| Teaching and learning the alphabet is a huge part of | | | | wheel or steering wheel would be the letter O. An |
| early childhood. Only after beginning to make sense of | | | | edge of a cement block or a hockey stick could make |
| the letters and their sounds can a child begin to | | | | the letter L. The criss cross of a wicker chair back |
| understand the world of print. | | | | would show the letter x. Two fence slats with the |
| Cameras can help cement the understanding of the | | | | parallel support bar in the middle could be the letter H. |
| letters in many ways. In addition, children become | | | | The Living Alphabet is a way to involve everyone in |
| enthusiastic about learning when they get to hold and | | | | the class. Break the class into groups of 4 or 5 |
| use the cameras. | | | | children. Assign a letter to each group. Have the |
| The most common way to teach the alphabet with | | | | children lay down on the floor to make the capital |
| cameras is to find objects that begin with each letter | | | | letter. Take a photo. Have that group also write a |
| and compile either a class book, individual book, or | | | | tongue twister for the letter (for the more advanced.) It |
| bulletin board. We would see a photo of an apple, an | | | | is best to keep a list of the complete alphabet and |
| acorn, and Ashley for the letter A. Some letters will be | | | | check off each letter as you photograph it so you |
| tricky unless you have an x-ray or xylophone hanging | | | | know which letters are left to assign to the groups as |
| around! One method would be to make a page for | | | | they finish. Create an alphabet book with your printed |
| each letter of the alphabet and then give each child a | | | | out photographs! |
| page to work on at home. Or, go on a scavenger hunt | | | | When moving into ending sounds, you could |
| as a class and take turns taking pictures of the | | | | photograph objects that end in each letter. Again, there |
| objects you find along the way. (Note: it is best to | | | | are a couple letters that could prove challenging. |
| have the entire alphabet written down on a piece of | | | | Taking pictures is an exciting activity for children. You |
| paper, and then write down which object is for each | | | | may want to require that the neck or wrist strap is |
| letter. That will also help you keep track of what letters | | | | always worn in order to keep the camera safer. You |
| you still need to find objects to represent.) | | | | will see children engaged in learning when you |
| Another more abstract way to illustrate the alphabet is | | | | introduce these types of learning activities. |
| to look for the shape of the letters. For instance, the | | | | |