These A4 size mats can be laminated for use as playdough mats, or for letter writing practice with a whiteboard pen. Alternatively, they can be part of a loose parts activity.

The first stage is for children to hear the sound that each letter makes in the corresponding animal names. In this set the sounds are all at the beginnings of each word, i.e. the initial sounds (apart from fox which is the final sound to ensure the x makes the relevant sound). At this stage the children will enjoy moulding playdough onto the shapes of the letters and using loose parts lined up to make the letter shapes. This helps to familiarise children with the letters, recognise them and assign sounds to them.

During the final stage, children may express an interest in using mark making tools (a whiteboard pen if you have already laminated the sheet for playdough use) to start to practise fine motor skills and form the letters.

Alphabet, Fine Motor, Laminate to use with w/b pens, Letter Formation, Mark Making/Drawing/Writing, Pencil Control, Playdough/Loose Part Mats, Posters/Displays, Phonics, Reading, Sound Mats, Activity, Zoo, Anteater, Bat, Cow, Dog, Elephant, Frog, Goat, Horse, Iguana, Jellyfish, Kangaroo, Lion, Meerkat, Narwhal, Octopus, Pig, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Tiger, Umbrella Bird, Vulture, Wolf, Fox, Yak, Zebra, Birds, Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles, Invertebrate, Animal Alphabet/Initial Sounds

Original artwork drawn by Sara Murphy and final digital resources created by Stuart Murphy. COPYRIGHT ON ALL OF THE RESOURCES HOUSED ON THIS WEBSITE IS HELD BY ‘LITTLE OWLS RESOURCES’. OUR RESOURCES (INCLUDING THE IMAGES WITHIN THEM), CANNOT BE SHARED OR SOLD COMMERCIALLY.

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