Letter S Activities and Craft Ideas
Below you will find projects and activities that will help you and your child explore the letter S. 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 "S") 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 "S"
Talk with your child about the letter "S", 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 "S" 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.
sun
saddle
sand
sock
|
sail
sign
Santa
salt
|
seal
sea
soap
sailboat
|
seed
soup
sink
story
|
"S" Projects
Paper Plate Sunflower
Paint the back side of a paper plate yellow and let dry. Tear small strips of yellow paper and glue around the outside of the plate to make petals. Glue sunflower seeds to the center of the plate. You can also make a stem out of green construction paper.
CD Sun Catchers
Decorate both sides of a CD any way you want with glitter, paint, stickers, etc. (You can use the one's that you get free in the mail) Tie a piece of fishing line through the center hole and hang it up.
Seed Collage
Glue a variety of seeds and beans onto construction paper. Seeds could include: dried peas, dried beans, popcorn, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds, etc.
Saw Dust Picture - You can use the material they put in pet cages (like hamster bedding material) for this project. Make sure it is clean and free of splinters, etc. Then all you have to do is let the children to glue the loose curls of wood onto construction paper to create their own "textured" picture.
Paper Plate Sun
Cut triangle shapes out around the edge of a paper plate to form the sun's rays. Paint yellow and let dry. Glue on wiggle eyes (or draw them) and draw nose and mouth with black marker.
Paper Plate Snakes
Paint both sides of a paper plate green. Let dry. Cut plate starting at outer edge and spiraling towards the center. Stop cutting when you get about 4 or 5 inches from the center. The center of the plate will be the snake's head. Make eyes on your snake with a marker or glue on wiggle eyes. You can also glue on some red curly ribbon for a tongue.
Sand Castles
Cut a rough shape of a castle out of cardstock or thin cardboard. Spread glue over it and sprinkle with sand.
Printable S
Use this template to make other letter crafts or simply use it to color.
"S" Songs
Mister Sun
Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun
shine down on me.
Oh Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun
Hiding behind the trees
These little children are asking you
To please come down so they can play with you
So Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun
Please shine down on me
"S" Recipes
Snowballs
Open a can of biscuits... the kind you find in the refridgerated section. Make sure they are the kind that don't have layers. Roll it into a ball. Gently drop the ball in hot oil and let cook until it is golden brown (roll it around to make sure it cooks evenly). Take it out of oil with a pair of tongs and put it onto a plate of powdered sugar. Coat completely and set out on a plate until it is cool.
Peanut Butter Snowballs
Empty a regular size jar of peanut butter into a bowl and add a couple tablespoons of honey and about a ¼ cup of dry milk. Mix well and keep adding the dry milk until the mixture is like playdough. Roll about a tablespoon of the mixture into a ball and roll in coconut to coat.
Edible Sun
Tint cream cheese yellow and spread on half an english muffin. Use skinny pretzel sticks to make sun beams. You could also do this with some kind of yellow jam. I've done it with orange marmalade before.
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 "S" Books
Sidney Shark's Seaside Shanties
Snow (Caldecott Honor Book)
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Stone Soup: An Old Tale
Or Search Amazon for More Resources...
