Overview
The children will pretend to search space as they recognize and name the uppercase letter S and the lowercase letter s.

Literacy Activities
Search space for the letter S

• Make a large sun out of yellow paper or use the sun picture, four different-sized planets out of colored paper (including Saturn), and six stars.
• Write the letter S on the sun, Saturn, and the stars, and the first letter of different planet names on the other planets (e.g., V for Venus, M for Mars)
• Write the uppercase letter S and the lowercase letter s on a whiteboard, name the letters (pointing out that the upper and lowercase letter S look the same), and have the children say the letter name as they write the letter S and s in the air with their fingers.
• Write the word sun on the board, circling the letter S and telling the children that they will pretend to search in space for the letter S, which they will next to the sun graphic.
• Show the children the sun, planets, and stars, and have the children take turns naming the letters on each one. Have the children spin when they see a letter S and stand still if they don't.
• Place the sun, planets, and stars around the room with related letter cards around them (i.e., S cards near stars, M card near Mars).
• Have the children pretend they are walking in space (big slow motion steps), stopping as they reach each item and have the children identify the letter.
  • If the letter is an S or an s, have a few children take the item and the S letter cards and put them next to the sun graphic.
  • If the children determine the letter is not an S, have them move on to the next space item.
• When the children have collected all of the items and letter cards, return back to the sun and have them check to be sure everything has an S on it.

More Practice
Identify the target letter

• Give the children the Search for S page and have them find and circle the letter S on the page.
• Have the children make their hands into tube shapes and use them as binoculars to search for the letter S (optional).

Write the target letter

• Help the children write the letter S on sticky notes or small pieces of paper.
• Allow the children to put their S papers on the S sun.