Recommended Age: 4 to 5 years
Purpose: For the child to further their understanding of the ways which letters are formes
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, mainly supervision
Prerequisites: the child must know the letters of the alphabet and their sequence
Materials
- A collection of natural materials found outdoors
- A basket to collect the materials
Preparation
- None
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know that they will be making the letters of the alphabet using natural objects found outside
- The child may dress to the weather conditions (hat, jacket, put on their shoes etc)
- Show the child the basket letting them know that they can put the items they find inside
- Have a conversation with the child prior to collecting their items about what might be some appropriate things they can find outside to use (for example flower petals, stones, sticks, tanbark, twigs etc) see below image
- Invite the child to collect the natural materials in their basket
- Once they have a good sized collection, choose a space outdoors to work (an outdoor table is ideal)
- Ask the child if they know what the first letter in the alphabet is
- When the child responds ‘a’ ask the child to demonstrate using their finger how to write ‘a’ on the table, conforming correct formation
- Invite the child to now make ‘a’ with the materials they have collected
- Repeat for the remaining letters of the alphabet, or until the child loses interest
- Note: you may like to take a photo of the child work at the end
Variations
- If the child doesn’t know all of the letters of the alphabet and their sequence you may still make letters with the child using the sounds they know
- You may suggest letters for the child to make rather than the whole alphabet
