Activities for Teaching About the Letter Ee
The letter Ee is a fun one to teach in kindergarten! From reading about elephants to easy crafts and alphabet centers, there are plenty of ways to help students recognize and practice this vowel.
Although the letter E makes both short and long sounds, most of the letter e activities I’m sharing in this post focus on short e. This helps students build a strong foundation for blending and reading CVC words as they develop their early reading skills.
Words That Begin With E
When introducing the letter Ee, it’s helpful to start with familiar words that students can easily recognize and picture. Since E is a vowel, you’ll also want to explain that it can make both a short and a long sound.
I recommend focusing primarily on the short e sound when first introducing the letter, then sharing a few long e examples so students can begin hearing the difference.
Here are some ideas for letter E words to introduce:
Short E Words:
- egg
- elephant
- engine
- envelope
- escalator
- exit
Long E Words (/ē/):
- eagle
- ear
- eel
Make an anchor chart together with examples of words that start with E and add to it as the week goes on. Encourage students to listen for E words during your lessons, and keep picture cards on display to reinforce the letter throughout the week. I used short e words for this anchor chart, but you can do what works best for you!
Also, if you’d like a list of anchor chart words for every letter, be sure to download my Letter of the Week lesson plans at the bottom of this post!
Letter E Books and Read Alouds
Reading aloud is one of my favorite ways to introduce a new letter! Books give students opportunities to hear letter sounds, learn new vocabulary, and make connections between letters and words.
When teaching the letter E, I like to include books that feature both the short and long e sounds. Here are some great choices:
As you read, point out words that begin with the letter E and talk about the sounds they make. You can even create two lists on chart paper: one for short e words and another for long e words!
Click here for my Letter E Read Alouds blog post!
Activities for Teaching About the Letter E
Here are a few ideas for letter E activities to add to your lesson plans:
Letter E Mystery Bag: Gather a few objects or picture cards that begin with the letter E and place them in a bag. Give students clues to help them guess each item while practicing the short e sound. For example, “I’m thinking of something that starts with /ĕ/. It’s a large, gray animal with big ears and a long trunk. (elephant)”
Letter E Coloring Page: This is one of my go-to worksheets for the first day or two of introducing a new letter. I love that students can practice identifying the letter E and coloring pictures that begin with its sound. The page also includes letter tracing practice, but be sure to model the letter formation first.
Letter E Mini Book: Mini books are always a favorite in my alphabet lessons! Students love putting together their own little books to take home and share with their families. In this letter E mini book, students practice tracing and writing uppercase and lowercase E, identifying the letter, and coloring pictures that begin with the short e sound.
Letter E Crafts
E is for Elephant Craft: How cute is this elephant craft? Students will transform the uppercase letter E into an elephant while practicing their cutting and gluing skills. It’s a fun way to help students remember that E is for elephant!
Letter E Paper Tearing Activity: Paper tearing is a simple way to help students strengthen their fine motor skills. Students tear strips of paper into small pieces and glue them onto the egg to fill it in.
Letter E Literacy Center Ideas
Letter Stamping Activity: This activity has alphabet cards and a stamping sheet. Students can find and stamp the corresponding lowercase letter. Here are some alphabet stamps I love, and here are some good washable ink pads in lots of colors!
Alphabet Hole Punching Cards: Hole punching is a great fine motor activity, which makes this letter recognition activity even better! Students punch the matching letters. I like using this reduced effort hole punch that’s a little easier for little hands.
If you’re interested, these hole punching cards are from my Alphabet Fine Motor activity pack.
Have Fun Teaching About the “Excellent” Letter E!
Whether you’re reading books about elephants, creating an egg craft, or using hole punching cards, there are so many ways to help your students become more familiar with the letter Ee. Mixing hands-on activities with worksheets and printables gives students plenty of opportunities to practice their alphabet skills.
Don’t forget to grab my free Letter of the Week lesson plans! These free plans include simple activity ideas to help you plan your alphabet lessons without starting from scratch. Sign up below to have them delivered straight to your inbox!
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