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FREE Printable Alphabet Chart (And 6 Ideas for Using It)

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Do you have a little one learning and absorbing the alphabet?  It’s a building block to unlocking the code to read and write.  Playful alphabet activities are the best way to help kids remember letters and letter sounds.  One tool that is handy to have in the toolbox is an alphabet chart.  I have a free printable alphabet chart for all the Growing Book by Book newsletter subscribers.  More importantly, I’m going to show you how to use it!

printable abc chart

Printable Alphabet Chart

This alphabet chart with pictures will help your students learn letters and sounds.  There are so many playful ideas shared below for using the chart.

You will find that there are some images on this alphabet chart that aren’t as traditional as other charts.  This is purposeful.  We don’t want kids to only associate a letter with one particular image. I also wanted a variety of images to work on vocabulary.

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Ideas for Using an ABC Chart

using a pointer to read an alphabet chart

READ THE ALPHABET ACTIVITY

As a first grade teacher, we started our morning routine by “reading” the alphabet chart.  I either pointed to each box or had a special helper be the pointer.  Together we would read through the chart.  Not only did we read the letters, but we said the letter sound and named the picture.

“A, a”

“/a/” (this is the short a sound)

“apple”

“B, b”

“/b/”

“baby”

You can read the chart in alphabetical order or skip around the chart.

CUT AND ORDER ACTIVITY

You can also print an extra copy of the chart on regular paper and have the kids cut out each box to work on fine motor skills.  Mix the letters and have the children put them back in ABC order.  This time, have them glue each box down in a long row to make an alphabet train.

find the missing letter activity on an abc chart

GUESS THE MISSING LETTER ACTIVITY

Have the kids close their eyes.  Then, cover one of the spots on the chart with a sticky note (this size fits perfectly).  Have the kids open their eyes and determine which letter is covered. Repeat for several rounds.

WHAT’S THE RELATIONSHIP ALPHABET ACTIVITY

Build vocabulary by having the kids pick two or more pictures on the chart and tell how they are related.  For example, juice and milk are both drinks, you can sleep in a tent and igloo, or you can find a pig and an egg on a farm.

COVER UP ALPHABET CHART IDEA

abc cover up on an alphabet chart

Have each child place an alphabet chart on the table and provide a handful of mini erasers, bingo counters, or small food treats.  Call out a letter or sound and have the child cover the correct spot on the chart.

LET’S WRITE ACTIVITY

I always have an alphabet chart hanging in my writing center and in my child’s writing folder.  It’s the perfect tool for new writers to reference to find letters they need to use when sounding out a word to write.

Join our Email List and Get the Free Printable Alphabet Chart as a Thank You

This chart prints in color on 8.5 x 11 paper.  I recommend printing it on cardstock or laminating it for durability.  This is one tool that will get a lot of use.

*I’ve provided two versions for you.  One version has an x-ray for x if you would like a picture that begins with x.  The other version has a box for x if you would like to focus on the proper sound for x.  Also, there is now an otter for o.

This ABC chart is a thank you gift for becoming a member of the Growing Book by Book community.  Are you ready to reach all your growing readers with time-saving and developmentally appropriate literacy ideas? We’d love to share resources to help.

For more great alphabet activities check out these related posts.

Phonological Awareness and ABC Songs and Chants

ABC Circle Time Song

Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers

26 ABC Books

*This post first appeared on Growing Book by Book on 1/19/17.

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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.

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  4. Roni Perez says

    Thank you so much for all you do! i have changed my circle time to your ideas and it has helped so much.

    Reply

  7. Kathy says

    So much hard work on your part. Sooo many blessings for my part. I love all your posts and great fun ideas in reading activities. Thank you so much!!

    Reply

  22. Linda Guza says

    I am a grandmother who is doing virtual school with my special needs grandson. I am in disperate need of an alphabet page with pictures. Thank you for this chart.

    Reply

  24. Emma Cab says

    Good Day
    Very interesting and students will love the activities with the alphabet chart. i would like the alphabet chart.

    Reply

  31. Betsy says

    Love your alphabet chart activities. One suggestion: make the X have the ks sounD we teach for it by using Fox or some Other ks sound in a word, instead of the letter name.

    Reply

  49. RACHELE VAN HOUTEN says

    I cannot open the ABC CHart or find the link anywhere. I’m a subscriber to your newsletter but i cannot access it anywhere. how do I get it?

    Reply

  51. Mary says

    The sound chart is One of the best tools i use in my classroom. I use similar activties that you stated but you gave me a ciuple of new ones. Thanks! It is amazing the growth i see with my students by using this tool. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  52. Sandy Backlund says

    Hi Jodie, YOu have a great site with excellent ideas. I was about to download and print out your free alphabet chart for my grandchild (Thank YOU) because it is one of the better ones I have seen, but I got hung up on the owl for short “O”. I know it’s a small thing, but the ow dipthong rather overpowers the short sound. Wouldn’t octopus be better? Hey, don’t get too worried because I’ve been searching, and believe me, 99% of the charts have more than one picture that makes me grind my teeth. (I’m a reading specialist). “G” for giraffe kills me. Do they think kids this young are ready for the exceptions? Or that they know english spelling? Anyway, I am just looking to understand the owl thing–I see it a lot. I will print yours out and maybe find a little octopus sticker on to handle my OCD about this!!!

    Reply

    • Jodie Rodriguez says

      Hi Sandy! When you download the chart, you’ll find there is an otter instead of an owl. I originally had put an owl in as a place holder until I found approriate clip art to replace it. I took pictures of the chart before that and didn’t want to redo the images. So, no owl on the download. 🙂 Enjoy!

      Reply