Letter U Unit
All the activities in this unit have one thing in common, they are about items that start with the letter U. This is by no means a comprehensive list of activities. It's just some of the things I have tried with K and N myself which they have enjoyed. I have attached a few printables I created and used for this unit. Feel free to print them!
This post is curriculum based but it can be done by SAHMs and working parents alike. All activities here take 5 minutes or less to carry out from start to end. They also involve very little preparatory work. Give them a try and let me know what you think 😉
Materials:
- Polar bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera
- Polar Bear Print out on Cardstock
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Stickers (optional)
- Velcro Dots (optional)
How to:
- Cut out the polar bear
- Use the underwear template and cut out underwear for the polar bear from different coloured construction paper
- Let kids design underwear for the polar bear
Pro tips:
- I put velcro dots on the underwear so that the kids can put the underwear onto the polar bear and have it stay on while they 'role play' with it :)
Materials:
- Scrap piece of cardboard
- Black Marker
- Pinwheel pin
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Draw out the unicyclist and wheel on the cardboard and cut it out
- Let the kids colour and talk about how unicycle means one wheel.
- Attach the wheel to the unicyclist with the pinwheel pin.
Pro tips:
- A big problem with colouring based crafts for children with little or no interest in colouring is to hold their interest. I did a few things to keep them on task for a longer than usual period of time. First, I let the kids decide where to put the flowers in on the unicyclists to make them more invested in this activity... it gives them a sense of choice and that they have more of a say in their craft.
- My kids did not have the patience to finish colouring the entire craft on their own. I sat with them and coloured while we talked. It kept them colouring for much longer and held their attention for longer.
- We talked about how the unicycle has one wheel, a bicycle has two and a tricycle has three. Then talked about other words that have the words uni- bi- and tri- and what they mean.
Materials:
- Half a paper plate
- Disposable chopsticks
- Duct tape
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Get kids to design their own 'umbrellas' by colouring or drawing on the plate.
- Stick the chopstick to the plate with a duct tape to make an umbrella
- Let them hold their umbrella and pretend it is raining.
Pro tips:
- Extend the activity by doing other 'umbrella' activities. Make some fruit smoothies and pop in an umbrella to fancy it up!
Materials:
- Cardboard
- Tape
- Yarn or string
- Dot Stickers (optional)
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Cut out a Ukelele from the cardboard. Making slits at the end to 'string' the instrument.
- Let the kids colour and decorate their ukelele.
- Stick the yarn or string down on the bottom end of the ukelele and get the kids to string it on the top (fine motor skills).
- Stick the strings down behind to secure it.
Pro tips:
- The kids LOVED this craft. They played with it every day till the ukeleles were all a crumpled mess.
- I added the dot stickers with the word 'ukelele' just to label the activity and do a bit of alphabet matching for N (2 years). He still does not recognize his letters well so I wanted to take every opportunity to expose him to the alphabet.
Other Suggestions:
U is for Uniform
- We have a little form puzzle where the kids could dress up a doll in different uniforms. You can also easily print out different uniforms and draw a simple doll and 'dress' it up. Talk about what uniforms do and why some people have to wear uniforms to work while others don't.
U is for Under
- Make a little under the table fort and have a little lunch picnic under the table.
U is for Uncle
- Bring out the family tree to talk about uncles. Talk about how Uncles are all men and the women are called Aunties instead. Bring in some Chinese even and talk about how different uncles have different names when we call them in Chinese but in English they are all 'uncles'.
U is for Upside Down
- Have an upside down day! Serve an upside down pizza, wear your clothes upside down. See if you can do a headstand! Stick pictures upside down. Make an upside down face (Sticking parts of the face on a piece of paper upside down).
This post is curriculum based but it can be done by SAHMs and working parents alike. All activities here take 5 minutes or less to carry out from start to end. They also involve very little preparatory work. Give them a try and let me know what you think 😉
1. U is for Underwear
- Polar bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera
- Polar Bear Print out on Cardstock
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Stickers (optional)
- Velcro Dots (optional)
How to:
- Cut out the polar bear
- Use the underwear template and cut out underwear for the polar bear from different coloured construction paper
- Let kids design underwear for the polar bear
Pro tips:
- I put velcro dots on the underwear so that the kids can put the underwear onto the polar bear and have it stay on while they 'role play' with it :)
2. U is for Unicycle
- Scrap piece of cardboard
- Black Marker
- Pinwheel pin
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Draw out the unicyclist and wheel on the cardboard and cut it out
- Let the kids colour and talk about how unicycle means one wheel.
- Attach the wheel to the unicyclist with the pinwheel pin.
Pro tips:
- A big problem with colouring based crafts for children with little or no interest in colouring is to hold their interest. I did a few things to keep them on task for a longer than usual period of time. First, I let the kids decide where to put the flowers in on the unicyclists to make them more invested in this activity... it gives them a sense of choice and that they have more of a say in their craft.
- My kids did not have the patience to finish colouring the entire craft on their own. I sat with them and coloured while we talked. It kept them colouring for much longer and held their attention for longer.
- We talked about how the unicycle has one wheel, a bicycle has two and a tricycle has three. Then talked about other words that have the words uni- bi- and tri- and what they mean.
3. U is for Umbrella
Materials:
- Half a paper plate
- Disposable chopsticks
- Duct tape
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Get kids to design their own 'umbrellas' by colouring or drawing on the plate.
- Stick the chopstick to the plate with a duct tape to make an umbrella
- Let them hold their umbrella and pretend it is raining.
Pro tips:
- Extend the activity by doing other 'umbrella' activities. Make some fruit smoothies and pop in an umbrella to fancy it up!
4. U is for Ukelele
- Cardboard
- Tape
- Yarn or string
- Dot Stickers (optional)
- Colour pencils
How to:
- Cut out a Ukelele from the cardboard. Making slits at the end to 'string' the instrument.
- Let the kids colour and decorate their ukelele.
- Stick the yarn or string down on the bottom end of the ukelele and get the kids to string it on the top (fine motor skills).
- Stick the strings down behind to secure it.
Pro tips:
- The kids LOVED this craft. They played with it every day till the ukeleles were all a crumpled mess.
- I added the dot stickers with the word 'ukelele' just to label the activity and do a bit of alphabet matching for N (2 years). He still does not recognize his letters well so I wanted to take every opportunity to expose him to the alphabet.
Other Suggestions:
U is for Uniform
- We have a little form puzzle where the kids could dress up a doll in different uniforms. You can also easily print out different uniforms and draw a simple doll and 'dress' it up. Talk about what uniforms do and why some people have to wear uniforms to work while others don't.
U is for Under
- Make a little under the table fort and have a little lunch picnic under the table.
U is for Uncle
- Bring out the family tree to talk about uncles. Talk about how Uncles are all men and the women are called Aunties instead. Bring in some Chinese even and talk about how different uncles have different names when we call them in Chinese but in English they are all 'uncles'.
U is for Upside Down
- Have an upside down day! Serve an upside down pizza, wear your clothes upside down. See if you can do a headstand! Stick pictures upside down. Make an upside down face (Sticking parts of the face on a piece of paper upside down).
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