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November 26, 2012 | 18 Comments

Disappearing Letters – Alphabet For Starters Activity

abc activity for kids It’s been a while since we have done an Alphabet For Starters activity. This is our popular series of alphabet activities that aim to introduce and play with letters in simple ways for beginners. This one was a true “Throw it together” activity. I was on a conference call for the first half sitting on the other side of the table jotting down notes while she played. When I saw what a hit it was I grabbed my camera and started clicking. This combines letter recognition, color mixing, and fine motor all in a super simple activity.

  1. Gather your materials. I have no photo because this easy alphabet activity wasn’t planned at all but you will need a container for water, an eyedropper,  some coffee filters, a plate to protect your table from the running colors, markers, and coffee filters. Have multiple coffee filters on hand because kids love this.
  2. Start by writing letters on the coffee filter.
  3. Ask your child to find their favorite letter. I like saying this instead of “Find f, find r…” because in my experience it leads to them deciding which letter to find next and naturally declaring which letter it is. Drop the water on using the eyedropper and watch it disappear. My daughter LOVED this. “It’s gone, Mama!” She made multiple ones and helped me choose which letters to write.
  4. After my call was done I gave her the markers and she made her own letters on some coffee filters. When kids are learning to write even at the very early stages never say to them ” That’s not a B it’s a scribble, here let me make you a real B.” Their writing is a B it’s just in the early stages of development and by encouraging them their development will get there slow and steady as it is meant to.

Alphabet Books

 Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert is an alphabet book extraordinaire and perfect for a letter F week, since it’s all about food! Wonderful paintings of fruits and vegetables seem ultra simple and it is but somehow the way the author has pieced this simple book together is brilliant. Maybe it’s that children learn about food at the table multiple times a day and feel proud being able to identify not only some of the letters but some of the pictures too! From a teaching standpoint, I love that there are both upper and lower case letters on each page! This book will grow with your child, and beware it will also make you hungry. { This is one of my daughter’s very favorite alphabet books right now and possibly the number one reason she knows all her upper and lowercase letters}.

The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town by Judy Sierra is a great alphabet book. I couldn’t help myself, I read it to my son to the tune of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. It is clearly its own book though. The alphabet is getting ready for bed and just like your little ones, these lowercase letters are pulling out all their tricks and antics to avoid bedtime. Well almost all of them, z is more than happy to go to bed! It’s a sweet book that your kids can relate to and I like that it focuses on lowercase letters.

This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Age Preschool, Age: Toddlers, Alphabet activities, Alphabet For Starters, Fine Motor Activities, Letter Recognition, Letters & Numbers | 18 Comments

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18 Comments

  1. Miriam says

    November 26, 2012 at 1:20 am

    what a fantastic idea – so cool. I guess it would work on handi towels too. I don’t own a coffee machine thingy that needs filters. Love it!

    to Miriam" aria-label='reply to this comment to Miriam'>reply to this comment
    • Jill says

      August 6, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      They are so inexpensive. You can easily pick up a pack of 100 or so for $1.00.

      to Jill" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jill'>reply to this comment
  2. Zulia says

    November 26, 2012 at 7:17 am

    So simple and SO much fun! My students are going to love it! Thank you for sharing such a lovely idea.

    to Zulia" aria-label='reply to this comment to Zulia'>reply to this comment
  3. AJ says

    November 26, 2012 at 7:42 am

    Fabulous idea. Can’t wait to try it. I love that it combines fine motor skills and letter recognition– two skills we’re working on right now. Plus, I already have all the supplies!

    to AJ" aria-label='reply to this comment to AJ'>reply to this comment
  4. Maro's kindergarten says

    November 26, 2012 at 8:16 am

    What a great idea! I have already though of many ways to do this in classroom! Thanks for sharing!

    to Maro's kindergarten" aria-label='reply to this comment to Maro's kindergarten'>reply to this comment
  5. Carrie says

    November 26, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I think this series is just so fantastic! Each activity is simple and engaging. Thank you for continuing to post these. I can’t wait to “play” with my three year old. He is going to LOVE this!

    to Carrie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Carrie'>reply to this comment
  6. Deborah says

    November 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    So simple and yet so much fun! You are so creative – I want to be like you when I grow up:)

    to Deborah" aria-label='reply to this comment to Deborah'>reply to this comment
  7. Malia {Playdough to Plato} says

    November 27, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    So, so fun and creative! Sharing on Playdough to Plato’s Facebook page. Thanks Allie!

    to Malia {Playdough to Plato}" aria-label='reply to this comment to Malia {Playdough to Plato}'>reply to this comment
  8. Karen says

    January 15, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    Brilliant! Thank you! My son would love this because it involves water play.

    to Karen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Karen'>reply to this comment
  9. Amanda says

    April 14, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    I love this! I need to adapt & try it with my preschoolers!

    to Amanda" aria-label='reply to this comment to Amanda'>reply to this comment
  10. eunha says

    August 8, 2013 at 3:44 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing all these adorable activities for little kids!

    to eunha" aria-label='reply to this comment to eunha'>reply to this comment
  11. kary camacho says

    August 14, 2013 at 9:04 am

    I love this activity! Cant wait to do it with my toddlers! Thanks for sharing!

    to kary camacho" aria-label='reply to this comment to kary camacho'>reply to this comment
  12. Ellen says

    February 4, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    I am going to adapt this fantastic idea for a preschool sign in. I plan to write each child’s name ( each letter in different color marker) on coffee filters, then cut the letter squares apart. I will put these -spread out on a tray. When the children come in, they have to find the letter squares to make their name, and move them to a second tray, and put them in order. When they have correctly done this, they will say some magic words, and dip a dropper in a bowl of water and drip it on the letters to “disappear” their name. Try “alazam, alakazeer, today I will make my name disappear!”

    to Ellen" aria-label='reply to this comment to Ellen'>reply to this comment
  13. Jeanine says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:31 am

    Geez, you are such an amazing, super inspiring, genius, smart and talented teacher/mom/blogger. I simply envy your ability to turn almost every book into an activity! In fact, I use your books & activities library/archives, for searching for age appropriate books for my youngest! That’s in top of everything else we use them for. We are so grateful for the dedicated time you put into your blog.

    to Jeanine" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jeanine'>reply to this comment
  14. Jill says

    August 6, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    Any ideas on crafts or art projects we could do with all of those used filters?

    to Jill" aria-label='reply to this comment to Jill'>reply to this comment
    • Allison McDonald says

      August 11, 2016 at 8:31 am

      Oh yes – try bunching them in the middle and using a pipe cleaners to turn them into butterflies!

      to Allison McDonald" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allison McDonald'>reply to this comment

Trackbacks

  1. Alphabet Sorting Tray Set says:
    November 26, 2012 at 7:02 am

    […] Disappearing Letters Alphabet Activitiy Fun and colorful alphabet activity for kids. Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert is an alphabet book extraordinaire and perfect for a letter F eek, since it's all about food! Wonderful paintings of . […]

    to Alphabet Sorting Tray Set" aria-label='reply to this comment to Alphabet Sorting Tray Set'>reply to this comment
  2. 14 Learning Activities Geared Toward Toddlers on hands on : as we grow says:
    February 8, 2013 at 4:46 am

    […] Disappearing Letters No Time For Flash […]

    to 14 Learning Activities Geared Toward Toddlers on hands on : as we grow" aria-label='reply to this comment to 14 Learning Activities Geared Toward Toddlers on hands on : as we grow'>reply to this comment

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