Mailing Letters

Books Shared:

Can I Be Your Dog?
​Troy Cummings

Max & Milo
The Mixed-Up Message
Heather and Ethan Long

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Literacy Tip:

Children build on background knowledge in many ways.  Role play is one way to enhance a child's knowledge of his world and the way it works.  In the books shared this week, we explored a concept familiar to most - the delivery of mail.  We showed the children two types of letters, one in a traditional envelope and one in a large manila envelope.  Though most were not familiar with the manila envelope, they were able to see commonalities between the two. We took this to another level and discussed the parts of the letter - the address, the return address, and the stamp.  Once the children were exposed to this knowledge, we had fun with a role play activity, having the children pick a letter from the "mailbag", deliver it to the corresponding stuffed animal, pick up the return mail, and sort it into one of two mailboxes, "H" (for Miss Heather) and "J" (for Miss Janice). Since many children learn best by "doing" rather than "listening", this type of activity is a great way to promote learning in a fun way!

Songs & Activities

Song/Fingerplay
This is the Way We ... 
(pretend to write a letter)
This is the way we write a letter, write a letter, write a letter,
This is the way we write a letter, so early in the morning. 
 (alternate folding hands one on top of the other)
This is the way we fold a letter, fold a letter, fold a letter,
This is the way we fold a letter, so early in the morning.
(Press your thumb into the inside of your hand)
This is the way we stamp a letter, stamp a letter, stamp a letter,
This is the way we stamp a letter, so early in the morning.
(pretend to open the mailbox, and drop in a letter)
This is the way we mail a letter, mail a letter, mail a letter, 
This is the way we mail a letter, so early in the morning.
(pretend to read a letter)
This is the way we read a letter, read a letter, read a letter,
This is the way we read a letter, so early in the morning.

Role Play
See above in the Literacy Tip for activity description

​Craft

Design a Stamp
The children were shown examples of stamp designs and and encouraged to design their own using the provided stamp outline.
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Other Fun Ideas To Try...