I really enjoy the natural ways preschool learning activities can be woven into your time at home with your children. It is the times we get to do activities together that really calm all the kids down, connect us to each other and of course create a love for learning on their part and a love for teaching in me.
As a former preschool teacher, I love simple, free learning activities when I teach preschool in the classroom or when I teach preschool at home. Homeschool preschool in our house does not require expensive curriculum or supplies.
This free printable ABC book is a great resource for teaching preschool at home because it is a project-based learning activities that emphasizes reading skills, writing skills, and art. Preschool is a fun age to teach because activities can touch on so many learning domains.
Let’s make the printable ABC book and I will share 4 ways to learn and create with them whether you teach preschool or are focusing on homeschool preschool with your child.
Printable ABC Book: Supplies
Free printable letter pages found at Dr. Jean’s site or you can use these alphabet dot printables.
Free printable alphabet coloring pages found at Raising Our Kids
Binder (1” worked well for us) or 3-prong folder
Plastic page protectors (optional)
Your choice of art supply: crayons, markers, paint, stickers, coffee grounds, cornmeal, glitter, etc. (More on this collection of materials as we get into making the Printable ABC book.)
DIY ABC Book: Make It
- Print off one copy of each free printable letter page (outline letters not gray letters)- each upper case letter and each lower case letter-for letters A to Z.
- Print off one copy of each alphabet coloring page for letters A to Z.
- Slide each alphabet letter page into a plastic sleeve so that upper case letters face their lower case letter match, or 3 hole punch each page.
- Slide the alphabet coloring pages in front of the upper case letter that they match, so the backs of each page are touching.
- Focus on one letter per day by having your child use their choice (or your preference) of art supply to fill in the upper and lower case version of each letter.
Preschool Activities for Learning Letters
When I first did this activity with my oldest, we used a folder, and only included the letter sheets. He colored them with crayons and on the back of each letter page I drew pictures of things he thought of that started with each letter.
My artistic skills are not all that great, so I like that I found the alphabet coloring pages linked in the supplies list above. So nice for the non-artsy moms and dads. For an extension activity after each day of letter study, try these alphabet writing practice pages.
Coloring with Crayons
With my daughter, on day one of our homeschool preschool activities, we took the print outs for A and a, and my daughter colored them with crayons. Then we looked at the Aa coloring page. I read the words and she colored the pictures.
We slipped those pages into the plastic sleeves so we could read our ABC book pages about the letter A.
You can keep the uncolored pages out of the binder so they are new each day.
Painting the letters
My daughter really loved to paint, so I wanted to keep her attention when we were learning these letters and making this printable ABC book. One day she wanted to paint the letters. In fact, she used tempera paint and painted all of the letters!
You should have seen the floor in my dining room covered with painted letter pages. Luckily it was tile. I piled a few on the counter as well, but she just kept on painting big A, little a and all the way to big Z and little z.
It was great because she set the pace, and owned the activity. I was a facilitator telling her the names of the letters and teaching her how to keep this large batch of painted letters organized to dry properly.
Once the pages were dry, we slid them into the page protectors. She colored the alphabet pages with pictures another day, but not all at once!
Sensory-based Art
On a warm day we created a quick sensory bin of coffee grounds and cornmeal. Both started with the letter C, so I thought we could focus on that as the kids played outside with the bin. After they had a chance to get their hands in it and dig, pour and sift, I saved some for our letters C and c.
My daughter got some gluing practice with this activity.
I placed the two C pages on a cookie sheet.
She drew the shape with the glue on the inside of the shape outline. Then she sprinkled the mixture of coffee grounds and cornmeal onto the glue. We set it aside to dry. After, it was a tactile sensory experience to trace the letter along the glued coffee and cornmeal.
There are many sensory materials to use in this way for the other letters. Crystal, at Growing a Jeweled Rose shared some ideas when she made a sensory alphabet book.
Stickers: Fine Motor Letter Learning Activity
We used to have a box of stickers-stickers that come in the mail, stickers the kids would receive in goody bags, and stickers we picked up at the store. They were used a lot, and one way was for learning the letters with an emphasis on fine motor skills.
Your child uses the stickers (whether they match or not) to trace the outline or form of the letters. I shared another letter activity with stickers here.
This is a very clean activity if you are a mom who does not like too much mess. We won’t judge. 🙂 I have days where painting just can not happen. Stickers are so fun for kids, so this fine motor letter learning makes a nice addition to your printable ABC book.
What other ways could your child create the letter pages for their printable ABC book?
Thanks for pinning the image below so other parents can try these activities with their children too!
More Preschool Activities for learning letters:
Lovely
super !@!
Thanks, Karen!
I love this idea with all the open-ended ideas! The large letters are awesome. Downloading for my 3-year old grandson! Thank You: 🙂
It’s fun to see where the child leads with the open-ended options. I am so glad you found this activity helpful! I hope it was fun to try with your grandson.