First-School.ws
Letter A Alligator
Preschool Lesson Plan Printable Activities and Worksheets

Here are printable materials and some suggestions to present letter A. Review related topics in the themes column and visit alligator activities and crafts.

This is Activity Day #2 of Letter A Impact Poster Lesson Plan

Animals > Reptiles > Alligator >
The alligator is large reptile with short legs, a long body and tail, and a long, wide snout. Alligators are protected by thick skin with many hard bumps. They live in rivers, lakes, swamps, and other bodies of water in the southeast United States, Caribbean, Central and South America and in China. They usually eat insects, fish, turtles, snakes, birds, and other water animals, but have been known to attack small land mammals. They are closely related to crocodiles. Chinese alligators are critically endangered because their habitat is being changed by people.

Online resources > Wikipedia.org > Alligator | Chinese Alligator

Online Jigsaw Puzzle > Alligator > Skill: Problem solving, bilingual English and Spanish
Here is an online puzzle the children will enjoy with a fun image. The default puzzle is 6 pieces.

Alphabet Activity: Letter A is for Alligator

Children age 3 and under
Print a letter A coloring page in standard block or D'Nealian font and an alligator coloring page behind it or on a separate page if using paints to decorate later. Discuss other letter A words found on the activity worksheet.

Trace letter A's in upper and lower case with your finger as you also sound out the letter. Invite the children to do the same on their coloring page.

Children can trace and color the letter A's. After completing coloring the letter, encourage children to color the image. Write the word alligator on the finished coloring page.

Ages 3+ and higher:
Present and display the color poster and distribute your choice of coloring page for a first introduction for younger children or extended handwriting worksheet for advanced Pre-K and higher.

For a fun presentation consider using the matching alligator paper bag craft as an "assistant" and review some basic animal facts.

Finger and Pencil Tracing:Trace letter A's in upper and lower case with your finger as you also sound out the letter. Invite the children to do the same on their coloring page.

Encourage the children to trace the dotted letter, and explain the direction of the arrows and numbers that help them trace the letter correctly. During the demonstration, you may want to count out loud as you trace so children become aware of how the number order aids them in the writing process.

Find the letter A's: Have the children find all the letter A's in upper and lower case on the page and encourage them to circle or trace/shade them first.

Letter A words: Letter A Worksheet Program and Mini-Book can be used as part of Letter A program of activities to reinforce letter practice and to identify related A words. Read suggested instructions for using the worksheet and mini-book.

You can also display letter A posters and coloring pages or even make a letter A classroom book. For related images visit: Letter A Printable Activities.

Letter A Printable Games: Word Search & Handwriting Practice: The four and eight word search game features the alligator and other letter A words with pictures and handwriting practice.

Advanced Handwriting Practice:
1. Print your choice of printable lined-paper. Have children draw an alligator the lined paper or print an alligator coloring page. to color and decorate after writing practice.

2. Drawing and writing paper: encourage children to draw and color an alligator and handwriting practice.

Book > Online video > There's an alligator under my bed @YouTube.
Find @ a library: Don't miss on this, Mercer Meyer, the author and illustrator
gives a wonderful reading of this wonderful bedtime book.