Children are naturally curious about all the signs and words they see daily in their environment. By using environmental print we can help children make print connections, develop visual memory skills, and motivate them to read.
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Ask children to save food wrappers from snacks and their lunches. Glue wrappers to sheets of paper and write this rhyme at the top of each page:
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to her cupboard
To get her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare
And so the poor dog had…(Children read food logo.)
What’s for Breakfast?
Ask children to bring in the box from their favorite cereal. Cut the front section off and on a sentence strip write: “Child’s name eats name of cereal.” Glue to the bottom of the cereal box. Put all the boxes together and make a book. Write “What’s for Breakfast?” on the front cover. Hole punch and put the boxes together with book rings.
*You can also make a book with sacks from fast food restaurants.
Clothes
Read sayings on T-shirts, sports jerseys, shoes, and other clothing the children wear to school.
We Can Read Bulletin Board
Ask children to bring logos from food boxes, magazines, toys, clothing and household products. Make a poster or bulletin board that says: “We Can Read!” Let children glue their logos to the poster. Read over the words together.
Matching Game
Cut the fronts and backs off food boxes. Mix them up and then challenge children to match up the ones that go together.
*Play a visual memory game by placing food boxes face down on the floor. Children turn over two at a time and try to match them up.
