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Home » Reading Ideas » Alphabet Activities » Exploring the Alphabet with Your 5 Senses

Exploring the Alphabet with Your 5 Senses

November 18, 2015 •

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Next to books, magnetic alphabet letters are my favorite literacy tool.  We have used our set over and over again since my kids were toddlers.

This week the Early Childhood Education Team is sharing ideas for our five senses theme.  Let us show you how you can explore the senses with a set of magnetic letters.  Plus, you will be working on building phonological awareness, learning phonics skills and strengthening writing abilities.

Learn the alphabet by exploring with your 5 senses. Fun hands-on alphabet activities that use magnetic letters and your sense of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.

Exploring the Alphabet

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Materials Needed:  a set of magnetic letters ([easyazon_link identifier=”B0002VJYR2″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]here is our absolute favorite kind[/easyazon_link]), [easyazon_link identifier=”B0045I778Q” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]small jelly roll sheet[/easyazon_link], 2 packages of flavored Jello, paper bag, blank paper, crayons or markers, and a small paint brush (optional).

Touch and Smell

These two senses work well with a smelly sensory tray.  Pour the flavored Jello into the jelly roll pan.  Spread to cover the surface.

fell for magnetic letters

Place a handful of [easyazon_link identifier=”B000F8XC8E” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]magnetic letters[/easyazon_link] into a paper bag.  Have your child reach in and feel around for a letter.  Without looking, can they guess the letter based just on touch?

tracing letters

Pull out one later and name it.  Then, trace the letter with a finger.

Move to the Jello tray and draw the letter with a finger or small paintbrush.  Smooth the Jello and repeat!

See and Hear

find letters that match each letter sound

To explore the sense of sight and sound, pick and identify a magnetic letter.  Name the sound that the letter represents. Have your child look around the room and find objects that begin with the same sound.  Set the small items next each letter.

Taste

I don’t recommend tasting the magnetic letters.  Instead, brainstorm foods that begin with each letter.  Your child can draw pictures of each food and write the corresponding letter.  The adult can also help with labeling if needed.

You could also finish off  the activity with a snack of [easyazon_link identifier=”B00CSYIVBG” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]letter crackers[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link identifier=”B000ER1EPE” locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]cookies[/easyazon_link].

So, get a set or two of [easyazon_link identifier=”B0002VJYR2″ locale=”US” tag=”groboobyboo-20″]magnetic letters[/easyazon_link] and have fun exploring the alphabet through your five senses.

Now, explore some of the other five senses activities from the Early Childhood Education Team.  But, before you go…

For more great book recommendations and  literacy ideas, we send out a weekly newsletter. You can see a sample here.  If you like what you see, sign up to receive it for FREE each week.

Number Sound Boxes by Munchkins and Moms
My Five Senses Book by Still Playing School
5 Senses Theme Activities for Preschool by The Preschool Toolbox Blog
Writing Letters in a Sugar Cookie Sensory Tray by Mom Inspired Life
Winter Theme Alphabet Sensory Bin by The Educators’ Spin On It
My Christmas 5 Senses Book by Life Over C’s
Exploring the Senses Using Cardboard Tubes by Capri + 3

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Filed Under: All categories, Alphabet Activities Tagged With: magnetic letters, playful preschool

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Comments

  1. Liz says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:05 am

    I saw this link on Homeschool Creations site. I love the idea of engaging in the 5 senses. It works for adults as well. Before becoming a mom, I was in property management and we were trained to always set up the model apartments with something demonstrating the 5 senses. We would leave cookies out, have the apartment smelling nice, have something available to touch, have music playing as well as have the apartment looking top notch…. I don’t have preschool age kiddos currently (but will soon) and this is a great activity for once my daughter is older. Thanks!

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      November 23, 2015 at 8:28 am

      Liz, that is really interesting about the model apartments. I do believe that the more senses we can use when learning, that it will increase retention. Thanks so much for sharing.

  2. Danielle says

    November 22, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    What a great alphabet activity! We will have to try a Jello tray.

  3. Clarissa says

    November 22, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I love the idea of a jello writing tray! We need to try that!

  4. Theresa says

    November 18, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Using Jello as a sensory element in the tray is a great idea! How fun.

  5. Amanda says

    November 18, 2015 at 10:41 am

    I like the mystery letter game! We may put our letter puzzles in a bag and try that this afternoon.

  6. The Preschool Toolbox says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:39 am

    So many great ideas to encourage early literacy/letter skills! Love the painting/tracing in jello!:) Nice post!

  7. Natasha says

    November 18, 2015 at 7:51 am

    Like this activity and we will be trying your jello writing tray today.

Trackbacks

  1. Writing Letters in a Sugar Cookie Sensory Tray - Mom Inspired Life says:
    November 18, 2015 at 8:03 am

    […] Book by Still Playing School 5 Senses Theme Activities for Preschool by The Preschool Toolbox Blog Exploring the Alphabet with Your 5 Senses by Growing Book by Book Winter Theme Alphabet Sensory Bin by The Educators’ Spin On It My […]

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