Use a School Readiness Activity to provide early literacy thinking experiences for preschool children that will prepare them to do well in the early grades.
Grades:
Subjects:
Writing Name Tags
Purpose/Skills
- To understand that letters are symbols that make up words
- To write their names
Materials
Children's book, blank name tags or self-adhesive notes, crayons
Vocabulary
name
name tag
note
Literature Suggestion
Read Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann, any book about names, or any book that shows name tags or embroidered names on shirts or uniforms.
Warm-Up
Put on a name tag and show it to the children. Explain that the writing on the tag says your name, then spell out the letters. Talk about people who wear name tags, such as salespeople in stores. Ask children to suggest other people who wear name tags.
Procedure
- Read the book and point out the written names or name tags. Have children spell out the letters with you.
- Tell children that they are going to make name tags. Give each child a blank name tag or self-adhesive note and a crayon. Help children write their names. (You may want them to recite the letters as they write.) Have the children stand up, one at a time, point to their name tags, and say their names.
Have children pretend that they are at a party where they don't know anyone. Ask them to point to their name tags and introduce themselves to one another.
Observation Assessment
- Proficient - Child writes letters or scribbles to represent his or her name.
- In Process - Child has difficulty managing the crayon and name tag, or is confused about the idea of writing a name.
- Not Yet Ready - Child refuses or is unable as yet to make writing on a name tag.
