Materials
Poster board
Scissors
Photo of each child
Glue
Markers
Laminate or clear contact paper
Magnetic tape
Instructions
1. Explain to the children that we use letters and words every day to give us
information. Tell them that they will be going on a letter and word hunt outside
the classroom. They will look for examples of letters and words that tell
us things we need to know.
2. Some examples are: restrooms labeled Men, Women, Boys, Girls; water
faucets with H(ot) and C(old); Enter and Exit signs; school signs such as Office,
Cafeteria, and the name of the school; traffic signs such as Stop or Yield;
street name signs; and billboards. Using a pencil and paper, list all the environmental
letters and words that you find outside the classroom.
3. When you get back to the classroom, transfer these letters and words to the
poster board or chart paper. Leave plenty of room beside and between each
letter and word.
4. Ask the children to illustrate one of these letters or words on an index card.
Glue the card beside the letter or word on the chart. For example, beside the
words "Stop sign," glue the card with the drawing of a stop sign.
More to do
Explain the letter and word hunt to the children's families. Send two index cards
home with each child. Ask the families to go on a letter or word hunt together
around their home and neighborhood. What letters and words did they find?
Make a chart labeled "Words Around Our Homes" and add the words and card
illustrations.
