Integral to any preschool curriculum is the learning the letters of the alphabet, not only because it's a crucial step towards reading but it is also among the easiest of the preschool themes to plan for and explore. The possibilities for activities, games and crafts are nearly endless for each letter of the alphabet, and there's also the potential of incorporating other preschool themes into the letter-based lessons. For example, Christmas is a great time to look at the letter S, for Santa, sleigh, and snow.

However, when teaching about letters and basic words, remember that at the end of the day, the most important thing is if the children enjoyed themselves and had fun during the lesson, and any learning accumulated on top of that is an excellent bonus. Raising expectations too high at an early age can place an unhealthy amount of pressure on a young, developing mind.

While the following activities and games are suggested for the letters H and I, they may be modified or adapted into other preschool themes.

Hats, Hopping and the Hokey Pokey

Preschool children love playing dress-up and pretend, which can be easily accomplished by the simple act of putting on a hat. When learning about the letter H, as in hat, bring in a selection of hats associated with different occupations, such as a cowboy hat, chef's hat, fire fighter's helmet, and a king's crown.

Have child close their eyes and put the hat on their head. They open their eyes as the other children act out the occupation of the hat. The child wearing the hat has to guess what type of hat it is based on the other children's mimed actions.

Next, clear a large area on the floor and create a large letter H using pillows or other small objects. Children are to hop their way around the letter shape. This activity could also work for the preschool themes of Easter or animals.

A great game for learning about the letter H is the Hokey Pokey. It gets children up and moving, and is an excellent way to learn about the different parts of the body as well as the left side and the right side.

The Letter I: from Ice to Insects

Most children love tactical sensations, such as the feeling of a cold ice cube in their little fingers. Now imagine if that ice cube were made with Jello instead of just water so that it could be used as a small, frozen paintbrush.

This simple craft can be made by making colored ice cubes using Jello, Kool-Aid or powered Tempera paint. Give each child a piece of white paper and allow them to draw on it using the colored ice cube. This craft works well in the winter, or when teaching about opposites, like hot and cold.

Finally, this craft gives children an opportunity to really let their imaginations run wild! Using pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, feathers, google eyes, construction paper, glitter, and anything else that suits their fancy, have each child design their own insect. Have each child present his or her insect to the class, pointing out its distinguishing features.

Using preschool themes to teach children important lessons, like the alphabet, is a great way to organize your curriculum.

Mary Robinson has been teaching preschool for well over a decade. You can get instant access to her preschool activities, crafts, and lesson plans by visiting her website:

http://www.preschoolwhiz.com

For a limited time, all visitors to Mary's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Preschool Teachers and Parents Make". Go get your free copy today!