Alphabet Matching
Children match magnetic or card letters to a model and name them.
Ages 36–60 months
Materials
- Two sets of uppercase letter cards or magnetic letters
- A tray or cookie sheet
Steps
- Start with the letters in the child's name.
- Hold up a letter and ask the child to find its match.
- Name the letter together as they place the match.
- Add a few new letters each session.
Variations
- Match uppercase to lowercase letters.
- Hide letters around the room for a letter hunt.
Differentiation
- For beginners, use only 3-4 highly different letters.
- For older children, ask for the letter's sound after naming it.
Accessibility
- Use tactile, magnetic, or sandpaper letters for multisensory learners.
Practices these skills
Evidence
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- The Absorbent Mind — Maria Montessori · 1949 · Holt Paperbacks (reprint)
Early Atlas