Welcome to the Letter Aa Activities page, filled with fun and engaging ideas to help children explore the letter A! Here, you'll find a variety of activities, including an upbeat song to sing, creative process art for making Letter Aa posters, book suggestions, tasty foods, and more. These activities are designed to support a child's learning through play, helping them recognize the letter A, practice the sound it makes, and connect it to real-world objects. Let's get started with some exciting ways to bring the letter A to life!
Phonics songs are a great way to help children learn letter sounds as they prepare for reading. Sing these songs slowly, emphasizing the sound of the letter. It’s crucial to focus on teaching children only the short vowel sounds at first. Avoid introducing other sounds, like long vowels or schwa, until the child has mastered CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words and basic reading skills.
Tune: The Farmer in the Dell
Phonics Song
A /a/ apple
A /a/ apple
/a/ /a/ /a/ /a/
A /a/ apple
Color or paint the letter Aa's red. Once dry, add apple seeds using fingerprints and a black ink pad or black paint. Cut out a stem and leaf from construction paper and glue them to the A's.
For another idea, cut an apple in half. Dab with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Dip in paint and stamp onto the Letter Aa poster.
Or provide red and green paper for the child to tear into pieces. Glue the torn paper onto the Aa to resemble apples, and say the /a/ sound as they work.
You can also add apple stickers or use an apple stamp for extra fun. Cut out the letters for scissors practice.
Color or paint the Aa poster green. Using cut circles for eyes and triangles for teeth, glue to the poster to create an alligator.
Using paint or an ink pad, create ants with fingerprints on the Letter A poster. With a marker, add antennas, faces, and feet, if desired.
Add animal stickers to the Letter A poster.
To tie to Noah's Ark, paint the letters brown to represent the ark. Then when dry, add animal stickers.
Roll play dough into ropes and place them on the Aa Poster to form the letters. This is a great fine motor activity that helps the child understand letter formation. Afterward, use the play dough to create objects that start with the letter A, such as an apple, alligator, angel, and more.
Glue animal crackers on the Aa Poster. Discuss the animals or tie to Noah's Ark by putting two of each animal on the poster.
Find items in a magazine that begin with the short vowel a. Cut out items and glue on the Aa Poster.
Color the Aa poster, then cut it out and tape or glue it to a box. Gather items that start with the /a/ sound to place in your "Aa Box." These could include an apple, an acorn, or a stuffed animal. Ask the child to say the name of each item as they place it in the box, emphasizing the /a/ sound. For extended learning, sort the items by size or color after gathering them. If possible, introduce this activity with the Jane Belk Moncure book, My A Book.
Act Like an "A" Animal
Act out different animals whose names begin with "A" (e.g., alligator, ant, ape). Encourage the child to move and make sounds like each animal, reinforcing the sound and shape of the letter "A."
Large A Walking
Using painter's tape, tape a large A and a on the ground. Have the child walk along the letters pretending to me an ant.
Apple Toss
Set up a soft "apple" toss game where the child throws pretend apples (bean bags or soft balls) into an apple basket (box, laundry basket). Each time an apple is tossed, say "A is for apple!" or sing the Phonetic "A" Song (above).
Ant Trail
Create an imaginary ant trail using string or tape on the ground. Have the children pretend to be ants following the trail while singing the Phonetic "A" Song.
Alligator Swamp
Instruct the child to pretend to be an alligator. Lay down pillows or mats as "rocks" in a swamp having the child to jump from one to another, saying the short vowel sound /a/ each time they land.
When introducing the Letter Aa book to the preschoolers, take time to do a picture walk, looking at the cover page, illustrations, and characters. Talk about what you think might happen in the story. Also, point out both uppercase A's and lowercase a's, and discuss the sound the letter makes, focusing on the short vowel sound at the beginning.
The Jane Belk Moncure Letter Books (also known as Sound Box books) are my favorite for teaching phonetic sounds. As you read, be sure to use the phonetic sound of the letter and not the letter name. After several readings, allow the child to read the phonetic sound of the letter. These books are also wonderful for building vocabulary.
There are a plethora of apples books that can be used to teach the Letter A, but this is one of my favorites. Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss features three animals stacking apples on their heads as they compete to see who can balance the most. Through playful rhymes and colorful illustrations, children learn counting, coordination, and the excitement of friendly competition.
Jamberry by Bruce Degen is a fun, rhythmic story that follows a young boy and a bear as they embark on a berry-picking adventure. With vibrant illustrations and catchy rhymes, the book invites children to explore a colorful world filled with imagination and delicious jam-filled fun. Focus on the short /a/ sound in "jam." Enjoy some yummy toast and jam after reading this book.
Focus on the /a/ sound in the word "hat," The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss tells the story of two children who are stuck inside on a rainy day when a mischievous cat shows up, bringing chaos and fun. With the help of his playful companions, Thing 1 and Thing 2, the cat turns the house upside down, teaching a lesson in mischief and responsibility before their mom returns.
Another /a/ sound in the word "hat," in The Hat by Jan Brett, a mischievous little hedgehog accidentally gets stuck in a cozy knitted hat after trying it on. As he waddles around in the hat, various animals—such as a curious owl, a clever rabbit, and a gentle deer—spot him and mistake him for a new kind of creature. Each animal reacts with surprise and curiosity, creating a humorous situation as they try to figure out what this new "animal" could be. The story showcases themes of friendship and imagination, complemented by Brett's intricate and beautiful illustrations, making it a delightful read for children.
There's an Alligator Under My Bed is a silly book by Mercer Mayer about a young boy who believes there's an alligator lurking under his bed. Using his clever thinking, he devises a plan to lure the alligator out, showcasing both imagination and bravery in this fun, relatable tale for children. This book can help children deal with fears in a fun manner.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst follows young Alexander as he experiences a day where everything seems to go wrong, from waking up with gum in his hair to facing one mishap after another. Through humor and relatable frustration, the book teaches children that bad days happen to everyone, but they won’t last forever.
The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman is a playful, rhyming book based on the classic children's song. It tells the silly story of a baby who eats strange things and is eventually cured by the quirky lady with the alligator purse.
Travel around the world with How to Make an Apple Pie by Marjorie Priceman. A young girl sets out on a global adventure to gather ingredients for the perfect apple pie. Through colorful illustrations and a fun narrative, the book introduces children to different countries and cultures, all while learning how to make a delicious pie.
I Want to Be an Astronaut by Byron Batron follows a young child who dreams of becoming an astronaut and explores the exciting journey of space travel. With simple text and vibrant illustrations, the book introduces children to the wonders of space and the steps involved in becoming an astronaut.
Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington is a simple, sweet book about apples and Annie, a hardworking apple farmer, as she harvests her apples and turns them into delicious treats like cider, applesauce, and muffins. The book highlights the process of apple farming while featuring colorful illustrations and simple text that introduces young readers to both counting and the farm-to-table concept.
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose is sure to spark conversation as you follow the story about a young boy who faces a moral dilemma when he is about to squish an ant. As the boy debates the decision, the ant speaks up, offering its perspective, and the story explores themes of empathy, compassion, and considering the feelings of others.
- Apple, Applesauce, Applejacks, Apple pie
- Ants on a Log (celery with peanut butter and raisins)
- Animal Crackers
- Apricots
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Almonds
- Artichoke
- Acorn squash
All Printables Free for Immediate Family Use or with a Current License Only
