The Mom I Want to Be

The Letter Z is a generally reliable letter.  It usually makes the “zuh” sound as in zebra.  

The Letter Z sometimes makes the /s/ sound as in quartz

 

1. Present a capital and lower case Z to your child.  See if she knows the name of the letter and the sound it makes.  Give examples of Z words, such as zoom, zebra, and zipper

 

2. Read On Beyond Zebra

 

3. Go on a scavenger hunt around the house to find Z words for the Z bag this week.  Look for ziploc bag, zebra, zucchini, zig zag, zero, zipper, etc

 

4. Create a Z collage.  Have your child search through magazines for words that begin with Z to cut out and glue to paper for his alphabet book.

 

5.  Zebra Stripe Z’s.  Provide a cut out Z taped to waxed paper and black rolling paint markers (or black paint and brush).  Put up pictures of zebras so they can see how the stripes look on an actual animal.  Show them how to put zebra stripes on their Z.  When dry, glue to 8½ x 11” paper and place in alphabet book. 

 

6. Provide a worksheet with a line of Zs to trace across the top and a blank spot below, a zip top bag, a few Z pictures (print from book or internet), crayons or markers.  Glue the zip top bags to the paper.  Color the Z pictures and put them in the zipper bag.

 

7. Other activities:  Visit the zoo; choose your favorite zoo animal and act it out, charades style; talk about zippers and how they work; practice closing zippers; make a zebra mask from a paper plate; Go on a make believe trip to cities, countries or continents that begin with the letter Z. Some examples could be Zaire, Zambia, Zanzibar (in Tanzania), Zephyrhills (in Florida, USA), Zug (in Switzerland), Zurich, Zuni Indian Reservation (in New Mexico, USA), Zhob River (Pakistan), etc. You could find these on a globe or map, pretend to take an airplane trip there and then sample foods from that area or learn something new about that geographic area. This would be a great way to introduce geography and map skills. You could also watch a video or tv broadcast about that area. Check your local library for what’s available.