Overview

The children will ride on rugs and race as they recognize and name the letter R.

Literacy Activities
Rug race to R

• Use masking tape to make a start and a finish line at opposite ends of the room.
• Write the letter R on a whiteboard, name the letter, and have the children write the R in the air with their fingers.
• Have the children circle the letter R in the Race and Rest signs.
• Place the Race sign and rugs at the start line and place the Rest sign and the red R flags at the finish line.
• Divide the children into two teams and have each team stand in a single file line behind a rug.
• Place a stuffed animal or toy on each rug, then have the first child in each line gently drag the rug to the Rest line.
• Invite the other children waiting in line to cheer for their team by chanting, “Race to the R!”
• When the children reach the Rest line, have them touch the R flag and say, “R!” and then gently drag the rug back to the starting line.
• Repeat until all of the children have pulled a toy on the rug to the Rest line.

More Practice
Identify the target letter

• Make a list on the board of the R words used throughout the activity (e.g., rug, race, rest, red).
• Allow the children to circle the letter R in each word.

Write the target letter

• Give the children the handwriting practice page.
• Let the children trace the letters, then write the letter R on their own using the lines as a guide.