Graphically illustrate blossoming literacy skills with a wrap-around-the-room vocabulary word display.

• 1.

  The 26 letters used to spell words in English is called an alphabet. You can probably sing all the letters in the alphabet. Can you recognize each one? Do you know how to write them? How about words that start with each letter?

• 2.

  Write each uppercase letter on a separate piece of construction paper with Crayola Twistables®. Outline letters as large as you can so they are easy to read from a distance. Decorate each letter with colorful designs.

• 3.

  Hang string, yarn, ribbon, or twine around your classroom walls at raised-arm height. Paper clip letters to the string in alphabetical order. Sing or say the letters, round and round the room.

• 4.

  Using Crayola Scissors, cut paper into strips the same width as the letter pages. As you learn new words, write them on the paper strips with Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils. If you need to correct spellings, just erase! With a Crayola Glue Stick, attach words below the correct letters. Watch your vocabularies grow all around the room!

Standards

• LA: Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
• LA: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds.
• LA: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
• LA: Participate in shared research and writing projects.
• VA: Use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner.
• VA: Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.

Adaptations

• This activity is an on-going exercise for vocabulary building. Encourage students to continue this process at home with parental supervision. New words can be added as often as daily if class time permits.
• Students can extend spelling activities to include adding words to their personal alphabets. New terms from science and social studies should also be added.
• Students can choose a list of 5-10 words to create an original poem. With the assistance of an adult, have students brainstorm ideas for their poems. Completed poems should be illustrated to assist with meaning. Writing can be posted in the classroom for viewing.
• If students are learning a world language, they may choose to complete a second alphabet appropriate for that language. New world language terms can be added to this alphabet as time permits.