Core Skills Analysis
Language Arts
- The activity centers on the proper name "Monica Davis," which supports name recognition and print awareness by helping the learner notice that a name is made of two words with capital letters.
- It gives practice reading or saying a full first-and-last name accurately, building early decoding and oral language skills tied to personal information.
- The activity can help the learner recognize that names can identify a specific person, strengthening vocabulary around identity and communication.
- If the name was written, copied, or repeated, the learner also practiced visual memory and handwriting/letter formation for uppercase and lowercase letters.
Tips
To deepen learning, have the learner compare "Monica Davis" with other full names and identify which part is the first name and which part is the last name. You can also practice writing the name in different formats, such as title case, all caps, and sentence form, to reinforce capitalization and punctuation awareness. For a creative extension, invite the learner to make a simple name card or decorate the name with colors and patterns while saying each letter aloud. If appropriate, connect the activity to personal writing by asking the learner to write their own full name and notice how it is similar to and different from "Monica Davis."
Book Recommendations
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes: A story about a child learning to feel proud of her name, perfect for discussing names and identity.
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal: A warm picture book that explores the meaning and importance of a full name.
- Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow: A celebration of names, pronunciation, and the respect names deserve.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.1.A: Print many upper- and lowercase letters by naming the letters in the activity name.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.2.B: Recognize and use end punctuation and capitalization appropriately when writing a name.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.1.B: Use frequently occurring nouns and proper nouns, including personal names.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.1.D: Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters in a simple name.
Try This Next
- Name sorting worksheet: first name vs. last name
- Write-and-trace activity for "Monica Davis" with capitalization practice
- Oral question: Which letters are uppercase in a proper name?