Eating The Alphabet- Literacy enrichment activity as well as sensory fun where children can explore five senses and imaginative play.
Materials:
-Book- Eating The Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
-Letters-If you have a wooden letter puzzle laying around the house that will work perfect. Otherwise you can write letters on cardstock or print them from the computer.
-Pretend food items that match the content of the book
-Actual food items that match the content of the book
Part A:
Present the book and materials- read the book together with child(ren)
As you read the book together ask the child(ren) to identify the corresponding letter or food item in the book as you read each page. (Spread out the items to make it a little more scavenger hunt- like and challenging)
Part B:
As you re-read the story present some real life food items to go with the book. Ask the child(ren) to identify or match the letter and the food. For example: As you get to the page for Bb ask the child to find the letter B puzzle piece and to find the Broccoli. Then encourage the child to taste the broccoli. As you go through the book and the real food items, let the child taste them. Talk about the colors, shapes, textures, smells, where they grow, or where they can buy them.
Part C:
You can take the activity a step further and create a chart together!
Here are some charting ideas:
-Mark down the child's reaction to the taste testing-
-Is the asparagus yucky or yummy?!
-Do you like it? Yes or No?
-Is it crunchy or soft?
-You can use actual photographs of your child tasting the food or you can draw happy faces or yucky faces. Or simply write in the response.
Part D:
*When the child has completed the activity feel free to leave the items out for your child(ren) to independently explore and play as they wish. It is always important to encourage independent play and exciting to watch as they come up with their own ideas on how to play with new items.
My 2 year old seemed to enjoy the entire 4 step activity but I have to say, I think the taste test portion was my toddler's favorite part of the activity! She was excited to find the matches and to taste them. I was excited she ate asparagus!! Ha ha
Overall the entire activity provided some great opportunities for language, literacy science & sensory exploration!
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