Umbrella U | Joyful Letters

Grown-Up Goals. Kid-Sized Joy.

Learning in disguise.

Focus: Introducing the letter shape and the short "u" sound (/uh/ as in Up) and the long "U" sound (/yoo/ as in Unicorn.

Lesson: Introduce the letter U. It’s like a big, happy smile or a bowl to catch the rain! Practice the /uh/ sound—like you’re thinking ("uh...").
Craft: Paper Plate Umbrellas. Cut a paper plate in half. Let children decorate their half-circle with bright colors. Attach a pipe cleaner or a "U" shaped handle to the bottom.
Activity: Umbrella Run. Set up a "rain station" (a sprinkler or just you with a spray bottle). Children must run from one side of the yard to the other using an Umbrella to stay dry.
Books to Read: The Yellow Umbrella by Jae-Soo Liu.
Song: "Come Under My Umbrella."
- Tune: The More We Get Together
- Come under my umbrella, umbrella, umbrella,
- Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain.
- (Hold hands over head like an umbrella)
- With thunder and lightning, and thunder and lightning,
- (Stomp feet for thunder, clap for lightning)
- Come under my umbrella, it’s starting to rain!
Snack: Umbrella fruit (half an apple with a celery stick handle).

Focus: Positional words and nature.

Lesson: Discuss the word Under. What lives Underground? Talk about worms, roots, and burrowing animals.
Craft: Underground Mural. Use brown paper. Draw the "ground" line. Have children glue "U" shaped worms and roots Under the line.
Activity: Under the Parachute. Use a large sheet or parachute. Have the children sit Under it and pretend they are seeds waiting to grow.
Books to Read:
- Underground by Denise Fleming.
Song: "The Worms Go Up and Down."
Snack: Underground Veggies (Carrots and radishes with dip).

Focus: Long "U" sound and imagination.

Lesson: Introduce the long "U" sound—it says its own name! Discuss the magical Unicorn and its Unique horn.
Craft: Unicorn Headbands. Use a paper strip for the band and a rolled-up piece of shiny paper for the Unicorn horn.
Activity: Unicorn Prance. Have a "U"nique parade around the backyard. Encourage the children to move in a way that is special only to them.
Books to Read:
- How to Catch a Unicorn by Adam Wallace.
Song: "The Unicorn Song."
- Tune: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Unicorn with a silver horn,
- (Place a hand on your forehead like a horn)
- Brightest light I’ve seen since morn.
- Prancing here and prancing there,
- (Prance in place)
- Magic floating in the air.
- Unicorn with a silver horn,
- A brand new "U" word has been born.
Snack: Unicorn Popcorn (popcorn with colorful sprinkles).

Focus: Opposites and gross motor skills.

Lesson: Practice looking Up at the sky. Discuss what happens when we turn things Upside down.
Craft: Upside Down Art. Tape paper to the underside of a small table. Have the children lie on their backs and paint "Up" at the paper.
Activity: Up, Up, and Away! Blow bubbles in the backyard. The children must jump Up to pop them before they float away.
Books to Read:
- Great Day for Up! by Dr. Seuss.
Song: "Up and Down."
- Tune: The Wheels on the Bus
- The worms underground go up and down,
- Up and down, up and down. (
- Wiggle your finger like a worm moving up and down)
- The worms underground go up and down,
- Underneath the grass.
- Continue with....
- The roots in the soil go deep, deep, deep...
- The seeds in the ground start to wake up...
Snack: Upside-down Pineapple cake (or pineapple chunks).

Focus: Community and review.

Lesson: Review all "U" words. Talk about how "U" is for Us—all of us playing together. Mention the Universe (the stars and planets).
Craft: U-is-for-Us Portrait. Have the children draw a picture of themselves and a friend holding hands in a "U" shape.
Activity: The Universe Orbit. Use a large ball as the sun and have the children run in "U" shaped paths around it.
Books to Read:
- Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney.
Song: "The More We Get Together" (focusing on "Us").
Snack: Un-crustables or Udon noodles.