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Amazing A - Preschool Curriculum

Focusing on the short "A" sound (/a/ as in apple) and the physical shape of the letter. It emphasizes sensory play, fine motor skills, and phonemic awareness.

Teacher's Tip: The "A" Sensory Bin

Throughout the week, keep a sensory bin filled with dried corn or beans. Hide magnetic letters, small plastic apples, toy ants and other "A" items inside. Encourage the children to dig through and find the items that start with the "A" sound! (As always, remember that tiny pieces require close supervision.)

This Day 1 curriculum focuses on the applewhile introducing the visual structure of the letter through movement and tactile exploration.

Day 1: A is for Apple

Focus: Letter recognition (uppercase and lowercase), the /a/ sound, and fine motor development through tearing and grasping.

Lesson: The "Mountain" and the "Circle"

Introduce the letter A by describing its shape.

Uppercase A: Describe it as a tall mountain with a "bridge" across the middle. Have the children reach their arms up high to touch their fingertips together like a mountain peak.
Lowercase a: Describe it as a round little apple with a short stem on the side.
Phonemic Practice: Practice the /a/ sound by pretending to take a big bite out of an invisible apple. "A-A-A-Apple!"

Craft: Apple Mosaic "A"

This project builds hand strength by requiring children to tear paper rather than cut it.

Materials: Cardboard cut into a large "A" shape, red and green construction paper, and glue sticks.
Instructions: Have the children tear the red paper into small "bite-sized" pieces. They will glue these pieces onto the "A" until it is completely covered.

Activity: Walking the Letter "A"

This gross motor activity helps children "feel" the shape of the letter with their whole bodies.

Setup: Use painter's tape to create a giant uppercase A and a lowercase a on the floor.
The Game: Children must "walk the tightrope" along the tape lines. As they walk the "bridge" of the Big A, they have to shout "A says /a/!"
Variation: Place several real apples along the tape lines. The children must walk the letter and pick up the apples one by one, placing them into a basket at the end of the "path."

Sensory Integration: Apple-Scented Dough

Add a tactile station with apple-scented playdough (cinnamon and red food coloring). Provide "A" cookie cutters or encourage them to roll "snakes" to form the crossbar of the letter A.

Books to Read

"Ten Apples Up On Top!" by Dr. Seuss (Excellent for counting and rhyme).
"The Apple Pie Tree" by Zoe Hall (Great for connecting nature to the letter).

Song: "The A-P-P-L-E Song"

(Tune: BINGO) "I know a fruit that’s crunchy and red, And Apple is its name-o! A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E, A-P-P-L-E, And Apple is its name-o!"

Snack: Apple "Donuts"

Core an apple and slice it into rings. Spread each ring with sunflower seed butter (a great nut-free alternative) and let the children sprinkle "seeds" (granola or raisins) on top. The ring shape mimics the roundness of the lowercase "a." Add a stick of a sliced apple or a pretzel to reinforce the idea of the stick.

Day 2: A is for Ant

Focus: Identifying the letter in words and practicing the "short A" sound.

Lesson: Discuss how ants are tiny but very strong. Practice the "A-A-Ant" sound while "marching" fingers up your arm.
Craft: Fingerprint Ants. Use a black ink pad or paint to make three dots (head, thorax, abdomen). Use a fine-liner to add six legs and two antennae.
Activity: The Ant March. Create a "tunnel" out of boxes or blankets. Children "march" through like ants carrying "food" (small beanbags) to their colony.
Books to Read:
- The Ants Go Marching by Kim Norman
- Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose. (This is a favorite!)
Song: "The Ants Go Marching One by One."
Snack: "Ants on a Log" (Celery sticks with cream cheese or sunflower butter, topped with raisins).

Day 3: A is for Alligator

Focus: Fine motor skills and letter formation.

Lesson: Learn about alligators. Use your arms to make a "Big Chomp" like an alligator's jaws.
Craft: Clothespin Alligator. Paint a wooden clothespin green. Glue on googly eyes and small white paper triangles for teeth.
Activity: Alligator Snap. Lay a blue towel or a river backdrop on the floor ("the river"). Place paper "A"s and other letters in the water. Children use "alligator grabbers" (kitchen tongs) to rescue only the "A" letters.
Books to Read:
- There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer.
  "Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree." This is a fantastic countdown song that helps children practice subtraction and rhythm.
  - Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree
    Five little monkeys swinging in a tree, Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me!" "You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be... SNAP!
    Four little monkeys swinging in a tree, Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me!" "You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be... SNAP!
    Three little monkeys swinging in a tree, Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me!" "You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be... SNAP!
    Two little monkeys swinging in a tree, Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me!" "You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be... SNAP!
    One little monkey swinging in a tree, Teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me!" "You can't catch me!" Along comes Mr. Alligator, quiet as can be... SNAP!
    No little monkeys swinging in a tree, Away swims Mr. Alligator, full as can be!
  - How to Play (Hand Motions)
    - Swinging: Hold up five fingers and wiggle your hand back and forth.
    - Teasing: Put your thumbs in your ears and wiggle your fingers while chanting "You can't catch me!"
    - Quiet as can be: Press your palms together and slither your hands slowly through the air like an alligator swimming.
    - SNAP!: Clap your hands together loudly (the kids usually love this part!).
    - Full as can be: Pat your stomach at the very end.
    Classroom Tip: If you want to make it even more interactive, you can use a puppet for the alligator and have five children pretend to be the monkeys.

Bright living room with modern inventory

More alligator fun:

"The Alligator Song" (Tune: The Mulberry Bush)
Teacher says a letter or makes the sound of a letter. If it is the letter A or the sound of the letter A, the children use their arms to snap like an alligator. If the teacher calls out another random letter or sound, the children must sit still and quiet.

"I'm a brave alligator,

swimming in the lake.

I'm looking for a letter that I can take! (Snap!)"

Day 4: A is for Astronaut

Focus: Imagination and "Blast Off" gross motor play.

Lesson: Talk about space and astronauts. Explain that astronauts travel far A-A-Away in the sky.
Craft: Foil Moon & Rocket. Cut out a large "A" from cardboard. Wrap it in aluminum foil to make it look "space-age" and add a triangle "nose cone" to the top.
Activity: Astronaut Training. Set up an obstacle course where children have to move in "slow motion" (low gravity) and jump over "moon rocks" (pillows).
Books to Read:
- Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton.
Song: "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon."
- This is a popular preschool "circle time" song that is great for burning off energy before a nap or a transition. It usually includes a countdown at the end where the children crouch down and then jump up high!
  Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
  Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon. Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon.
  If you want to take a trip, Climb aboard my rocket ship.
  Zoom, zoom, zoom, We’re going to the moon.
  In 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... BLAST OFF!
  Interactive Hand Motions
  - "Zoom, zoom, zoom": Rub your palms together quickly in a sliding motion.
  - "Climb aboard": Mimic climbing a ladder with your hands.
  - "5, 4, 3, 2, 1": Count down using your fingers, crouching lower and lower to the floor with each number.
  - "Blast Off!": Jump as high as you can into the air!
  Extra Verses
  If the kids are having a great time, you can add these variations:
  - Far, far, far, we're going to the stars!
  - Fun, fun, fun, we're going to the sun!
Snack: "Rocket Fruit Kabobs" (Strawberry on top, banana slices in the middle, and a wedge of pineapple at the bottom).

Day 5: A is for Airplane & Adventure

Focus: Review and Celebration.

Lesson: Review all the "A" words from the week. Practice tracing the letter A in a sensory tray of sand or salt.
Craft: Paper Plate Airplanes. Decorate paper plates and attach cardboard "wings" to the sides.
Activity: The Great A-Adventure. Hide "A" objects around the room (plastic ant, toy airplane, red apple). Give the children a "map" to find all the hidden treasures.
Books to Read:
- The Amazing Alphabet by Dr. Seuss (Focus on the 'A' page).
Song: "The Letter A Song" (Tune: The Wheels on the Bus)
- "The letter A says /a/, /a/, /a/! /a/, /a/, /a/! /a/, /a/, /a/!
- The letter A says /a/, /a/, /a/ all day long!"
Snack: Animal crackers (focusing on the A-A-Ape or A-A-Alligator) and apricot slices.

More Snacks Ideas for the Letter A

Fresh & Fruity

Apple Slices: Serve them plain, or with a side of yogurt for dipping. Thin slices or "matchsticks" are easier for small children to chew.
Applesauce: You can even find varieties mixed with other fruits like strawberries or blueberries.
Apricots: Fresh apricots are soft and sweet when ripe. If using dried apricots, cutting them into smaller, bite-sized pieces makes them much easier for small hands to manage.

Savory & Filling

Avocado: Sliced, cubed, or mashed onto toast. It’s creamy and full of healthy fats.
Ants on a Log: The traditional version uses celery and peanut butter, but for group settings, cream cheese or sunflower seed butter topped with raisins is a safer, allergy-friendly alternative.

Fun & Crunchy

Animal Crackers: These are a perennial favorite and can double as a quick storytelling prompt.
Alphabet Crackers: Perfect for reinforcing the "A" theme while they crunch away.
Pretzels: Children can form the letter A from pretzels.

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