Kindergarten Activities on the Letter E
Learning Letters for Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Kindergarteners
Aug 28, 2009
Teaching the letter E can be a lot of fun when these activities are added to the lesson plan. In addition to worksheets and traditional alphabet teaching methods, use these ABC activities to generate interest and variety to the topic.
Letter E Lessons in Science
Break an egg into a clear glass container and let students examine and describe it. Explain that egg starts with E, and eggs have two parts to them: the white and the yolk. As children watch, whisk up the egg in the container. Then let them describe how the appearance of the egg is different now than it was before.
Take a second egg and tell students that the egg will be boiled for a five minutes in hot water. What do they think will happen when the shell is cracked afterward? Hard boil the egg, peel the finished product, and cut it in half. Can children remember what the white and yellow part are called? Can they point out the white and the yolk?
Two Fun Letter E Games With Hard-Boiled Eggs
Boiling several dozen eggs ahead of time (leaving shells intact) allows for two alphabet games teaching the letter E. The class could decorate the eggs with stickers or markers, and then divide up into two teams for an egg relay race. Children must hold an egg on a spoon (a teaspoon for kindergarteners, a serving spoon or ladle for toddlers) and walk around a cone and back without dropping their eggs before the next team member can go. The first team to get everyone across the finish line wins.
As a variation, use the hard-boiled eggs as part of an egg hunt. Use a marker to write capital and lowercase letter E on the eggs to help kids with letter recognition, hide the eggs, and tell the class to find them all! Just make sure to count the eggs beforehand to make sure that they are all found.
Alphabet Lesson Plan: E is for Emergency!
As a class, define the word "emergency." Explain that emergency is any disaster, usually a dangerous one. Ask for examples of emergencies, such as fires, floods, tornadoes, and severe injuries. (It's important to keep the discussion age-appropriate to avoid scaring children.)
Take the opportunity to talk about 911 and what to do in different types of emergency situations. If possible, ask a guest paramedic or firefighter come to class to give a presentation.
Learning Letters With Parts of the Body
All the parts of our bodies have names, and some of them – like ears and elbows – start with the letter E. Older kids might think it's fun to learn new words like esophagus and epidermis, too.
Play "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," then speed up or change the words to name different body parts. For toddlers keep the variants simple ("neck, tummy, legs, and feet"); older children will enjoy the challenge of more difficult body parts ("tongue, elbows, spine, and shins" or "chin, eyebrows, hips, and heels.")
Letter E Activities on Eagles for American Students
Bald eagles are America's national bird. There is a lot of symbolism associated with eagles. Emphasizing that eagles begin with the letter E, examine quarters or $1 bills to find the pictures of eagles. Talk about patriotism and hand out printable coloring pages of an eagle and an American flag to color.
Teaching the letter E in kindergarten or pre-K needs to be exciting and different if students are going to absorb the lesson. Including some of these games, crafts, experiments, and activities to the lesson plan facilitates real learning.
Make sure to check out the rest of the Kindergarten Letter Activities series for more educational fun and games.
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