B is for Beans

After our Bean Plant Life Cycle Experiments, we used beans to make a letter “B” and spell the word “beans”.

This is a simple activity that can be modified for almost any letter and small material. It is a fun way to build manual dexterity, practice tracing, and make the connection between the letter, the sound, and the meaning. And it is easy to adapt for more advanced learners by allowing them to spell out the word instead of just tracing the upper and lowercase letters.

Materials

• beans
• glue
• construction paper
• pencil
• white crayon

Directions:

1. Write the letters or word on the construction paper with pencil. (Tip: Make sure to teach toddlers and preschoolers to identify lowercase as well as uppercase letters. Preschoolers and kindergartners who are ready to write should practice appropriate capitalization.)

2. Have children trace the letters or word with the crayon and then with glue. Toddlers and younger preschoolers may need help.

3. Add beans along the glue to make the letters or word.

4. As the children work, repeat the sound of the letter “B”. While the letters or word are drying, look around the house/classroom for other words that begin with the letter “B”. Look at books, too. For example, ask, “What animals begin with the sound, “buh-buh-buh”? “Where do we pour our soup? It begins with a buh-buh-buh.” “What sweet fruits begin with a buh-buh-buh?”

You can make a collage of pictures of words that begin with “B” and older children can label or write the names of these things.