & the Mouse by Aesop was awarded the Caldecott Medal, and his books also received five Caldecott Honor citations. He was recognized with two lifetime achievement awards: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award) and the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award.

Horseplay

Those horses didn't sleep one bit.They frolicked on the loose.They joined in games like Hide-n-Seek,Leapfrog, and Duck, Duck, Goose."So this is why you snooze all day. I thought I told you NO HORSEPLAY!"

When his stubborn horses insist on playing games all night instead of sleeping, one determined farmer wears himself out trying to change their habits.Told in clever rhyming verse throughout, Horseplay will engage parents and kids alike as they follow mischievous horses who just won't go to bed!

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

To explain the sound that H makes here is a really quick video demonstration to share.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Build an H

You will need construction paper, a marker, and 3 popsicle sticks. Cut the ends and about 1” off each end of one popsicle stick.

Form them into an H on construction paper and trace around with a marker.

Give the paper and sticks to your child and have them form the H.

Book – Start with Margaret Wise Brown’s Big Red Barn and see how many H words you can find.
Craft/Activity – Make this DIY STICK HORSE TUTORIAL and your preschooler will spend the week trotting, galloping, and kicking up their heels while they learn.
Song/Fingerplay- The Letter H Song is catchy and teaches the sound as well as a lot of H words. You will want to repeat this a few times this week-
Snack – These horse cookies are an absolutely adorable and fairly simple way to start your H week!

Then, add in some fun science based play learning.

Science Focus Day 2

Focusing on the science of horses can be learning about what they are called as babies.

Too, explain to your preschooler what horses eat, their life cycles, or you can even take the parts of horse activity we did here at my Horse Unit Study.

Adapt it for younger children by just having them verbalize the names of the horse parts.

You could also do a simple cut and paste activity like this Life Cycle of a Horse Worksheet which can teach your child simple concepts about the science of horses.

Finally, a little bit of tech that is a great science option is Wild Kratts, this episode is focused on Powerful Wild Horses.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Make a list together of other farm words that start with H like- harvest, hatch (baby chicks) ,hay, hen, herd, hoe hog,honey, horse, helper, horseshoe.
Book- Another great farm themed classic book is Little Blue Truck.
Craft/Activity – Playdough is a fantastic way to build fine motor skills and strengthen muscles which is key for pre-writers. These Horse themed playdough mats do just that.
Song/Finger Play- This Horse Song for kids is just too fun to dance to.
Snack- Make these tasty Haystacks that also happen to start with H for a midday break.

Also, add some math based fun.

Math Focus Day 3

Count farm animals and practice one to one correspondence, having your child point to each one as they say the number.

Add one and remove one to practice simple addition and subtraction.

Letter/Sound Recognition – Draw uppercase and lowercase H’s on colored construction paper. Hide them around the house and let your child go on a letter hunt.
Book – Read the classic The Little Red Hen and emphasize the H to teach your child another farm word that begins with H. Each time you find her, have your child make the H sound.
Craft/Activity-Check out these fabulous free Farm Lacing Cards, before learning to hold a pencil, little fingers learn dexterity and gain strength through activities like this.
Song/Fingerplay- If you don’t already know it here is a link to learn 10 Little Horses that is great for counting and exercising little fingers.
Snack-After you teach your child that H is for Horse but also hen in keeping with the farm theme these Cute Kids Chicken Snack Bags are a great way to reinforce it.

Next, here are some history and geography ideas.

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Wild horses live on steppes and open grasslands, share pictures of these with your child.

Choose a couple unique breeds and find their origin on the map like Belgian Draft Horse or talk about the Kentucky Derby and point out Kentucky to your preschooler on your map.

Letter/Sound Recognition- Print and put together this little book to read to your child from The Letter H Book, highlight every h to draw their eyes to it.
Book – A H-H-H Home in The Barn is a realistically illustrated picture book that fits right on theme and gives another opportunity to search for H words while you learn about farm life.
Craft/Activity- Make this easy printable Paper Plate Horse Craft for an inexpensive art project.
Song/Fingerplay- Listen to the Horse Song by Blippi to learn about this beautiful and strong animal.
Snack- H is also for HAT as in Chocolate Cowboy Hat keeping with the fun farm theme.

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Letter/Sound Recognition – H Farm Sensory Bin

Fill a few inches in a small container with hay, you can also use popcorn kernels, or straw colored yarn,etc.

Add upper and lowercase H letter tiles and a few farm items that start with H like horse and a hen.

Have your child search for the H’s and talk about the items that start with H and the sound it makes.

Book – Horseplay is a fun and silly book about the bedtime antics of the animals in the barn.
Craft/Activity – Do the Letter H Handprint craft below to round out your study.
Song/Fingerplay – End your week with a few rounds of Old MacDonald Had a Farm and don’t forget to place emphasis on the beginning sounds of horse, hog, and hen!
Snack- On The Farm Snack Mix Not only is it delicious but they can search for horses and make the H time each time they find one to practice the sound.

Letter H Handprint Craft

You will need:

Red, tan, and white paper
Craft paint
Google eyes
A sweet little hand
Yarn
Glue stick

First, paint your child’s entire hand with brown craft paint or whatever color they want their horse to be.

Press their hand firmly onto the white paper upside down with the thumb sticking straight out from the hand. This will be the horse’s head and the 4 fingers will make up the legs.

Lift their hand quickly, and carefully, and allow the paint to dry.

Cut yarn into various sized small pieces.

Run a bit of glue along where the horse mane and tail would be.

Let your child add the yarn to fill it in.

Once the paint is dry let your child draw on features like ears and hooves and glue on a google eye (or two).

To make a barn cut a small house shape and two thin white strips that will fit on it to form an x.

You can also cut varying thin lengths of brown construction paper, and let your child put together a fence for the horse.

Be sure to write a large capital and lowercase Hh on the paper to help make the connection.

letter sounds

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Science Focus Day 2

Math Focus Day 3

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Toilet Paper Roll Bluebird

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Science Focus Day 2

Math Focus Day 3

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Books about E is for Eagle

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Paper Plate Bald Eagle

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Science Focus Day 2

Math Focus Day 3

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Books for Learning About G is for Gorilla

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Science Focus Day 2

Math Focus Day 3

History/Geography/ Focus Day 4

Books for Learning About R is for Rainbow Craft

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Fun R is for Rainbow Craft Rain Mobile

More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities

Language Arts Focus Day 1

Science Focus Day 2

Math Focus Day 3

History/Geography Focus Day 4

Language Arts Focus Day 5

Letter H Handprint Craft

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