Toddlers: Alphabet

For more information on how I plan and prepare my toddler storytimes, check out this introduction post. And for a complete list of the repeating extension activities, visit this post. I starred the materials used in the plan; multiple stars indicate use for more than one session.

The Plan

Books

Animal ABC by Marcus Pfister***
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.***
LMNO Peas by Keith Baker*
Turn-Around Upside-Down Alphabet Book by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Early Literacy Tip

Identify the shapes you see and talk about them with your children. Circles and triangles are often part of letters. Being able to see shapes will help children later recognize letters.

Theme Extension Activities

Featured CD: ABC Sing-Along (Fisher Price)

Featured Track: “We’ve Been Working On Our Letters” (with foam letter props)***

Flannelboard: “Letter A Puzzle”***

Repeating Extension Activities

• Open, Shut Them***
• These Are My Glasses**
• This Is Big, Big, Big***
• Wake Up Toes**
• Zoom Zoom Zoom***

How It Went

Tuesday morning
This was the first time this group had ever done “Zoom Zoom Zoom” and it was awesome! “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” became a choral read (which was lovely) since so many caregivers were familiar with it. This group was my most hesitant to take a foam letter and dance with it, but they did come around once the music started.

Thursday morning (9:30)
We pushed this week to do a second book! We only made it through six pages of “Animal ABC”, but that’s more than okay at this age! This group loved dancing with the letters, so I picked a second song — “A, You’re Adorable” — and let them keep going. I also had this group trace their child’s letter on their back for a fun tactile sensory experience as I was collecting them.

Thursday morning (10:30)
The kiddos were SO INTO “Animal ABC”; they were hanging on the edges of the rug as I turned the pages to guess the next animal. We also read both “Chicka Chicka” and “LMNO Peas” — THREE BOOKS AT TODDLER TIME! This group was also the best at identifying the “a” words in our flannelboard.