Before the session decide which consonants and vowels you wish the children to be familiar
with. You will need to tell the children that they are going to choose a letter to paint so that
they can then make words by standing together.

Show the children the letters, one at a time, that you have selected.

• Which letter is this? Is it a vowel or a consonant?
• What sound does it make?
• Can it make more than one sound?
• Which letter would you like to paint?

After making sure that enough children have chosen vowels, let the children paint their letters
onto their Tabards or Tops. Encourage them to make them extra large so that everyone will
see them. Restrict the colour to just one so that the letters will be easier to see.

Let all the children wear their Tops or Tabards when they are dry. Choose one child and then let him or her choose two other
‘letters’ to make a word for everyone to see.

• What does your word say?
• Can we change the middle letter to make another word?
• How many changes can we make to the middle letter to make new words?
• Now can we change the first letter? How many new words can we make by changing the first letter?
• Can we put two letters together to make a new sound?
• How many words can we make that begin with the new sound?
• What is the longest word that you can make?
• Can you make up some words of your very own?

The children can write the words they have made onto the Tops or Tabards with thick water-based marker pens.

Meeting curriculum requirements:

This activity involves children in identifying letters, and letter sounds to make new words, extending beyond three letter
words. They learn to form letters and words.

Tips for Painting:

Tops and Tabards must be kept flat when they are being painted
Have one brush size and one paint colour available for all the letters
The children could use thick water-based marker pens, particularly when they are adding words to their Top or Tabard
Encourage the children to make their letters very large so that they can be seen easily
You might get them to chalk their letters on first, before painting over the chalk marks
If things go wrong, wipe out with a damp cloth

Useful Reference:

Letters of the alphabet

What you will need:

Tops, Tabards paint, painting trays, thick water-based marker pens, water pots, paper towels, rags, brushes and chalk

Activity 0013 Be a letter -be a word!