Aa

Art Activities

Apple Trees
Have the children paint apple trees using green, red, and brown tempera paint and pieces of sponge. Have each child tell something about their painting. Write out what the children say in their own words, then have them find and circle the letter As that appear in their recitations.

Accordion Folding
Teach the children to make accordion folds. Have each child create something that makes use of the accordion fold, such as a bird with wings, a woman wearing a skirt or a simple paper fan.

Movement and Games

Acrobatics
Teach the children some simple stunts, such as the log roll and forward somersault.

Alligators
Let the children pretend to be Alligators in a swamp. Call "Alligators Go!" and "Alligators Stop!" When the Alligators are all going, they make the short sound of the letter A. When they are stopped, they are very quiet.

Alphabet Appetizer

Apple Animals
Slice apples horizontally so that each apple gives you four of five slices. Give each child one slice (be sure to remove seeds). Have the children dry the top of the slice with a paper towel and have them spread peanut butter or cream cheese on the slice to make an animal face using raisins, peanuts, sesame seeds, or fruit pieces. Chow mein noodles make wonderful whiskers.

Bb

Art Activities

Big Bugs
Give each child a potato for a body of a bug. Provide toothpicks, pins with colored heads, pipe cleaners, buttons, and colored paper to complete the bug. Have the children give the bugs names beginning with the sound of B.

Beautiful Blue Bunnies
Give each child bright blue tempera or finger paint and have them paint a cut out shape of a bunny. Have each child tell something about their painting. Write out what the children say in their own words, then have them find and draw balloons around letter.

Movement and Games

Balance Beam
Use a balance beam to work with the children on balance and coordination. Have them practice walking frontward, backward, and sideways using slow and quick movements. Tape a B to the wall for the children to focus on as they work on the beam.

Bouncing Balls Work with balls to develop the children's bouncing and catching skills. Ask the children to call "B" as they bounce.

Alphabet Appetizer

Bugs on a Bed Give each child a slice of Whole Wheat Bread. Have the children first put "bedspreads" on their "beds" using peanut butter, cream cheese or butter. Then have them put "bugs" on the beds using small edibles such as raisins, nuts, cereal bits, small pieces of fruit or vegetables.

Cc

Art Activities

Curly Caterpillars
Have the children glue colored paper strips (aprox 1 1/2 X 8 inch) into rings. Glue six or seven rings together to form a long caterpillar. The children can draw faces and use pipe cleaners as antennae.

Calico Cats
Supply fabric or wallpaper scraps for cutting out the head and body of the cat. Have the children add features with markers and/or crayons. Have each child tell something about their Cat. Write out what the children say in their own words, then have them find and circle the Cs in their recitations.

Movement and Games

Cave
Make a cave in one corner of the play area by draping sheets or blankets over some tables. Let the children pretend to be caterpillars crawling in and out of the cave. Ask them to make the hard sound of C as they crawl around.

Catching
Cut off the tops of plastic milk jugs with handles to use as receptacles for catching balls and beanbags that the children can "toss" to each other. Remind the children to be cautions when doing this activity.

Alphabet Appetizer

Crazy Caterpillar Critters
Provide a variety of vegetables that begin with the letter C, such as celery, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage and cauliflower. Cut these into small pieces and rounds. Have them assemble a caterpillar in the shape of a C by sticking the vegetables together with peanut butter or cream cheese. Give each child a piece of cabbage to be the "grass" under the crazy critter.

Dd

Art Activities

Daisies
Have the children cut out a circle and glue it to the center of a paper plate. Show them how to cut petals in a variety of colors and glue them around the circle to form a daises. Have the children add stems and leaves.

Dads
Ask the children to draw and color large pictures of their dads (or another important male figure in their lives). Have them tell you something special about their dads to write down on the pictures.

Movement and Games

Ducks
Have the children pretend to be ducks out for a walk. As they waddle, ask them to make the sound of D.

Dodge Ball
Have the children form a circle facing inward. Choose two or three children to go inside the circle, the other children throw balls into the center trying to touch on of the inside children. If they are successful, they exchange places with the children they hit.

Alphabet Appetizer

Dirt Dessert
Give each child a small paper cup with 1/2 C. Vanilla Yogurt. Let them measure and crush 1/4 C. Granola and sprinkle it over the yogurt for "dirt".

Ee

Art Activities

Eggs
Use plastic eggs (from Easter) and have the children glue Easter-egg grass in half of an egg. Show them how to make a chick by gluing two cotton balls together and making a tiny face on the top ball. Have them put their chicks in their eggs and use stickers to decorate the outside of the eggs.

Eskimos
Ask the children to cut out a large round shape for the face of an Eskimo. Show them how to glue white cotton balls around the face for the fur of a hood. Have them glue or color on other features. Talk about why Eskimos need to be dressed in warm clothing.

Movement and Games

Egg Rolls
Teach the children ho to do "egg rolls" on mats. Have them begin in a sitting position with their knees up. Have them roll sideways down the mats holding their knees tightly with their arms.

Exercises
Do exercises with the children. Try jumping jacks, sit-ups, toe touches, etc. Call out the E as you do your exercises

Alphabet Appetizer

Egg Boats
Hard-boil one egg for every two children. Have the children work in pairs to peel the shell from the egg. Slice the egg in half and carefully remove the yolk and put into a small paper cup. Have each pair mix the yolk with 1 tsp. Mayonnaise, 1/2 Tsp Mustard and a dash of salt and pepper. This mixture is scooped back into the hollows of the white. Have each child make a sail for the boat with a toothpick and a paper flag with the letter E on it. Stick the sail into their "boats" before they eat.

Ff

Art Activities

Finger Painting
Have children finger paint things that begin with F, such as fish, flowers, frogs, etc.

Feet
Have each child trace and count out the shape of his or her own feet. Use everyone's feet shapes to make the Big and/or small letter F for a display on the wall.

Movement and Games

Feet
Have the children explore all the movements of feet, such as walking, running, dancing, hopping, skipping, kicking, tiptoeing. If possible, have them do the activities with bare feet.

Freeze
Call out movements for the children to perform, such as Walk, skip, hop, jump, waddle, etc. When you call "Freeze!" they must stop immediately and hold the positions they are in.

Alphabet Appetizer

Funny Faces with Fruit
Use halved oranges in the peel. Have each child carefully scoop out the insides of the orange, draw a funny face on the outside of the orange shell with a marker and then cut up the scooped out orange into bite-sized pieces and put them back into the shell.. You can add other cut up fruits like bananas, strawberries, pineapple, etc.

Gg

Art Activities

Ghosts
On black construction paper have the children paint white ghosts. When the ghosts are dry, ask the children to give their ghost a name that begins with the letter G and tell a goofy story about their ghost.

Globs of Glue
Let the children spill small globs of glue onto sheets of waxed paper or acetate. Let the children sprinkle green glitter on their globs and let dry. Have the children peel the globs off the waxed paper and attach a string and hang from light fixtures or in windows.

Movement and Games

Galloping
Show the children how to gallop by running while keeping one foot extended in front of them. Have them gallop to music and in races.

Get-Ups
Show the children how to sit back-to-back in twos, on a mat, with their arms linked together. Ask them to try to get up while holding onto each other. If they are successful, have them call out "G!"

Alphabet Appetizer

Serve green grapes.

Hh

Art Activities

Hands
Ask the children to carefully trace one of their hands and cut out the tracing. Have them write their names on the cutouts and keep them to attach to and identify artwork throughout the year.

Miniature Hats
Prepare hats for the class to decorate by melting styrofoam cups in a 350 degree oven. Place the cups on a cookie sheet and set them in the oven for 30-60 seconds. (this goes very quick once it starts.) Have the children decorate them by drawing on them with markers and by tying yard or ribbon around them. Hang them from a tree branch for a display during H week.

Movement and Games

Hopping a Trail
Press down contact-paper foot shapes along a play area. Let the children hop along the trail making the sound of H as they go.

Horseshoes
Have the children play a game of horseshoes with plastic horseshoes.

Alphabet Appetizer

Happy Hamburgers
Provide each child with a small bun or biscuit, serve them a cooked hamburger patty and have them place the hamburger on the buns and give it a happy face by decorating with cheese chunks, ketchup and mustard.

Ii

Art Activities

Inchworms
Have the children cut an egg carton in half lengthwise. Have the children use green tempera paint and paint the half of carton green. Decorate with markers, paint, stickers. Add pipe cleaners for antennae and buttons for eyes.

Igloos
Have the children color or paint igloos on dark construction paper. Ask them to draw someone beside the igloo. Have the children tell little stories about their igloos.

Movement and Games

Icicles
Have the children pretend to be icicles as they move about on the play area. Choose someone to be the sun. When the sun touches someone, he or she must "melt" and fall down, laying very still.

Inchworms
Play music and have the children move as inchworms on all fours. Show them to move like an inchworm, they should move their arms first, making their bodies go down, then their bodies arch up as the move their feet forward.

Alphabet Appetizer

Ice Cream
If possible, make home made ice cream and have the children help measure the ingredients.

6 Eggs (whipped real good)
2 Good Cups Sugar
2 Tbl. Vanilla- - - - - -Mix well, then add...
1 Qt. Cream
1 Qt. Milk (not quite 1 quart)

Jj

Art Activities

Jack-O-Lanterns
Give each of the children a round paper plate. Have them paint the back side of the paper plate with Orange tempera paint. Use black paint or markers to draw the face and add a green construction paper stem.

Jars, Jars, and More Jars
Collect jars of different sizes with lids. Have the children practice finding the correct size lid for the jar. Let them practice size comparisons by arranging larger to smaller etc.. Practice counting skills as well as matching skill.

Movement and Games

Jumping Jacks
Teach the children how to do jumping jacks. Count the number of times you can do them, see how high you can count. You can also call out the letter "J" every time you do a Jumping Jack.

Alphabet Appetizer

Jelly Rolls
Give each child a slice of bread and help them to trim the crusts off. Show them how to flatten the bread with their hands or a rolling pin. Use Jelly or Jam and let each child spread some on their bread and roll up the bread. Enjoy.

Kk

Art Activities

Kites
Use construction paper and have each child make their own kite by cutting a design they might have seen. Use yard and ribbon to make a tail. Hang from the lights or window for display.

Keys
Provide an assortment of keys for the children to look at, talk about, sort and count. After they have had time to do these things, have them pretend they have a special key to open anything in the world. Ask them what they would use their key. You could have them draw a picture of their story and you could write their story on the picture.

Movement and Games

Keep It Up
Before hand, blow up a balloon and write the letters Kk on it. Have the children blow up the balloon and tie it shut. The children can now see how long they can keep the balloon up in the air without letting it touch the ground. Every time they touch the balloon, the can say the letter "K".

Alphabet Appetizer

Kangaroo Pockets
Provide a half slice of Pita, or pocket bread for each child. Show the children how to butter it and put a slice of cheese into it. Have them wrap it up in aluminum foil and place in the oven for a short while.

Ll

Art Activities

Leaf Wreaths
Have the children collect various and interesting leaves. Take a paper plate and cut the center out of it. Have the children glue their leaves around the outer edge to make a wreath. Attach a paper clip on the back and you can display their wreaths on the wall.

Lacing Cards
Use old greeting cards you have received and glue the two folds together. Punch holes around the edge in various patterns. Give each children a piece of yarn and they can practice their sewing skills by lacing cards.

Movement and Games

Leap Frog
Ask the children to play a game of leap frog. Every time they leap over a person, they can say the letter "L".

Alphabet Appetizer

Have the children help you make Lasagna for lunch. They can help layer the noodles, hamburger and sauce. Have someone help cover the dish and set the timer. Select one person to monitor the timer's progress so everyone knows when lunch will be ready.

Mm

Art Activities

Masks
Give each child a paper bag to fit over their head. Help them to cut out openings for eyes, nose and mouth. Supply a variety of materials for them to decorate their masks.

"Me" Book
Have each of the children bring 4 or 5 snap shot sized pictures from home. Use Zip Lock baggies for the children to insert 2 pictures front to back. You can insert a cardboard between the pictures to make it more sturdy. Add 2 binders on the zipper end and the children can flip through their own book.

Movement and Games

Marching
Pretend you are in a marching band and have everyone play an imaginary instrument. March around the room to music or make your own.

Alphabet Appetizer

Monster Mash
Give each child a bowl and a fork. Have them mix and mash 1/2 banana, 1/4 C. Applesauce, 1/2 Tsp. Honey and 1 Tsp. peanut butter. Have them sprinkle the top of their Monster Mash with Cinnamon and eat.

Nn

Art Activities

Noodle Art
Color various noodles with food coloring and a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Use different colors. Pour out on paper towel on a cookie sheet and let dry. Have the children design a picture using the noodles.

Nests
Give each child a small paper plate. Have the children tear up newspaper into small pieces. Use a mixture of glue and water and have them build their nests on the paper plate. While the nest is drying, have the children cut out a bird to sit in their nest.

Movement and Games

Necklace Relay
Divide the group into two teams. Provide an old cheap necklace, or one you have made from noodles, for each team. The first player in each line puts the necklace around his or her neck and shakes hands with the next person in line. The second player must remove it and place it on their head, so on and so on. The first team to have everyone wear the necklace wins. You can also do this activity with a men's neck tie. Makes the game more challenging.

Alphabet Appetizer

Nachos
Let the children take a serving of chips and you can melt Velveta Cheese for a more mild taste or use Nacho Cheese and serve in small bowls for them to dip their chips in.

Oo

Art Activities

O Necklaces
Have the children string Cheerios on yarn or string. Be sure you knot the one end before they start stringing their necklace to prevent the O's from falling off.

O Button Pictures
Give each child a handful of buttons or O-shaped cereal to glue to a paper in the shape of an O. Encourage the children to use their imaginations to create a picture around the O, using the letter as part of the design. Example, the outline of a face.

Movement and Games

Duck, Duck, Goose
Sit in a circle (the letter O) and play the game of Duck, Duck, Goose.

Alphabet Appetizer

Boiled Octopus
Take a hot dog and cut a + from each end towards the center. DO NOT cut completely to the center. Place the cut hot dog into boiling water for a minute or two and the ends will curl up and the hot dog will resemble an Octopus.

Pp

Art Activities

Pudding Painting
Mix up several batches of instant pudding for the children to finger paint with

Polk-a-dot Ps
Prepare a P for each child to cut out and decorate with polk-a-dots. Use buttons, paints, stickers, etc.

Movement and Games

Pass the Potato
Have the children sit in a circle, let them pass a potato around by tossing it as you play music. When the music stops, whoever is holding the potato is "out."

Alphabet Appetizer

Peanut Butter
Have the children help shell enough peanuts to make 2 cups. Put aprox 2 Tbls. of salad oil into a blender and gradually add the peanuts, blending until smooth. Server on crackers, bread, celery or apples.

Qq

Art Activities

Queens
Cut crowns out of construction paper for each of the children and have them decorate with feathers, paint, stickers, sequins, etc.

Q-Tip Pictures
Have the children paint pictures using Q-Tips.

Movement and Games

Quack Quack
Have the children squat and waddle like ducks, flapping their wings.

Alphabet Appetizer

Quacker Pizzas
Give each child a cracker and have them spoon a little pizza sauce or Ketchup on it, add a slice of pepperoni, some cheese and put in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes.

Rr

Art Activities

Reindeer
Trace each of the children's hands for antlers, cut a large triangle for the head. The children can glue the hand antlers on the top, a red fingerprint nose and two black thumb print eyes.

Rainbows
Have the children paint rainbows using water colors. Have them tell you where they think rainbows come from.

Movement and Games

Robots
Have the children move around the room as robots. Give them commands like "stop", "go", "sit", etc..

Alphabet Appetizer

Raisins
Serve a small cup of raisins. You could add to apple sauce.

Ss

Scribble Art
Have the children scribble on a piece of paper with black crayon. Then have the children use other colors to color in the sections between the scribbled lines. They will be surprised at the colorful picture they end up with.

Straw Painting
For each child place a small drop of tempera paint in the center of a large piece of paper. Give each child a straw and have them blow (lightly) the paint around the paper to make a design.

Movement and Games

Skipping
Teach the children how to skip. Show them how to Jump and kick on alternate feet or to step and hop on alternate feet.

Tt

Art Activities

Torn-Paper Art
Have the children tear paper shapes to create a picture or design. They can add to their picture by coloring with crayons or by cutting out other things and gluing on.

Tree
Have the children make a tree by gluing toothpicks on a piece of paper. Use a sponge and green tempera paint to add leaves to the top of the tree.

Movement and Games

Tying
Using old shoes, ropes, string, have the children practice tying.

Alphabet Appetizer

Toast
Help each child toast a slice of bread. Supply a choice of toppings, such as, peanut butter, cinnamon and sugar, jelly. Have them top their bread and cut the toast into Triangles.

Uu

Umbrellas
Have the children cut the individual egg-carton cups in half. Show them how to glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper. Add pipe cleaners for handles. Draw pictures around the umbrellas with crayons or paint.

Ugly Duckling
Read the story Ugly Duckling, then have the children draw a picture of what they think an ugly duckling looks like and how they think it feels.

Movement and Games

Under Cover
Work on the concept of "under" by using several old sheets. Have the children hang on to the edge of the sheet. When you holler "Under", the children all get under the sheet and pull it around them.

Alphabet Appetizer

Under Cover Give each child a small bowl of mixed fruit. Place a washed lettuce leave over the top to act as an "Umbrella" to cover their food until it is time to eat.

Vv

Art Activities

Vegetable Prints
Have the children cut up several different types of vegetables. Use different colors of paint and have the children dip the vegetables in the paint and print on the paper.

Valentines
Have the children cut out hearts and decorate with paint, glue, glitter. Hang from the wall, window or ceiling.

Movement and Games

Volleyball
Play a gave of Volleyball by throwing a ball back and forth, trying not to let it touch the floor.

Alphabet Appetizer

Mixed Vegetables
Serve a dish of mixed vegetables and dip. The children can try different vegetables they have maybe never had a chance to taste before.

Ww

Art Activities

Water Paint
Go outside on a warm summer day with a bucket of water and paint brushes. Let the children paint on the sidewalk with the clear water. The picture will stay for a while, but slowly dry away so they can start all over with another creation.

Wallpaper Pictures
Let the children cut out shapes and pictures from wall paper books. Have them glue their designs to construction paper.

Movement and Games

Worms
Have the children pretend to be wiggly, crawly worms. Have them slide across the floor.

Alphabet Appetizer

Wheaty Wonders

1 C. White Flour
1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
4 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Salt
1/3 C. Oil
3/4 C. Milk

Have the children help measure and mix the ingredients. Divide into 20 parts and have the children kneed the dough for about a minute. Have them press the dough flat to about 1/4 inch thick. Place butter in an electric skillet heated to 350 degrees. Place the dough patties into the skillet and fry on each side for about 4 minutes, until brown. Server with butter, peanut butter, honey or jelly.

Xx

Art Activities

Butterfly from an X
Show the children how to make butterfly wings from an X by closing the sides with lines. Add decorations and antennae.

Xylophone
Takes six identical glass tumblers and fill with various levels of water, from empty to full. Tap on the glasses with a wooden spoon to make music.

Movement and Games

Musical X
Hide a small ball with Xs taped to it, somewhere in the room. Have a child look for the ball and direct the rest of the children to clap loudly when the person is getting closer to the ball and softly as the person gets farther away from the ball.

Alphabet Appetizer

X on a Cracker
Give each child a cracker. Have the children slice cheese into strips, then cross two strips on the crackers in the shape of the letter X.

Yy

Art Activities

Yards
Give each of the children a large piece of paper and have them draw their house and yard. Have them tell out their map of their yard.

Yellow Flowers
Give each of the children a piece of paper and yellow paint. Have them paint yellow flowers on their paper. They can draw in green stems and grass to complete the picture.

Movement and Games

Yo-yo Fun
Let each of the children take turns to try an make a yo-yo go up and down. Let them try numerous times. With lots of practice, they will get it.

Alphabet Appetizer

Yummy Yogosicles
Have each child measure the following ingredients into a small bowl.

1/4 C. Yogurt (vanilla, banana or plain)
1 Tsp. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate (thawed)
1 Tsp. Honey

Mix well and pour the mixture into a small paper or plastic cup and freeze. When the mixture is solid enough to hold up a popsicle stick, put one in and refreeze until firm.

Zz

Art Activities

Zoo Cages
Use Strawberry baskets to make cages for zoo animals. Fasten two of them together, open sides towards each other. Place a small animal inside before you tie them shut.

Zebras
Have the children paint a large picture of zebras in the zoo. When the pictures have dried, let the children cut them out. Arrange the zebras in the shape of a giant Z for a Zz week display

Movement and Games

Zooming
Have the children zoom around the room like airplanes.

Alphabet Appetizer

Zipcorn
Pop a large batch of popcorn. Provide plastic bowls with lids for small groups of children to use. Let the children measure into the bowl.

1 C. Popped Popcorn
1 Tbl. Warm Melted Butter
1 Tsp. Wheat Germ
1 Tbl. Sunflower Seeds
A few raisins

Have the children cover the bowl and shake until everything is mixed up.