What is Early
Literacy?
Early literacy is what children know
about reading and writing before they
can actually read or write. Early
literacy skills include

Vocabulary

Print Motivation

Print Awareness

Narrative Skill

Letter Knowledge

Phonological Awareness.
Most children begin to learn early
literacy skills in infancy. For various
reasons, more than one-third of
children in the U.S. enter school
without the literacy skills necessary for
learning how to read. Although most
of these children show progress in
literacy skill development as a result of
formal classroom instruction, they
tend to continue to lag behind their
peers.
Whitehurst, G. J. and Lonigan, C. J. (1998). Child
Development and Emergent Literacy. Child Development, 69
(3), 848-872.
This brochure and the online tutorial were
made possible through a Bloomsburg
University of Pennsylvania Presidential
Strategic Planning Grant and support from
the College of Liberal Arts.
The Alphabet Literacy Play tote project was
funded through a National Honor Society of
Phi Kappa Phi Literacy Award.
Bloomsburg
University
of
Pennsylvania
BU Toy Library:
Language and Literacy
Resource Center
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Website:
www.bloomu.edu/toy_library
Send email correspondence to
Dr. Mary Katherine Duncan at
butoylibrary@bloomu.edu
Play-to-Learn
Letter
Knowledge
Inspired by Dr. Howard Gardner’s
theory of multiple intelligences, this
Play-to-Learn Letter Knowledge
brochure describes approaches to
teaching emergent readers about the
shapes of letters and the sounds that
letters make through fun hands-on
activities.
Spatial intelligence refers to how children
visualize and represent a spatial world in
their mind.
Alphabet Literacy Play Totes
Build letters using K’NEX rods and
connectors. Identify jumbo magnetic
letters by touch and not by sight. Create
alphabet squiggles by turning each letter
into something that begins with that letter.
Linguistic intelligence refers to how
children use language to express their
thoughts and feelings in spoken or written
words.
Interpersonal intelligence refers to
how children relate to other people.
Play cooperative alphabet games.
Create an alphabet tree with the
names of friends and family whose
names begin with A through Z.
Intrapersonal intelligence refers to
how children understand themselves.
Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence refers to
how children use their bodies to create,
find solutions, or convey meaning.
Read or listen to stories about the
alphabet. Make a ‘My First ABC Book.’
Explore the alphabet in other languages.
Logical-mathematical intelligence refers
to how children use logic and numbers to
understand how something works, detect
a pattern, or create something.
Play “I SPY the letter....” or “I SPY
something that begins with the sound...”
Complete letter riddles or word searches.
Keep a diary of your A to Z feelings or
activities this week. Decorate a shield
with A to Z words that describe you.
Bend your body into the shape of each
letter. Learn the alphabet in sign language.
Musical intelligence refers to children’s
ability to recognize and manipulate sounds
and rhythms.
Sing letter songs. Recite nursery rhymes
and finger plays that begin with each
letter.
Naturalistic intelligence refers to
children’s ability to recognize and
understand living things.
Create an alphabet garden or go on a
hike to find natural things from A to Z.
See the included list of activities to
protect the environment from A to Z.