Get Ready to Read!
Early Literacy Activity of the Month
May 2007

Walk on a Letter

Walk on a Letter is an activity that you can do with one child or a group of children to help them become familiar with the names and shapes of the letters of the alphabet.

This activity is a beginning activity, for children who are just beginning to develop the skills needed to learn to read and write.

This activity is an emergent writing activity. Emergent writing refers to a child's beginning attempts to use print in a meaningful way. Where can I find this activity? (The links below are PDF files that will open in a new window.)

Walk on a Letter for one adult with one child, in English
Walk on a Letter for one adult with a group of children, in English
Walk on a Letter for one adult with one child, in Spanish
Walk on a Letter for one adult with a group of children, in Spanish

My child is having trouble with this activity. How can I help?
If a child is having trouble with this activity, begin with the first letter of the child’s name, as it is often the letter of the alphabet with which a child is most familiar. The child may also be able to tell you other letters in his or her name, and you can proceed with those after using the first letter.

How can I make this activity more challenging?
To make this activity more challenging, let the child choose a letter and make it with masking tape on the floor. Then, ask the child to think of words that begin with that letter, and the beginning and ending sounds of those words.