"Exceptional E"

Day 1: E is for Egg

Focuses on introducing the letter shape and both the short "e" sound (/eh/ as in egg) and the long "E" sound (/ee/ as in eagle). It emphasizes sensory exploration through Eggs, Elephants, and Exercise.

• Lesson: Introduce the letter E. Explain that uppercase E looks like a tall backbone with three shelves.

• Craft: Plastic Egg Painting. Dip plastic eggs into paint and "roll" them across paper to create unique patterns.

• Activity: The Egg & Spoon Race. Give children a large spoon and a plastic egg. Have them walk across the yard or room without letting the egg fall.

• Books to Read:

  • An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston

  • First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

• Song: "The Little Egg" (Tune: Up on the Housetop)

  • This is a delightful little rhyme for Letter E week, It uses the bouncy rhythm of "Up on the Housetop" to build anticipation for the "hatch."

    The Little Egg

    Cracking, cracking, what do I see? A little chick looking at me! (Peer through your fingers like you’re looking into a nest)

    With a peck-peck here and a peck-peck there, (Tap your index finger against your other palm)

  • Shells are falling everywhere! (Wiggle your fingers downward like falling snow)

    Hark, hark, hark! Hear the chick cry, "I’m out of my shell, oh my, oh my!" (Flap your arms like little wings)

  • Flapping and hopping all around, The cutest little chickie that can be found! (Do a little hop in place)

    Activity Connection

    • The Real Thing: Show the children the texture of an egg shell.

    • Drama Play: Give the children "E" shaped cardboard eggs. Have them crouch down small inside their "shell" and "peck" their way out as you sing the song together.

    Teaching Tip: As you sing, emphasize the "E" in E-E-Egg. You can even ask the kids, "What other animals come out of an E-E-Egg?" They might remember the D-D-Dinosaurs from last week or the C-C-Caterpillars from the week before!

• Snack: Hard-boiled eggs or "Egg in a Hole" (toast with a circle cut out and an egg fried in the middle).

Day 2: E is for Elephant

Focus: Physical movement and size comparison.

• Lesson: Discuss how elephants are the largest land animals. Practice using your arm as an "Elephant Trunk."

• Craft: Paper Plate Elephant. Paint a plate grey. Add two large "E" shaped ears and a long construction paper trunk.

• Activity: Elephant Stomp. Line up the children and have them hold their "trunk" (arm) while stomping heavily around the room. Practice making the "E-E-Elephant" sound.

• Books to Read:

  • Elmer by David McKee

  • Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev.

• Song: "One Elephant Went Out to Play"

  • Tune: The More We Get Together (Traditional)

    One elephant went out to play,

  • Upon a spider's web one day. (Hold up one finger and move it in a slow, heavy circle)

  • He had such enormous fun, He called for another elephant to come! (Cup hands around mouth and shout, "Oh, Elephant!")

    Two elephants went out to play... (Continue counting up until you reach the number of children in your class!)

    Classroom Activity: As you name a new number, have one more child join a "conga line" or a circle. By the end, the whole class is stomping together as a "herd."

• Snack: "Elephant Ears" (Whole wheat tortillas lightly fried with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a tiny bit of sugar)

Day 3: E is for Earth & Environment

Focus: Nature and taking care of our world.

• Lesson: Talk about our planet, the Earth. Discuss how we can help by recycling and picking up litter.

• Craft: Coffee Filter Earth. Use blue and green markers on a coffee filter, then spray with water to watch the "land" and "water" blend together.

• Activity: Earth Search. Go outside and find three things that belong to the Earth (a rock, a leaf, a stick).

• Books to Read:

  • The Earth Book by Todd Parr.

• Song: "The Earth is Our Home" (Tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

  • The Earth is our home, The Earth is our home. (Make a large circle with your arms over your head)

  • We take care of our big green world, The Earth is our home!

  • We pick up all the trash, We pick up all the trash. (Pretend to bend down and pick things up)

  • We take care of our big green world, The Earth is our home!

  • We plant a little seed, We plant a little seed. (Pretend to poke a hole in the ground and drop a seed)

  • We take care of our big green world, The Earth is our home!

• Snack: "Earth Bowls" (Blueberries and green grapes mixed together).

Day 4: E is for Exercise

Focus: Gross motor skills and energy.

• Lesson: Discuss why we Exercise (to keep our hearts strong!). Ask the children what their favorite way to move is.

• Craft: Exercise Headbands. Decorate paper strips with "E"s and lightning bolts to wear during your workout.

• Activity: E-Endurance Circuit. Set up stations: Elephant Stomps, Elbow touches, and Energy Jumps.

• Books to Read:

  • Get Up and Go! by Nancy Carlson.

• Song: "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" (Focusing on the E-E-Elbows and E-E-Eyes).

• Snack: "Energy Bites" (Oatmeal, honey, and seed butter rolled into small balls).

Day 5: E is for Engine & Exit

Focus: Review and mechanics.

• Lesson: Review all the E words: Egg, Elephant, Earth, and Exercise. Talk about how an Engine makes a car or train go.

• Craft: Box Engines. Use small cardboard boxes to build a "train." Let children decorate their own "Engine" car with the letter E.

• Activity: The Red Light/Green Light Exit. Practice stopping and starting. When you shout "Engine Go!", they move. When you shout "Exit!", they have to find a "door" (a hula hoop or designated spot).

• Books to Read:

  • The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

• Song: "The Engine Song" (Tune: The Wheels on the Bus)

  "The engine on the train goes chug-chug-chug, chug-chug-chug, chug-chug-chug..."

• Snack: "Edamame" (Steam some soy beans in the pod—it’s fun for them to "pop" the seeds out!).

Outdoor Nature Activity: The "Echo" Game

Take the children outside to where there is a wall or a fence.

1. Explain what an Echo is.

2. Have the children shout an "E" word (like "Egg!") and pretend to hear it bounce back.

3. Have them "echo" your movements—if you hop like a bunny, they echo the hop!

More outside activities:

• Earth Care: After singing "The Earth is Our Home," give each child a small pair of gardening gloves and see if they can find any "winter debris" (old leaves or twigs) in the backyard to clear away for the new spring blossoms.

• Elephant Stomps: Have the children stomp through the grass to see if they can make the ground "shake" like an elephant.