Preschool teachers and daycare providers can help children learn to recognize and write the letter M through fun activities that support clear learning objectives.
Learning Objectives
- The students will identify the letter M.
- The students make and recognize the M sound.
- The students will learn to trace and write upper and lower case M's.
- The students will identify objects that begin with the letter M.
- The students will practice measuring and weighing.
- The students will practice matching.
Handwriting and Alphabet Recognition
Introduce the children to the letter M along with simple objects that begin with the letter M. Create a colorful letter M poster board that presents both the upper and lower case M. Include pictures of objects cut from magazines that begin with the letter M. For example: Man, meat, moon, monkey, motor, mother, marshmallow, macaroni, milk, mouse, mail, mud, mirror, mushroom, and markers.
Write both the upper and lowercase M on a whiteboard or chalkboard. Demonstrate the M sound and ask the children to make (repeat) the M sound. Next ask the children to think of words (names, objects, or places) that begin with the letter M.
Allow the children to practice tracing the letter M in both upper and lower case using a letter M worksheet. A good example of such a worksheet is available on the First Preschool website. Children can also practice writing and tracing the letter M on blank sheets of paper using pencils, colored pencils, or crayon.
Letter M Math and Science Activity
M is for Measure: Introduce children to measurements with a few simple activities. Using a food scale and a bag of potatoes in various sizes, allow children to take turns weighing single potatoes. Use a chart to keep track of the weights and then discuss which was the heaviest and which was the lightest.
Using a bag of rice, a measuring cup, and a bowl, teachers can let children measure out cups of rice and keep track of how many cups it takes to fill the bowl.
Letter M Cognitive Activity
Mitten Match: On heavy construction paper in a wide variety of colors, trace then cut out pairs of mittens in various sizes. Lay the mittens out on a table and let the children take turns matching pairs of mittens.
Storytime and Dramatic Play
- Read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If you Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond [HarperCollins, 1985 and 1991 respectively].
- Read More More More said the Baby by Vera B. Williams[HarperCollins, 1996].
- Read Muhammad's Monday and the Letter M by Cynthia Fitterer Klingel and Robert B. Noyed [Child’s World, 2003].
- Dramatic Play: Let children play the role of mailman/mailperson or mechanic. Add a mailbag, mailperson’s hat, letters, stamps, and a mailbox to the dramatic play area for the mailperson’s items. Add overalls, tools, nuts, bolts, an oil can, and gloves to the dramatic play area for the mechanic’s items.
Letter M Craft and Cooking Activity
Macaroni Picture Frame Craft: This craft requires one jar lid per child, dry macaroni, string, paint, glue, and a picture to fit inside the lid. Let children paint macaroni in various colors and allow the macaroni to dry completely. Next, glue macaroni around the lid and glue the picture inside the lid. Make a loop with the string and attach it with glue to the back of the lid so that children can hang the picture frame.
Mini Muffins: Bake chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry muffins, letting the children take turns measuring ingredients. Use mini-muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Including these simple activities into the curriculum will greatly enhance preschoolers’ language learning. Lesson plans should contain clear learning objectives but also remember to seize spontaneous moments of opportunity to teach.
 |
