Ideas for letter i activities and books for preschool!
True confessions time. I’m a homeschool mom who sometimes doesn’t remember the difference between a long vowel and a short vowel. And by sometimes, I mean often. Meaning I usually have to look it up when sounding out words with my children.
But you know what? My kids still learned to read just fine. They love books and reading and being read to so don’t beat yourself up on little technicalities when you begin homeschooling. Just dive it! Grab some books and read to your kids. If your kids like worksheets, print some off and have at it!
Homeschooling is very personal and will look different for each family. But all you really need is books, play, and the determination to give your kids the best life possible. My plan involves just three days a week of sit down work with a book and one extension activity. You can read a different book each day like I have suggested, or you can read the same book each day. do what works for you!
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we earn a commission at NO extra cost to you. For more information, please read my full disclosure policy.
Letter I Activities
Day One – Letter Work and Inside, Outside, and Upside Down
This classic Berenstain bears book about a truck, a box, and a bear has delighted readers for years. Don’t miss this book for the concepts of “inside, outside, and upside down.”
One of the best, best, BEST things about homeschooling is that it can be done from anywhere. Most of time working on the letter I was done at my sister’s house when were visiting/helping after she had twins.
I wanted to keep it super simple so I went with the ice cream unit from Little Monkey Printables. Since I downloaded these, they have been moved from a blog to a Teachers Pay Teachers account.
The Bear used her markers for her do-a-dot pages rather than the stamps. She felt compelled to use the color pink.
Harley went to a preschool outside the home when she was 3 and 4. One thing she LOVED was all the simple, little books they made. This one has a different color for each ice cream cone.
I did my best to introduce a little algebra to the girls, but they weren’t interested. I should have timed it better so they weren’t losing interested before I started the activity, but I will try again another time.
Day Two – Ice Cream Craft and Should I Share my Ice Cream
“Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
In Should I Share my Ice Cream? Gerald has a big decision to make. But will he make it in time?”
Our craft for the Letter I was “I”nventing an “I”ce cream flavor. I had a number of colors of construction paper. The girls picked a color and cut out an ice cream scoop to add to the top of the cone. It was so cute to see what flavor they picked out with each color. Harley’s was strawberry, lemon, blueberry, and grape with icing. Bear had two cones. One was strawberry, blueberry, and watermelon. The other was strawberry and lemon.
Day Three – Sensory Play and I Want My Hat Back
“The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor.”
Our sensory activity for the Letter I was a play on the word Ice. We got SO MUCH SNOW here in Wisconsin this winter that I thought we should bring the snow in for the girls to play with. I added their My Little Pony toys to the pile since I knew what would draw them it. And boy did it!! They probably played with the snow for hours since they asked to do it a few times. We even added food coloring to changed the color of the snow, and added hot water to get the snow to melt.
Letter I Books
Some additional letter I books you can read with your kiddos!
Imogene’s Antlers by David Small
“One Thursday Imogene wakes up with a pair of antlers growing out of her head and causes a sensation wherever she goes.”
I Can Ready With My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss
“The Cat in the Hat can read in purple and in brown, in a circle and even upside down! Can he teach Young Cat to do the same? A perfect stepping stone for emerging readers to show off their skills, this book will show kids all the wonderful ways and wonderful things you can read.”
Letter of the Week Activities
Looking for ALL our Letter of the Week work? Check out this round-up post!
Additional Recourses
I hope these simple and fun books and activities inspire you to spend time reading and playing with your kids. Thanks for reading!
That sensory learning with the snow looks like so much fun!! You know, I have never thought to bring the snow inside – brilliant!! No snow here right now. I’m not sure if we will get anymore either, but there’s always next year.
Thanks! I saw an idea for using ice and insects but I figured the girls would get too cold doing that. The snow ended up being the perfect temp for them to play with.