Letters, Numbers, and Shapes Unit

Letter, Number, or Shape Hunt: In sensory bin, plastic bin, or baking tray place wooden or foam letters, numbers, or shape from puzzles you may already have as the base. You can do a different category each day. Cover the letters, numbers, or shapes with a sensory material (rice, pasta, flour, salt, beans, water beads, etc.) Next have your child find the hidden letters, numbers, or shapes. For older children after they remove each material you can have them sort and match them back on the puzzle board or print out of sheets with letters, numbers and shapes. Tip: To lessen the mess. Place a bed sheet, towel, blanket or mat as the base where the sensory play takes place for two reasons. 1) easier clean up 2) sets boundaries for the child to know that they can only play in that specified area.

Letter, Shape and Number STEM with Play-dough: Simply set out letters, shapes, or numbers from puzzles with play-dough and let your child build and explore.

Number Counting with Loose Parts: You can use either an egg carton, plastic cups, paper bowls/plates, or write numbers on a paper. Write numbers on the materials. Set aside loose parts (rocks, flat marbles, pom poms, cheerios, goldfish, recycled bottle caps, etc.) and have your child count the loose parts and place the amount in the containers.

Tracing Letters, Shapes, and Numbers Art: On any paper draw letters, numbers, or shapes. Then have your child use a tool or a variety of tools such as q-tips, paint brushes, foam roller brushes, or their finger to trace over the drawn letters, numbers, or shapes with paint.

Letter, Number, or Shape Stacking Cups: Take any plastic cups. You can write letters, numbers or shapes with a sharpie, place stickers or tape pieces of paper on the cups. Simply let your child build and explore with the cups. For numbers and letters they can attempt to put it in the sequential order. STEM Challenges are a great way to get children thinking and doing even with simple supplies like these plastic cups. Opportunities for hands-on play with different materials will allow children to learn and extend their knowledge and creative thinking skills.