Start Writing My Name

Why

Letter and name recognition are early literacy milestones for young children. This activity provides creative engagements in tactile and kinesthetic learning.


Steps

1. 3-D names. Children use Crayola® Model Magic to create the letters of their names. Observe the use of upper- and lower-case letters, variations in name lengths, similarities in letters in names, and other letter and word characteristics.


2. Design decorative patterns on Model Magic letters with beads or other craft materials. Dry 24 hours.


3. 2-D names. When children have the interest and sufficient muscle control to begin writing, use Crayola Write Start Colored Pencils or Construction Paper Crayons to make personal name plates by writing their own names on white paper.


4. Embellish names with colorful patterns or repeated lines. Or use crayon rubbings to add texture to the letters or background. Place the paper on a textured surface and rub with the pencil or side of a crayon with the paper wrapper removed.


5. Mat the name plates on larger pieces of construction paper with Crayola Washable Glue Sticks.


Safety Guidelines

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough With Small Parts— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—

  • Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
  • Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
  • Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
  • If the arts & crafts project involves making small objects, follow the small parts/choking hazards standards: WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years."
  • The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
  • Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
  • Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient. Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic, and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Small Parts— WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

Adaptations

  • Model Magic letters can be used to play sorting games, matching games with upper- and lower-case letters, and phonics games. Some children may be so interested, they will want to create a whole alphabet.
  • Younger children and those with special needs may be most successful if they have samples of their names to follow. Older students can make more challenging "overstuffed" outline or cursive letters.
  • Hang name plates on a school bulletin board, on children's cubbies, or at home.

Related Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

 

Supplies

crayola supplies
  • Construction Paper™ Crayons
  • Write Start™ Colored Pencils
  • Model Magic®
  • Glue Sticks
  • Construction Paper
household supplies
  • textured items, such as sandpaper, screen, paper doilies, rubber sink mat
  • decorative craft items

Overview

grades

  • Pre-K and Kindergarten
  • Grades 1 to 3
  • Special Needs

subjects

  • Language Arts
  • Visual Arts

time

  • Less than 1/2 hour
  • 30 to 60 minutes
  • Multiple Sessions

benefits

  • Children recognize the shapes and sounds of alphabet letters in their names.

  • Children engage in tactile and kinesthetic learning as they create their names in three dimensions and then, as they are ready, write their names in two dimensions.

  • Students gain an appreciation for individual differences and grow in their self-esteem as they develop literacy and art skills.

Cirriculum

Research Canada Standards
Research UK Standards
Research U.S. Standards