Implementing activities that support clear learning objectives, preschool teachers can create brilliant lesson plans that help young children learn the letter N.
Learning Objectives
- The students will identify the letter N.
- The students make and recognize the N sound.
- The students will learn to trace and write upper and lower case Ns.
- The students will identify objects that begin with the letter N.
- The students will create a bird’s nest.
- The students will learn about nutrition.
Handwriting and Phonetics
In order to introduce the letter N, create a poster board which shows both the upper and lower case letter N. Glue a variety of pictures of objects cut from magazines that begin with the letter N. Discuss the poster board with the children, pointing out the variety of items that begin with the letter N.
Demonstrate the N sound and ask the children to make (repeat) the N sound. Ask the children to think of objects, names, and places that begin with the letter N.
On a white board or chalk board, draw both an upper and lower case N. Children can practice tracing the letter N in both upper and lower case using letter N worksheets. A letter N worksheet appropriate for preschoolers can be found on the First-School website. In addition, teachers can direct children to practice making upper and lowercase Ns using pencils or crayons on blank sheets of paper.
Art Activity: Bird’s Nest
First, create an N is for Nest poster board. Explain to the children that a nest is a place where birds lay their eggs and that they are made by birds using twigs, mud, and other materials.
Materials:
- Sticks
- Mud
- Twigs
- Pine needles
- Pebbles
- Grass
- Leaves
- Hard Boiled Eggs and Food Coloring
Instructions:
Provide sticks, mud, twigs, pine needles, pebbles, grass, and leaves and allow children to create their own bird’s nests. Children can color the hard boiled eggs using food coloring and lay the eggs in the nest.
Cognitive Learning: Object Sorting
Object sorting is great cognitive learning activity which will help children identify objects that begin with the letter N. For this cognitive learning activity, place objects which begin with the letter N in a cardboard box or other container. Along with these items, place objects beginning with other letters of the alphabet. As each object is revealed, children will sort those objects that begin with the letter N from those that do not.
Examples of objects that begin with the letter N: Nest, numbers, nurse, nickel, nail, newspaper, nose, necktie, napkin, noodles, nutcracker, and necklace.
Health and Science: N is for Nutrition
Incorporate “N is for Nutrition” activities into an alphabet recognition lesson plan. Explain that the vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables help keep bodies happy, healthy, and strong. Appropriate activities include:
- Visiting a Farmers Market: Take the children on a trip to a farmers market or a produce store. Let the children smell, touch, and sample fruit from around the world.
- Cooking with Children: Let children make simple dishes that require very minimal preparation such as fruit salad or smoothies. Talk about the nutritional value of the foods being prepared.
- Planning a Picnic: Talk to the children about food groups and the foods that fall into each category. During circle time, let children talk about their favorite healthy foods and then plan a picnic around them.
Alphabet recognition activities will greatly enhance preschoolers’ language learning. The key is to have fun with lesson planning and make each moment of learning fun and creative.
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