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LETTER "D" ACTIVITIES
 

ART

DAZZLING DIAMONDS
Cut out a multitude of 2" diamond shapes from different colors of construction paper.
Set out the diamond shapes along with small bowls of glue and some small brushes or Q-tips.
Give your children a piece of white or colored background paper.
First, show them how to make designs using several diamond shapes.
When they have a design they like, then have them glue each diamond shape in place on their paper.
 
DECORATING "D's"
Cut out large D shapes from heavy paper for your children to decorate.
Set out one of the following materials for your child to use to decorate their D's.
Markers to make dots all over their D.
Dogs or daisy stickers.
 
DOBBER ART
Purchase a set of paint dobbers. (The kind that are sold at Arts and Craft stores, that are non-toxic classroom versions of Bingo dobbers.)
Give your children plain paper and let them create whatever type of picture, they wish.
Sing - to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat"
Dob, Dob, Dob the paint.
Make a picture now.
It is such a lot of fun.
I will show you how.
Jean Warren
 
DECORATING DONUTS
Cut out large donut shapes for your children.
Give them a bowl of colored glue and a small paint brush. (Mix food coloring in white glue.)
Have your children frost their donuts with frosting (colored glue)
Then, let them sprinkle on confetti or glitter to decorate.
 
GAMES & ACTIVITIES
DIME DROP
Here is a coordination game for the letter D.
Set out a container such as a bowl or box. (Be sure it has a 6" or less top)
Let your children stand over the container and take turns dropping in dimes.
How many did they get in the container?
 
"D" PUZZLE
You can make a simple puzzle for your child to practice letter recognition.
Take a small (3"x5") index card.
Turn it onto the plain side and make it stand up tall.
With a large black or blue marking pen, print a large upper case D.
Now, with a pair of scissors, cut the letter across the middle with a puzzle cut.
Give the two pieces of the letter to one child and have her put the letter back together.
 
Gradually, add more letter puzzles to your pile for your children to sort and make into whole letters.

Variation: You could also turn your paper sideways and make a two piece puzzle, with an upper case D on one side and the lower case d on the other side.

 
SNACKS
 
DELICIOUS DIPS
Show your children how to make healthy dips.
Pour 1 cup of cottage cheese with ½ cup mayonnaise and ½ cup sour cream into a blender.
Add ½ package of dried vegetable soup, or tuna fish, or any other ingredient you wish.
Blend and serve with carrot and celery sticks or crackers.
 
DINOSAUR BONES
Make your favorite sugar cookie dough.
Roll it out flat and using a dog bone cookie cutter, let your children help you cut out cookie bones.
Place the bones on a cookie sheet and follow cookie recipe directions.
 
ADDITIONAL SNACK IDEAS
Make donuts.
Serve dried dates.
Make a Dad's dinner for an open house.
Serve devils food cupcakes.
 
MOVEMENT
 
DANCING ANIMALS
Say the name of an animal that starts with the letter D, such as; dog, ducks, donkeys, deer, dragons or dinosaurs.
Put on some dance music.
Have your children pretend they are the animal and try to dance like the animal might.
 
"D" MOVEMENTS

Here are some "D" movements you can let your children have fun imitating.
Digging in dirt.
Dunking donuts.
Dancing dolls.
Diving for dimes.
Dumping dirt.
 
DANCING TO DRUMS
Play music for your children to dance to.
Supply real drums for your children to play.
 
HOUSE KEEPING AREA
 
DRESSING-UP
Place props in your dress-up area for your children to pretend to be:
Doctors
Detectives
Dancers
Divers
 
LANGUAGE
 
"D" ANIMAL BOOK
Make a blank book and fill it with pictures of animals that begin with D, such as; ducks, dogs, donkeys, dinosaurs, dragons, deer.
Label each picture with the name of the animal written in large black print.
Place the book in the reading area.
 
Variation: Make copies of the pictures in your book and let your children make their own books.
 
DAISY MASKS
Cut the middle out of paper plates for your children.
Set out the plate rims, some glue and some yellow or white paper flower petals.
Have your children glue petals all around their paper daisy ring.
Have children hold these up in front of their faces as they sing songs or recite poems about daisies or other flowers.
 
DEEDLE, DEEDLE, DUMPLING

When you are studying the letter "D", it is a great time to teach your children the poem "Deedle, Deedle Dumpling".
  DEEDLE, DEEDLE DUMPLING
Deedle, deedle, dumpling,
My son John.
Went to bed
With his britches on.
One shoe off,
And one shoe on.
Deedle, deedle dumpling
My son John.

WRITING
 
WRITING PRACTIC SHEET
Make a practice writing sheet for your children.
On a sheet of paper print one or more 1" upper and lower case D's".
Place the paper in a plastic page protector (available at office supply stores) or cover the paper with Contac ® paper.
Set out the sheet along with a black crayon and some small sheets of paper towels.
Let your children take turns practicing writing "D's" using the crayon.
Markings can be wiped off with the paper towels when it is someone else's turn.
 
MUSIC
 
DOCTOR BEAR
Doctor Bear

Doctor, Doctor,
Doctor Bear,
I can tell
You really care.

Dressed up in
Your new white coat,
Checking hearts
With your stethoscope.
Jean Warren