students enjoyed finding letters all around the forest and the classroom. Some letters were written on cardstock or were cut from wood, and had been placed intentionally next to items spelling out words. Others were identified creatively as we hiked, explored, and played, such as Y sticks, trees that split at the base in a V shape, and zig-zag patterns in wood that looked like Ms or Ws. The students loved looking for Y, V, and T trees especially

English Language Arts

• The activity helped the students recognize and identify letters in various forms, such as cardstock, wood, and natural surroundings like trees and sticks.
• By searching for letters around the forest and classroom, the students learned to associate letters with objects and their surroundings, reinforcing their understanding of letter recognition.
• The activity encouraged the students to observe and describe the shapes and patterns of the letters they found, improving their visual literacy and understanding of letter formation.
• Through the intentional placement of letters next to items spelling out words, the students practiced matching letters to create words, reinforcing their understanding of letter-sound relationships and word formation.

For continued development, encourage the students to create their own letter scavenger hunts using materials found in nature and classroom objects. This will further enhance their letter recognition skills and creativity while exploring their surroundings.

Book Recommendations

• The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni: A story about a lowercase letter who stands out in a tree full of uppercase letters and learns about the importance of being yourself.
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault: An engaging story about the letters of the alphabet climbing up a coconut tree.
• Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert: This book introduces children to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables while teaching them about the alphabet.