Implementing activities supporting clear learning objectives, preschool teachers can create lesson plans that help young children learn the letter B.
Learning Objectives
- The students will identify the letter B.
- The students make and recognize the B sound.
- The students will correctly trace and write upper and lower case Bs.
- The students will identify objects that begin with the B sound.
Handwriting and Phonetics
Create a letter B poster board which shows both the upper and lower case B. Glue pictures of objects cut from magazines that begin with the letter B. Introduce the children to the letter B along with objects that begin with the letter B. Demonstrate the B sound and ask the children to make (repeat) the B sound.
Ask the children to think of objects, names, and places that begin with the letter B. Let children practice tracing the letter B in both upper and lower case using letter B worksheets. A great example of such a worksheet can be found on the Boggle’s world website. On blank sheets of paper, let the children practice making upper and lowercase Bs using pencils or crayons.
Object Sorting Activities
Object sorting is a great cognitive learning activity which will help children identify objects that begin with the letter B. For this cognitive learning activity, place toy or real objects which begin with the letter B in a cardboard box or other container. Examples include: baby, bat, bear, bunny, bread, butterfly, buttons, boots, books, batteries, bell, balloon, banana, bottle, and bones. Along with these items, place objects beginning with various other letters. As each object is revealed, children will sort those objects that begin with the letter B from those that do not.
Storytime and Circle Times Activities
- Read Berenstain's B Book by Stan Berenstain [Random House, 1971] is a wonderful board book which uses 33 different words that begin with the letter B.
- Brought to You by the Letter B by Sarah Albee and Joe Mathieu [Random House, 2000] features the Sesame street Muppets and highlights the letter B. It is another charming board book to share with students.
- During circle time, ask each child to identify an animal that starts with a B. Next ask the child to move like and make the sound that the animal makes.
Art and Cooking Activities
There are a variety of art activities which introduce and emphasize the letter B. Using a letter B worksheet, or a letter B cut from sturdy construction paper, let the children decorate the letter B. Provide glitter, tissue paper, cheerios, crayons, and any other decorative items. Allow children to adorn the letter any way they see fit. In addition, art activities like this Butterfly Wing art activity can be used in conjunction with a "B is for Butterfly" lesson plan.
Cooking is also a great way to help children learn and remember the letter B. Let the children participate in making blueberry- banana smoothies. Show children that blueberries and bananas begin with the letter B. Per 3 children, use 1.5 cups skim milk, 3/4 cup nonfat yogurt, 1/2 of a sliced banana, and 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries. Blend well. Also, children love mixing and baking cookies. Cut cookie dough using letter B cookie cutters. Bake, discuss, and serve.
Adding these simple activities will greatly enhance preschoolers’ language learning. The key is to have fun with lesson planning. Be creative in seizing moments of opportunity to teach.
