MATERIALS:

• Chart paper
• Crayons or markers

SUGGESTED GROUPING:

• Whole class and partners

INVITE children to draw an alphabet zoo. Have the class work together to decide which animals will be in their zoo.

ENCOURAGE children to think of animals whose names begin with each letter of the alphabet. You may wish to record their responses on a chart.

• A—Anteater
• B—Bear
• C—Crocodile
• D—Duck
• E—Elephant
• F—Fox

PLACE a large sheet of chart paper on the floor. Have partners draw and label two animals. Suggest that children take turns drawing and labeling other features of the zoo.

DISPLAY the finished alphabet zoo on a wall. Encourage children to read the animal names.

CHILDREN may want to use this method to create their own alphabet city, alphabet farm, or other environments.