Alphabet Safari Preschool Lesson Plan – A Wild Adventure

📘 Alphabet Safari Preschool Lesson Plan

Welcome your preschoolers to the land of letters with this fun alphabet safari preschool lesson plan! An activity that can bring curiosity and lay a foundation for literacy development, these letters have children discover and identify them in this creative safari-themed adventure.

🧠 1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, children will be able to:

1. Identify and recognize uppercase and lowercase letters.
2. Match the letter and sound.
3. Develop phonemic awareness by repeating play.
4. Develop observation, memory, and listening.
5. Function cooperatively in a group learning setting.

🧰 2. Materials Needed

• Alphabet flashcards (both uppercase and lowercase)
• Safari-themed props: hats, animal toys, binoculars (real or toy)
• Alphabet chart or ABC wall poster
• Printable “safari maps” or letter checklists
• Stickers, crayons, and glue for crafts
• Safari animal plushies (optional but adds fun!)
• Small containers or envelopes to hide letters

🚀 3. Introduction – Welcome to the Alphabet Safari!

Begin by building excitement with a short story:

"Today we are safari explorers! But we're not hunting animals; we're hunting letters that are camouflaged throughout the jungle (play area/classroom). Can you help me find them all?"

Play some music in the background to set the mood. Show them the binoculars and hats, and let them know that every explorer will search for concealed secret letters everywhere.

🕵️ 4. Main Activity – The Alphabet Hunt

Preparation: Conceal flashcards containing letters around the room before class—under a piece of furniture, behind a book, near a toy, etc.

Instructions:

1. Give each child a safari hat and binoculars.
2. Inform them that when they see a letter, they must bring it to you and tell you the name and sound of the letter.
3. Ask them to pronounce the sounds accurately (e.g., “T is for Tiger!”).
4. Place the letters found on a large mat or pin them on a whiteboard.

🎨 5. Letter Craft Extension – Make Your Own Safari Map

After the hunt, let the children make their own safari maps by:

• Drawing the letters they’ve found.
• Using stickers or stamps for animals starting with the same letters.
• Color-coding vowels and consonants for extra learning.

📊 6. Assessment & Observation

Measure each child’s involvement and understanding by:

• Asking them to find and recite the letters they found.
• Asking them to match pictures of animals with beginning letter sounds.
• Use a simple checklist to track which letters each child can read and spell.

💡 7. Extension Ideas

Feeling adventurous and going beyond the Alphabet Safari preschool plan?

• Letter of the Day: Select one letter and integrate activities, snacks, and stories based on the letter.
• Animal Alphabet Chart: Over time, in the classroom, chart animals that children name for every letter.
• Safari Story Time: Read a story like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or “Safari, So Good!” and share the letters written.

🏁 8. Wrap-Up Discussion

Stand in a circle and stand in position:

• “Which letter was the most fun today?”
• “Can you think of an animal that starts with that letter?”
• Review the letters on the mat and sing the ABC song together, pointing to each one.

Free download of the lesson plan