Pancake: Alphabet (Upper/Lower Case) Puzzle | EYFS & KS1 Printables

Early Years (EYFS & KS1) Pancake Day Activity: Alphabet (Upper/Lower Case) Puzzle Game

Get ready for a flipping fantastic way to master the alphabet with our Pancake: Alphabet (Upper/Lower Case) Puzzle! This engaging printable resource is perfect for EYFS and KS1 children, offering a hands-on, delicious-looking activity to develop letter recognition, matching upper and lower case letters, and early letter formation skills.

Ideal for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders learning at home, these 26 individual puzzles make learning the alphabet a joyful experience, especially around Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) or any food-themed topic!

This comprehensive pack includes:

• 26 large puzzles: Each puzzle is a delightful pancake split into two halves.

  • The left half features an uppercase alphabet letter.

  • The right half features the corresponding lowercase alphabet letter.

• Space for Letter Formation/Finger Tracing: Inside each large letter, there's ample room for children to practice letter formation by finger tracing or by using a whiteboard pen (if laminated).

(Note: Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity suggested on this page and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• 💡 How to use this resource in your classroom/setting

  Our Pancake: Alphabet (Upper/Lower Case) Puzzles are incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years and KS1 environments:

  • Preschool, Nursery & Childminder Settings:

    • Matching Game: Laminate and cut the pancakes in half. Children can then match the uppercase halves to their corresponding lowercase halves. Start with a small selection of letters and gradually increase.

    • Letter Introduction: Focus on one or two letters at a time, allowing children to manipulate the puzzle pieces and practise finger tracing the letter shapes.

    • Sensory Tracing: Provide the laminated pieces for children to finger trace the letters. For an extra sensory experience, they could trace with playdough or small loose parts.

  • Reception Class (EYFS):

    • Phonics Links: Integrate into phonics sessions. After matching, children can practise the sound each letter makes.

    • Literacy Centre: Place the cut-out puzzles at a literacy station for independent or small group work on letter recognition and matching.

    • Letter Formation Practice: Once laminated, children can use whiteboard pens to trace inside the letters, reinforcing correct formation.

  • KS1 Classes (Year 1 & Year 2 School):

    • Alphabetical Order: After matching, challenge children to put all the completed puzzles in alphabetical order.

    • Spelling Support: Use as a visual reference for letter shapes when practising spelling words.

    • Handwriting Warm-up: Use the laminated puzzles for quick letter formation drills with whiteboard pens.

    • 'Find the Pair' Game: Hide the halves around the room and have children find and match them.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐣 EYFS Framework

  EYFS Framework:

  • Literacy (Reading & Writing):

    • Letter Recognition: Recognise and name all letters of the alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase.

    • Letter Formation: Develop correct letter formation through tracing.

    • Phonics: Begin to link sounds to letters.

  • Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Manipulating puzzle pieces, finger tracing, and using whiteboard pens helps to strengthen hand muscles, develop pincer grip, and enhance hand-eye coordination.

  • Communication and Language: Opportunities for children to use letter names and sounds, and discuss their matching strategies.

  • Mathematics (Problem Solving - indirectly): Solving the puzzle involves matching and logical thinking.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐤 KS1 Curriculum

  KS1 Curriculum:

  • English (Reading & Writing):

    • Phonics: Reinforce knowledge of graphemes and phonemes for reading and spelling.

    • Handwriting: Practice letter formation and legibility.

    • Spelling: Use as a visual reference for accurate letter shapes.

    • Alphabetical Order: Practise alphabetical ordering for use in dictionaries or lists.

  • Art and Design: Opportunities to explore line and shape through the letter forms.

Download our Pancake: Alphabet (Upper/Lower Case) Puzzle today and serve up a stack of alphabet learning fun for your EYFS and KS1 learners!

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