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 For
Ages 4–8
Write Summer Alphabet Books It is summer, and you might be going to the beach, barbeque, or a baseball game. What better way to practice ABCs than by using fun summer words to make an alphabet book? Younger children can draw pictures for their favorite summer words and children who are writing can also use the words in sentences.
Time
20 to 30 minutes (can be done over different days)
What You Need
Why This Is Helpful
Young children’s reading development benefits by them being able to identify the first letter in words they read or hear. This skill, called phonemic awareness, is important for reading as well as writing and spelling. Reading alphabet books can be a great way to help young children learn letters and letter sounds.
Writing themed alphabet books is also a great way for children to practice using letters. Children can pick their own words for a topic, figure out what letters the words begin with, and draw pictures of them. Older children can use the words in sentences and learn how new words are spelled.
Here’s What To Do
Before beginning this activity, read aloud and enjoy a few alphabet books with the child (see Alphabet Books and Websites for some suggestions). You may want to help the child keep track of all the books you read using the I'm a Reading Star chart.
| 1. |
Working together with the child, make a summer word list. This list can include:
- People or places the child has visited
- Favorite summer foods
- Fun things he or she likes to do when it is hot out
You can write the words or ask the child to do it depending on his or her writing ability.
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| 2. |
Once you have a list of words, ask the child to underline and say the first letter of each. Emphasize the initial letter sound as well.
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| 3. |
Using the online Alphabet Organizer tool, help him or her type the words under the letters (the most words you can enter for one letter is three).
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| 4. |
Print using the Letter Pages option. You will get one page for each letter with all of the words you have typed listed at the top in large letters.
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| 5. |
Have the child draw a picture for each letter page. (See the sample summer ABC book page featuring the words sun and swim for the letter s.)
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| 6. |
An older child can also use the word or words in a sentence at the bottom of the picture. Have him or her underline the letter illustrated. For example, for the letter c, the sentence might read I love to eat corn on the cob.
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| 7. |
Make this an ongoing project all summer long by adding new letter pages as the child does new things or learns new letters. Challenge the child to have all 26 letter pages by the end of the summer. Note that the book does not need to be written in alphabetical order. The child can choose letters that fit his or her story, such as in this sample ABC book "I Love You Kiddo" by James.
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Once the alphabet book is finished, have the child design and decorate a cover, staple the pages together, and read it aloud to you or others.
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Visit the ReadWriteThink Tips for Using Alphabet Organizer for more information about using this tool.
Glossary
Phonemic awareness
Knowing that spoken words are made up of individual sounds (also called phonemes). This knowledge is not something children need to learn how to speak and understand a language, but it is important for learning how to read.
Theme
A major idea, message, or lesson that is told in a story or conveyed in a piece of art. A theme may be stated directly or not, but clues to the theme can usually be found when the ideas or messages are repeated.
This activity was modified from the ReadWriteThink lesson plan “A–Z: Learning About the Alphabet Book Genre” available online at:
www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=982.
Clipart copyright 2008 JUPITERIMAGES, and its licensors. All rights reserved. |
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