Have an alphabet book ready, preferably a big book. Let the children choose from a range
of letters which ones they will be.

• Which letter have you chosen?
• What sound does your letter make?
• Can you think of anything that begins with your letter sound?
• How do you make your letter? Can you draw it in the air with your finger?
• Can other people guess which letter you are drawing?
• Does anybody’s name begin with this letter?
• Does anyone have a pet whose name begins with this letter sound?
• Have we anything in the classroom that begins with this letter?
• Draw your letter carefully in the air before you begin to paint it on your Top. Make sure
  that you paint it as big as you can so that people can see it. It would be a good idea
  to draw your letter on your Top first with chalk and then paint over it.

• Now you can collect some things that begin with your letter and paint pictures of them on your Top? You could even
  look in books. Don’t forget that you can also paint on the back of your Top or even ask your friends to add a picture!
• Wear your Top. Can your friends guess what your pictures are? Try to bring some things from home that begin with
  your letter and you can share what your find with your classmates.
  
• Can you find two other friends to make a word with? Stand next to each other and show the rest of the class.
  Can they read it?
  
• Can they find another friend or two to make an even bigger word?
  
• Can they find their letter in the middle or at the end of other words?
  

Meeting curriculum requirements:

This activity engages children’s interest in letter names and sounds. It enables children to familiarise themselves with a
particular letter and its sound and to explore their environment at home and school. To collect objects that begin with
their letter and its sound. It requires observation and the ability to know that each letter has its own sound and to
recognise that letter sound in words. It also involves mark-making and painting skills.

Tips for Painting:

Tops must be kept flat when they are being painted
Have thick brushes available
Use one colour for all the letters, for example black
You could use thick water-based marker pens.
Encourage the children to make bold strokes with their markers or brushes
If things go wrong, wipe out with a damp cloth

Useful Reference:

Large alphabet books and pictures of letters

What you will need:

Tops, paints, paint trays, water jars, paper towels, rags and brushes, chalks, water-based marker pens.

Activity 0050 Big words