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Teaching I Words for Kindergarten
Next up in our alphabet series, we are sharing tips and activities that support teaching I words for kindergarten.
By teaching children to recognize and understand the sound and symbol of the letter “I,” they develop phonemic awareness. Chances are, you already know phonemic awareness is a crucial skill for reading and spelling. It helps them decode words, identify initial sounds, and build a foundation for reading fluency.
Activities that Start With the Letter I
- Inflatable Fun Day: Let the kids play and have fun on inflatable slides and jumpy houses.
- Ice Skating: Take the kids to an ice skating rink and let them enjoy gliding on the ice. Ice skating is a fun and active way to spend time together as a family. Make sure to provide proper safety equipment like helmets and pads if needed.
- Inventor’s Workshop: Encourage your kids’ creativity and problem-solving skills by setting up an “Inventor’s Workshop.” Provide them with various materials like cardboard, tape, paper clips, straws, and markers. Let their imagination run wild as they design and build their own inventions.
- Instrument Day: Give the kids a variety of instruments, or let them create their own instruments using everyday objects (pots, sticks, etc).
- Ice Cream Day: Make homemade ice cream with the kids.
Printable Alphabet Worksheets and Activities
Here is a collection of printable alphabet activities, and letter i worksheets, you can do when teaching letters and sounds.
Alphabet Word and Picture Cards
Check out the complete alphabet bundle HERE, including pocket chart cards, sorts, and write the room activities.
To introduce letter i words to kindergarten children, I recommend integrating word and picture cards into their daily life routines.
These alphabet word cards come with lowercase i and uppercase I cards, along with picture cards and words cards that have easy words that start with I – both have a corresponding picture to help build the child’s vocabulary.
Short I Words
- If
- It
- In
- Is
- I
- ill
- Ink
- Inn
- Its
- Ick
- Inch
- incredible
- imagine
- information
Long I Words for Kindergarten
- I
- Ice
- Icon
- Idea
- Idol
- Island
- Isolate
- Icy
- Iron
- Item
- Ibis
- Irish
- Ivory
Tips for Teaching the Letter I to Kids
With these tips, you can create a fun and effective learning experience for your students.
- Letter Introduction: Introduce the letter “I” in a fun and engaging way. Use printable alphabet resources and stuffed animals that start with the letter “I” (e.g., iguana, ice cream) to capture their attention and create excitement.
- Letter Formation: Teach children how to write the letter “I” correctly.
- Sensory Activities: Engage children’s senses by incorporating sensory activities related to the letter “I.” For example, let them touch and feel ice cubes, draw with icing on cookies, or use their fingers to trace the letter “I” in sand or shaving cream.
- Word Association: Introduce and reinforce vocabulary words that start with the letter “I.” Repeat the words frequently, encouraging children to say them aloud, and use them in simple sentences.
- Phonics Practice: Use phonics games, songs, or rhymes that emphasize the “I” sound. For example, do a letter i hunt with the nursery rhyme, Itsy Bitsy Spider.
- Letter Crafts: Engage children in hands-on activities and crafts related to the letter “I.”
- Letter Sorting: Incorporate beginning sounds sorting activities where children identify and sort objects or pictures into “I” and non-“I” categories.
- Read-Alouds: Encourage children to listen for the letter “I” while reading and point it out when they see it.
- Movement and Gestures: Incorporate movement and gestures into letter “I” activities. For example, have children imitate the shape of the letter “I” with their bodies or make “I” shapes with their arms.
- Review and Reinforce: Continually review and reinforce the letter “I” with activities and printables such as the Alphabet Superstars.
Before you go, here are more posts you’ll enjoy:
When Do Children Learn the Alphabet
30 Tips for Teaching Letters and Numbers
34 Best Nursery Rhymes for Kids
Teaching K Words for Kindergarten
Teaching Y Words for Kindergarten
