Notes for adults

Age 3 · 10 min · Easy

Trace S and s, find the letters, and color pictures of things that start with S.

Learning objectives

• Recognize S and s among other letters, with support when needed.
• Follow the shapes of S and s with a finger or crayon.
• Name pictures whose words begin with the S sound.

What you need

• Printed page
• Thick crayons or colored pencils

Safety notes

Use age-appropriate crayons and discard small or broken pieces. Supervise the child during the activity.

How to do it

1. Print the page and gather the materials.
2. Show the child S and s and name the letters.
3. Run your finger over the letters to show how to follow their shapes.
4. Invite the child to trace the letters with a finger or crayon.
5. Look for and circle S and s in the grid together.
6. Name the pictures and let the child color them.
7. Finish by saying the words again, emphasizing the sound at the beginning.

Teaching suggestions

• Say slowly, “S is for sun. Can you hear the sound at the beginning?”
• If tracing is difficult, let the child follow the letters with a finger.
• Cover part of the letter grid to make searching easier.
• Look for S on packages, in books, or in familiar names.
• In a group, give each child time to point to a letter or picture.

Variations

• Make it easier: Find one letter at a time together and help the child circle it.
• Make it harder: Invite the child to look for S and s in a book and point to both forms.
• Extend the play: Draw another thing together whose name begins with S.

Talk about it

• What do you notice about the two shapes of S?
• Which picture would you like to color first? Why?
• What sound do you hear at the beginning of sun and sock?
• Where else have you seen the letter S?

What to look for

• Notice whether the child points to or circles at least one S or s in the grid.
• Watch whether the child follows part of a letter with a finger or crayon.
• Notice whether the child names a picture and hears its beginning sound with support.