Letter J Activities and Craft Ideas
Below you will find projects and activities that will help you and your child explore the letter J. Keep in mind that this theme page is really aimed at younger children, up to about age 5. Don't be fooled into thinking that these projects and activities are too simple for this age group. Young children thrive on simplicity - it gives them the opportunity to work independently, to understand the task at hand, and to "own" their work. Immersing them in projects and activities that center around a particular theme (in this case the letter "J") allows them to gain a greater understanding of the theme and internalize it.
There are plans for many projects and activites for this theme. Additional crafts, projects, printables, recipes, music, and more will be added to this page in the coming months. I've decided to put the theme pages up as a work in progress. In truth, even when I think that I've completed a theme page, I think of other things that I should have added.
Words Beginning With "J"
Talk with your child about the letter "J", the sound it makes, and words that start with this letter. If you are using some kind of phonics program with your child, this would be the time to work on "J" within the program.
NOTE: If you are considering a phonics program to help your child learn to recognize letters, learn their sounds, and eventually read, then I can personally recommend Frontline Phonics
. It is an excellent program for younger children and blends nicely with this theme approach to crafting.
jelly
jewel
jaws
jar
|
juice
jam
jug
jump
|
jiggle
jump
jet
jungle
|
jumble
junk
jar
jingle
|
Printable J
This is a simple template for both the upper and lower case G that you can use for a variety of crafts, or just use it to color.
Jungle Crafts
You'll find many different craft ideas on this page that revolve around a jungle theme. You could easily adapt many of these ideas for letter J.
"J" Recipes
Alphabet Pasta - Prepare any kind of alphabet soup, or other pasta dish and then have fun picking out all the J's. (We like the Spaghettios A to Z's) You can do this with any letter. For some reason there always seem to be a lot of J's.
Peanut Butter and Jelly - of course.
Alphabet Books
EVERYONE has some type of ABC book out on the market, but these are the tried and true books that my kids like.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - I believe that this story was single handedly responsible for teaching my son his letters. He was hooked on this book the first time I read it to him and he never gets tired of it. I started out by pointing to the letters as I read it to him, now he points them out to me!
My First Phonics Book - My daughter loves to read this book before bed. It has helped her to get excited about words and their beginning letters.
Dr. Seuss' A B C - I love Dr. Seuss books because they keep the kid's attention. Not always an easy task!
My First ABC Book - My two year old son has this book and absolutely loves it! He makes me read it to him over and over and over and over!
Great "J" Books
Bread and Jam for Frances - If your toddler is a picky eater, this book might be just the ticket.
The Giant Jam Sandwich - A very amusing book.
Jack and the Beanstalk - This version of the classic tale is supposed to be aimed at toddlers, but my five year old still likes it.
Who's in the Jungle - This toddler book has pull tabs!
Jiggle Joggle Jee! - If you're looking for a book to really drive the "J" sound home and make a big impression, this is it.
"J" Play
There are probably a lot of free-play things kids can do that will encourage them to think about the letter J. Here are a few of the things that I've tried with my own kids: play with a jack in the box, play jumping games, jingle some bells, etc. Remember, the more you can immerse them in the "J" theme, the better chance you have that they will remember the letter, it's sound, and words that start with "J."
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