Letter P Activities and Craft Ideas
Below you will find projects and activities that will help you and your child explore the letter P. 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 "P") 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 "P"
Talk with your child about the letter "P", 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 "P" 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.
pig
puppet
penguin
purse
|
park
paper
pencil
police
|
perfume
penny
piano
pocket
|
purple
pink
pickle
peek
|
"P" Projects
Paper Plate Pig
Glue a single egg cup (cut from an egg carton) onto the back side of a paper plate in the middle. This will be the pig's nose. Paint the paper and the egg cup pink. Let dry. Cut a 2 inch square from pink construction paper. Cut square in half corner to corner to form 2 triangels. Cut a small slit in the long side of each triangle, overlap and staple in place. This will make curved ears. Staple the ears to the paper plate. Draw on 2 eyes with a black marker. Curl one end of a pink pipe cleaner around a pencil. Staple the straight end to one side of plate at about 4 o'clock.
Potato Stamp Penguin
Cut a large potato long ways. Cut a smaller potato the same way, making two different sizes. Dip the large potato in black paint and stamp on white paper. Dip the smaller potato in white paint and stamp where the stomach would be. Let dry. Glue on a beak and feet out of orange paper.
Paper Plate Pizza
Paint the right side of a paper plate red, leaving an edge around it (this is the pizza sauce and crust). Let dry. Glue on shredded yellow and white paper to make the cheese. Glue on circles of red construction paper for pepperoni, and other shapes to make the toppings.
Peanut Pictures
After having a package delivered, my son begged me to play with the packing peanuts. I had to refuse because it makes too much mess and it could be hazardous for my 10 month old. So we came to a compromise. We made pictures with the packing peanuts instead. We glued them to construction paper, drew around them with markers and decorated them. The kids had a ball.
Printable P
Use this template to make other letter crafts or simply use it to color.
"P" Recipes
Pigs in a Blanket
Wrap a crecent roll around a hotdog and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. The breakfast version is to wrap a pancake around a link sausage and serve.
Pig Slop
Mix chocolate pudding with a variety of other things like fruit, nuts, candy, etc. Talk to your child about what pig slop is and how pigs eat anything, and then serve them some pig slop for dessert.
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.
B is for Books! - you just can't go wrong with Sesame Street!
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 "P" Books
If You Give a Pig a Pancake
The Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book
Or Search Amazon for More Resources...
