Notes for adults

Age 5 · 20 min · Medium

Roll the die, move along the path, and name words that begin with the letters you land on.

Learning objectives

• Recognize and name some letters on the board.
• Say a word that begins with the letter on a square, with support when needed.
• Count squares while moving and wait for a turn.

What you need

• Printed game sheet
• Child-safe scissors
• Glue or tape
• A large paper marker in a different color for each player

Safety notes

An adult should supervise the use of child-safe scissors and the assembly of the die. Use large paper markers.

How to do it

1. Cut out and assemble the paper die before playing.
2. Place the markers at the start of the path.
3. Point to a letter and model an example: “C is for cat.”
4. Invite each child to roll the die and count the squares as they move.
5. When a child lands on a letter, ask them to say a word that begins with it. On an empty square, wait for the next turn.
6. Continue until everyone reaches the school.
7. Talk together about some of the words children named.

Teaching suggestions

• If needed, say the letter name and sound before asking for a word.
• Offer two choices, such as “ball” or “cat” for the letter B.
• Welcome familiar words, including names of people and places.
• Encourage other players to help without answering immediately for the child.

Variations

• Make it easier: Say a word for each letter and invite the child to repeat it or choose between two options.
• Make it harder: Ask for two different words that begin with the letter on the square.
• Keep going: After the game, look for objects whose names begin with letters from the board.

Talk about it

• What words did you think of during the game?
• What other words begin with the same letter as your name?
• How did you know how many squares to move?
• What do you imagine might happen when you reach school?

What to look for

• Notice which letters the child recognizes or names.
• Notice whether the child finds a word for a letter independently or with support.
• Observe how the child counts squares and waits for a turn.