Rainbow Letter Matching Activity

I love The Dollar Store because there are so many affordable resources and materials like these rainbow cutouts. They are so easy to use for all kinds of activities, but I knew as soon as I saw them what I wanted to use them for in my class. Letter matching, specifically first initials. My three-year-olds have ample opportunities to see their names in print throughout the day, on their cubbies, artwork, snack placemats, and then also in letter activities. Many of my students have been showing great interest not only in their first initial but in those of their friends too. I knew they were ripe for a letter matching activity and when I placed it out at free choice it was a hit. This letter matching activity is basic but with a few adjustments, you could differentiate it for more advanced learners.

This post contains affiliate links.

Gather your materials. You will need some rainbow cutouts, a sharpie, scissors, magnetic tape, and a laminator ( optional).

Start by writing out the letters on the clouds. I only did the first initials of my students but for more advanced classes I would do the whole alphabet.

Laminate and cut in half

Add the magnetic tape.

My tape was a little curved so I placed the rainbows under a bunch of textbooks. Grad school saves the day again!

I used this at free choice and engaged the children by asking them if they could find their letters and put together a rainbow.

While some only matched their letters, others completed all of them, even noticing which friends the letters “belonged to”. It is so exciting to see the letter recognition emerging.