Build-a-Letter Templates

A week ago, in this post, I mentioned the letter templates and foam shapes I created for M to use in “building” letters.  There are a couple of books out there that do this same thing, but you know me – I won’t pay for something I can make myself. :) 

There has been a small amount of interest in these, and I have decided to post my templates for anyone who might want to do this too.  Click on this image:
A couple of things you should know…

1. The first two pages of the file have the shape templates that you will need to cut out and trace onto craft foam.  The rest of the pages show how to put them together for each letter.
2. I’ve made notes on the file telling how many of each shape you will need to cut from foam in order to build any letter.  However, if you want enough foam shapes to put all of the letters together at the same time, you will have to cut several more.  We do one letter at a time, then pick another letter and re-use the shapes we need.  (Sure hope that makes sense!)
3. Because the template pieces will need to overlap a little to make many of the letters, some of the lines are not showing up on the file.  For example the B: I could not figure out a way to get them all to show, so part of the lines are missing.  It was the middle of the night when I created this and I finally gave up trying!  I suggest you go over your sheets with a marker and fill in the missing parts so your child will have an easier time *seeing* how to build the letters.  This was only a problem because there was extra space around the templates in the file.  Obviously, it won’t be a problem when you are using the actual foam pieces.

If you use these and blog about them, please link back here!

Only uppercase letters are included in this, but I hope to make a set for lowercase letters sometime soon!

Have a beautiful day! :)

Books of the Week – {#7}

We have not been to the library for the past two weeks. This is probably a record for us – we usually go at least once a week. M was sick last week and I was on the verge of sick this week. Thankfully, we are both feeling much, much better! And this week I’ll share two of our favorite books from our own bookshelves. :)
First, Gregory, The Noisiest and Strongest Boy in Grangers Grove by Robert Bright. We actually have this book from my husband’s childhood stash. It is absolutely hilarious. Especially if you happen to have a “noisy” and “strong” little boy. M loves this book, but for completely different reasons than his father and I do. We love it because as Gregory goes overboard to do a simple chore for his grandmother (expecting of course that she wants him to do something strong, brave, and noisy since that’s what he is good at) it reminds us of the simplicity and fun, and plain silliness, of boyhood. M loves this book because Gregory is, well, very much like M. :) Loud, extremely energetic, and the strongest boy in Grangers Grove. Gregory wants some of grandma’s griddle cakes and to that end, he rides a bear, pushes a stubborn mule, gathers eagles’ eggs, and a lot of other silliness. He ends up getting so mad he “hollers and jumps” until “he jumped so high you couldn’t hear him holler any more”. When he comes down he lands in the well and the cold water finally subdues him a little bit. It has a very sweet ending with grandma getting a strawberry jam kiss. :)
Next, “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” by Patricia Thomas. This one is a book from my childhood. My brother and I would read this to each other and laugh till we couldn’t breathe. M loves it too, and it’s pretty frequently requested at nap time. The last time the elephant sneezed, he blew monkeys out of the trees, stripes off the zebra, and spots off the leopard. He tries warning his friends that another sneeze is coming and panic ensues. Our favorite part is the crocodile’s snout turning inside out. :)
For more great book recommendations go see Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns!
Have a beautiful day! :)