Using activities that support clear learning objectives, preschool teachers can implement lesson plans that help young children learn the letter C.
Learning Objectives
- The students will identify the letter C.
- The students make and recognize the hard C sound.
- The students will correctly trace and write the letter C.
- The students will identify objects that begin with the C sound.
Handwriting and Phonetics
- Create a letter C poster board which shows both the upper and lower case C. Glue pictures of objects cut from magazines that begin with the letter C. Introduce the children to the letter C along with objects that begin with the letter C.
- Demonstrate the hard C sound and ask the children to make (repeat) the hard C sound.
- Ask students what things they can think of (objects, names, etc.) that begin with the letter C.
- Have children practice tracing the letter C in both upper and lower case, using letter C worksheets. A good example of such a worksheet can be found on the Preschool Express website.
- With either pencils or crayon, let students practice making the letter C in both upper and lower case on blank sheets of paper.
Object Sorting
For this cognitive learning activity, place toy or real objects which begin with a hard C in a box or other container. Examples include: candy, camera, can, cow, candle, crayons, chalk, canoe, car, carrot, clock, clothespin, coat, comb, and cotton. Along with these items, place objects beginning with various other letters. As you pull each object out, students will sort (recognize) those that begin with a C from those that do not.
Music and Movement
For a circle time activity, ask each child to identify an animal that starts with a C. Next ask the child to move like and make the sound that the animal makes.
Teach the children the song “I LOVE ‘C’” by Jean Warren, sung to the tune of “Skip to My Lou”.
- I love C, how about you?
- I love C, yes I do.
- I love C words, here’s a few.
- Cow and cup and cookie, too.
Art and Cooking
- Using the above mentioned worksheet, let students decorate the letter C. Provide glitter, tissue paper, cheerios, crayons, and any other appropriate items. Allow them adorn the letter any way they see fit.
- Serve crackers and cheese and discuss that both items begin with the letter C
- Cut cookie dough using letter C cookie cutters. Bake, discuss, and serve.
Directed and Undirected Play
- In your pretend play area, provide clown and cowboy costumes for children to change into, explaining that C is for clown and cowboy.
- Provide chalk and let the students draw on the sidewalk, explaining that chalk also begins with the letter C. Ask them to draw upper and lower case Cs and objects that begin with C with the chalk.
Adding these simple activities will greatly enhance preschoolers’ language learning. The key is to have fun with lesson planning. Be creative in seizing moments of opportunity to teach.
