Materials
18" x 24" white construction paper in 3" widths, folded to make 1 1/2" bands
crayons and markers
shape stickers in basic solid colors
stapler (adult only)
two sets of crayons
Instructions
Ask children's parents and family member for permission to take the children
on a neighborhood walk.
l Ask parents and family members to volunteer to accompany the children on
the field trip.
What To Do
1. Take the children (and your camera) on a walk around the neighborhood.
2. As you walk, point out the various stores and talk about the things they sell
there.
3. Take a picture of each store sign. Make sure to zoom in closely so you get a
clear shot of the sign's letters.
4. Back at the center, upload the pictures to a computer and crop them to
remove any extra background images. You want to have a close-up image of
just the letters on the sign.
5. Print the pictures in a large size, for example 6" x 8" or larger. Make two
copies of each picture and laminate them.
6. Cut one of the pictures of each pair apart into its individual letters.
7. Make a matching game by giving the children an uncut picture and the cut-up
letters. They can match the letters to the ones on the picture.
8. After the children have some experience with the game, challenge them to put
the letters in the correct order without using the picture guide.
9. Make comments as the children work. For example, you can ask them to recall
the name of the store in the picture, or ask them to say the names and letter
sounds of the individual letters.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Are the children able to match the cut letters to those in the uncut pictures?
l Can the children identify the letters by name?
