Silly Activities
Fun with Words
Read Richard Wilbur's The Disappearing Alphabet to inspire children to come up with words that would change if a letter "disappeared." Take suggestions from children of words to write on a chalkboard or dry erase board and then see what happens when a letter is erased. Can they still tell what the word is? Does it change meanings? Find out what letters matter the most and if there are any we can do without.
Backwards Alphabet
After reading Judith Viorst's The Alphabet from Z to A (With Much Confusion on the Way) have a contest to see which child can say the alphabet backwards the fastest. Try it- it's harder than it sounds!
Sentence Building
"Silly" ABC books like Dodd's Dog's ABC: A Silly Story about the Alphabet are especially fun to read aloud. Have each child read only one word and pass the book on to the next person. Next, the children can create their own oral version of a silly ABC story by building a story from each child adding a word or sentence to the previous one.
Monster Mash
Read through ABC books with monster themes such as Laura Leuk's Jeepers Creepers and Mordicai Gerstein's The Absolutely Awful Alphabet to start off a monster mash with activities from Diane Brigg's 52 Programs for Preschoolers: The Librarian's Year-Round Planner: (source From Briggs, Diane. 52 Programs for Preschoolers: The Librarian's Year-Round Planner. Chicago: ALA, 1997.
"Scary Eyes" fingerplay
See my big and scary eyes? (circle fingers around eyes) Look out now, a big surprise. Boo! (quickly remove fingers)
"Monster, Monster" action rhyme
(suit actions to words) Monster, monster, turn around. Monster, monster, touch the ground. Monster, monster, reach up high. Monster, monster, bug out your eyes. Monster, monster, bend your knees. Monster, monster, growl and sneeze. Monster, monster, climb into bed. Monster, monster, rest your head.
"I'm Bringing Home a Baby Purple Monster" song
(to the tune of I'm Bringing home a baby bumblebee) I'm bringing home a baby purple monster, (cup hands together as if holding something small) wont' my mommy think it's a disaster, 'Cause I'm bringing home a baby purple monster. (peek into cupped hands) Ahhhhhh! He scared me!
Dancing
End the fun by playing the song "Monster Mash" and having children dance, sing, and act like monsters along with the music!