↑

Preschool Inspirations

Preschool Activities and Learning

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Disclosure Policy, Copyright Items, and Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • My Book
  • Shop
  • Music
  • Science
  • Literacy
  • Math
  • Fine Motor

The Best Alphabet Bead Activities and Ideas

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links from Amazon or other programs are used on this website. See my disclosure policy here.

October 27, 2016 by Katie T. Christiansen Leave a Comment

Here are 25+ inviting alphabet activities with my all-time favorite alphabet beads! You may have seen them floating around Pinterest or on Facebook, and I am glad that I am not the only educator and mom who loves to throw them into activities on a regular basis!

My children and I have “ooohed” and “ahhhhed” at so many activities that some of my favorite bloggers have made with them, so I was thrilled to put all of these incredible activities together! You’ll see our own favorite ideas too!

Find 25+ perfect alphabet activities for preschool or kindergarten. These hands-on activities are perfect for learning and exploring the alphabet and literacy. #preschool #kindergarten #finemotor #literacy #alphabet #alphabetbeads #alphabetideas

How Children Learn with Alphabet Bead Activities

Not only are these alphabet activities inviting, but they are also very effective for helping children to find letters meaningful!

One day I set out a bin of the letter beads on the table for the children to handle and just openly play with. After some time, I noticed one of my students making sounds with the letters. I listened in closer. And I was completely shocked with what I heard. This three-year-old had been keeping a secret that the letter beads opened a key to. It was a key to me, of course. Not him.

My student was picking up the letter beads and saying the sounds of each of the letters and arranging them uniquely on the table. Before this day, I had never heard him say the letter sounds. I knew he was intelligent, but I had no idea what his true abilities were. This is only one example of so many others that come to mind!

One of the aspects that I love about these letter beads is that children can feel and see the shape of each letter. They are gaining so many benefits from handling alphabet beads (and many other types of alphabet manipulatives) and moving them around.

In fact, Dr. Maria Montessori invented one of the first forms of a movable alphabet, and it is still being used today because of the immense benefits to reading, writing, and literacy in general. Children begin to figure out which direction to put the letter, which letters are in their names or the names of a loved one, which sound some of the letters make, and so many more important skills that are giving them confidence and hands-on interaction with the alphabet!

Here are 25+ alphabet activities for preschool and kindergarten. Help children learn their letters, letter sounds, learning to spell, learning to write, and so many more important literacy foundations. #preschool #kindergarten #finemotor #literacy #alphabet #alphabetbeads #alphabetideas

Where is the Best Place to Buy Alphabet Beads?

There are two places that I have purchased these: Amazon and Discount School Supply. Amazon has them in upper case, lower case, and even numbers and math equations. I bought one set from Amazon because there was free shipping for Prime Members.

Discount School Supply has them available in upper case and lower case. I only buy them when I am putting in a big Discount School Supply order and already getting free shipping.

If you want both sets, but only one is in the budget, I would recommend starting with lower case. There are just under 300 beads of the lower case, and there are 300 beads in the upper case beads, which makes them great for both the classroom or at home!

Alphabet Bead Activities

Here are some of the best alphabet bead and letter bead activities. Some are great for preschool and others for older children.

Literacy Center Ideas

Rainbow Sight Word Lacing | Preschool Inspirations

Initial Sound Cards | You Clever Monkey (featured in photo)

Letter Bead Recognition and Spelling Game | True Aim Education (featured in photo)

Beads Glorious Beads with Free Printable | Differentiated Kindergarten

Farm Busy Box | Teach Me Mommy (featured in photo)

The Tale of Peter Rabbit ABC Carrot Patch | Growing Book by Book

 

Writing Center Ideas

Alphabet Bead Loose Parts in a Sand Tray | Preschool Inspirations

Alphabet Battle Letter Learning Game | Mom Inspired Life

Editable Name Spelling and Tracing Printable | Mom Inspired Life (also a name recognition idea)

 

Name Recognition Ideas

Learn to Spell Your Name Sensory Bottle | Preschool Inspirations (featured in photo)

DIY Name Stamps | Preschool Inspirations (featured in photo)

Name Bracelet Fine Motor Activity | Stir the Wonder

Name Recognition Soup | Munchkins and Moms

Name Recognition Alphabet Activity | Munchkins and Moms

 

Alphabet Sensory Play

Alphabet Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations

Letter Matching Sensory Bottle | The Letters of Literacy

I Spy Letter Hunt | Gift of Curiosity

Fizzing Ice Science Experiment with Beginning Sounds | The Kindergarten Connection

Chick Chicka Boom Boom Sensory Bin | Stir the Wonder

Alphabet Slime | Stir the Wonder (featured in photo)

Alphabet Ice Cube Sensory Play | Stir the Wonder

Alphabet Water Sensory Game | Mom Inspired Life (featured in photo)

Sight Word Ice Excavation | Mom Inspired Life

Play Dough and Alphabet Beads Activity | Mom Inspired Life

 

These alphabet bead activities are hands-down on of my favorite teaching tools ever, and I can’t wait to come up with more and more ways to use them!

Need more creative ways to interact with the alphabet? Check out our Alphabet Posters and Alphabet Card Game!

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Katie T. Christiansen
Creator at Preschool Inspirations
Katie has spent 17 combined years in the Early Childhood field as a teacher, preschool owner, and educational writer. She has worked in profit and non-profit programs, high-risk schools, and started an in-home preschool and outdoor collaborative preschool program. She adores being a mom to three children, and her youngest is currently in preschool.
Latest posts by Katie T. Christiansen (see all)
  • DIY Animal Puzzle - October 31, 2022
  • How to use Question of the Day for Circle Time - August 5, 2022
  • Why Potty Training is Failing - June 18, 2022
705 shares
  • Share5
  • Tweet

Filed Under: alphabet, Fine Motor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I'm Katie, and I'm a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

Come on in! I'm sharing my best play recipes, teacher tips, & learning activities with a sprinkling of real life!

My New Book!

Book cover for the Best Preschool Learning Activities

Peaceful Potty Training

cover image for potty training visual schedule

Graduation Certificates

cover image for graduation certificates

search

categories

archives

Copyright ©2023, Preschool Inspirations. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
  • 5
705 shares