This week, we’re diving into the letter A with engaging books, hands-on activities, and playful learning. My 4-year-olds have loved exploring everything from ants to alligators, and I’m excited to share our journey through the letter A! Whether you’re homeschooling or just looking for fun, educational activities to do with your preschooler, I hope these ideas inspire you.
Our Letter A Book List
We start each day by reading The AB Book from the Bob Book Alphabet Set. It’s a great way to introduce the letter A and set the tone for our learning. Here are some of the other books we’ve enjoyed this week:
- Annie and the Wild Animals – Jan Brett
- Two Bad Ants – Chris Van Allsburg
- Ants – National Geographic Kids
- Ant: Creepy Crawly World
- Alligators: Life in the Wild – Monica Kulling
- Big, Bad, and a Little Bit Scary – Wade Zahares
- Amanda and Her Alligator – Mo Willems
- There’s an Alligator Under My Bed – Mercer Mayer
- Alligator Shoes – Arthur Dorros
- Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator – Emma Bland Smith
Day 1: A is for Apple & Ants
We kicked off our Letter A week with a delicious breakfast: baked apple oatmeal, recipe here! During breakfast, we talked about apples—what they look like, taste like, and most importantly, how they start with the letter A. Then, my kids loved brainstorming other words that share the same initial sound!
Ant-Themed Activities
Next, we dove into a day all about ants!
Two Bad Ants gave us a fun perspective, especially when we examined sugar crystals with magnifying glasses—just like the ants in the story!
We followed that up with Ants from National Geographic Kids and Creepy Crawly World: Ant.
Ant Colony Craft:
- Materials: Brown construction paper, blank paper, glue, Q-tips, and black paint.
- Steps:
- Tear the brown construction paper into small pieces to create tunnels and chambers.
- Glue these pieces onto the blank paper.
- Use Q-tips dipped in black paint to make ants by painting three dots: one for the head, one for the thorax, and one for the abdomen.
This craft was a hit and a fun way to reinforce ant anatomy!
Math Fun with Ants
We incorporated ant-themed math by practicing subitizing (recognizing numbers without counting). I made ant subitizing cards to match the theme. If you’re interested in early math skills, check out Preschool Math at Home by Kate Snow or the resources on Build Math Minds for more ideas.
Day 2: Alligator Exploration
Next, we turned our attention to alligators. We started with our usual reading of The AB Book, followed by several alligator-themed books:
- Alligators: Life in the Wild
- Amanda and Her Alligator
- There’s an Alligator Under My Bed
One of the most exciting activities was cracking open “alligator eggs.” I made these eggs ahead of time using a DIY recipe for dinosaur eggs, substituting small magnetic letter A’s for baby alligators.
How to Make Alligator Eggs:
- Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup dirt or coffee grounds, 1/2 cup sand, and water until moldable.
- Shape the mixture around a small item and let it harden in the oven on a low temperature. I used this recipe to make them.
The kids loved using small hammers to crack open the eggs and find the letters inside. It was a fun mix of science, sensory play, and letter recognition.
Afterward, we read a few more books and wrapped up our alligator day with an indoor obstacle course. I used a wobble board for a bridge, stepping stones, and tape to create a log. The goal? Cross the “alligator swamp” without touching the floor. This activity kept them moving and laughing while reinforcing the letter A theme. If you don’t have a wobble board or stepping stones, you can use pillows, blankets, or even paper taped to the floor to create your own obstacle course.
Letter A Writing Practice
Throughout the week, we practiced writing the letter A using pages from the A Simplified Year bundle and the free ABC Tracing Pack from The Homeschool Platform. Tracing and writing were kept light and fun to build early handwriting skills without frustration.
Additional Letter A Resources
If you’re looking for more letter A activities, The Homeschool Platform offers several resources:
Looking Ahead: B is for Bear, Birds, and Blueberries
We’ve had a blast exploring the letter A, and I’m excited to see where the alphabet takes us next. Stay tuned for our adventures with the letter B, where we’ll dive into bears, birds, and blueberries.
Homeschooling is about creating memorable, engaging experiences, and I hope these ideas inspire you to make learning letters fun in your own home.
