Planned learning intention
To develop children's recognition of initial sounds.
Resources
Empty deli food tubs Permanent marker pen Various small items and plastic toys
Step by step
* Ask your local deli or supermarket for empty 250g tubs they use on the salad counter.
* Write a different letter of the alphabet (in lower case) with a permanent marker on the side of each tub.
* Gather a range of small plastic toys and items that will fit in the tubs, according to the letter they begin with. For example, in the 'b' tub you may have a badge, a balloon, a doll's bag, a toy bus; in the 'c' tub you may have a candle (from a birthday cake), a toy cow, a small toy car, a crayon.
* Choose two of the tubs and their contents. Talk about the sound the letters on the tubs make. Mix up the contents of the two tubs on the tabletop and invite the children to sort the toys into the appropriate tubs.
* As the children recognise more sounds, make the task more challenging by mixing the contents of up to four tubs together and then letting children sort them.