Letter Identification Game: Rainbow Letters Race to the Top
Are you ready to take your preschool literacy instruction up a notch with this letter identification game – rainbow letters race to the top? This engaging, interactive game is sure to get your students excited about learning those all-important letters of the alphabet.
It’s here just in time for St. Patrick’s Day or a spring rainbow theme. So hop on board with us and let’s join together as our Rainbow Letters Race to the Top!
Learning letters can be a daunting task for preschoolers. But when it’s done in a fun, interactive way, they can quickly learn the basics of letter recognition and letter sounds. This rainbow themed game is just the thing to get your students excited about letters while also keeping them engaged in fun.
For any student to have success while learning how to read, they must first establish a strong understanding of the alphabet. Letter recognition is one of the top predictors for reading proficiency and can be developed through various activities in oral language, phonological awareness, and phonics.
To be truly proficient in their letter recognition skills, children must be able to recognize and pronounce individual letters both out of context and within sequences. This doesn’t just mean being accurate; they also have to develop the ability to do so quickly – a combination known as automaticity that can make all the difference when it comes time for them read with success.
That’s why preschool letter identification games like this one has such an important place in early learning!
How to Teach Letter Sounds
Teaching letter sounds in preschool begins and ends with fun! Learning letter sounds and identifying letter names should be made fun, stress-free, and easy. One of the best ways to do this is by using letter recognition games.
There are a couple of important strategies to utilize when teaching letter recognition in preschool.
- Explicit instruction in letter naming
- Sorting activities to differentiate letter shapes
- Letter formation
- Exposure to letters in a variety of text formats
- Use visuals, such as alphabet cards and beginning sound cards.
- Practice “think aloud” strategies, which means to talk out-loud about the things you want your preschoolers to know and notice about each letter
Rainbow Themed Books for Kids
These bright and cheery rainbow themed books are so fun to read… we have each one of these books in our library and the rainbow theme is definitely a favorite with preschoolers!
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- Hardcover Book
- Sweeney, Monica (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Freeman, Don (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages – 12/14/1978 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)
- Rose, Olena (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 29 Pages – 02/28/2021 (Publication Date) – Independently published (Publisher)
- Hegarty, Patricia (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 22 Pages – 02/09/2021 (Publication Date) – Rodale Kids (Publisher)
Rainbow Letters Race to the Top Letter Identification Game
The game is simple. And effective. And fun. Your preschoolers will learn the alphabet in no time. Once I introduce this fun alphabet game to my preschoolers, and we practice it a little bit, I then keep it in our literacy centers. My preschoolers are always coming back to these learning games!
What’s Included
This printable includes graphs that are in alphabetical order as well as graphs that have random letters (with uppercase and lowercase mixed). All together, there are 10 different graphs with corresponding dice to make this letter identification game versatile and differentiated!
Additional Materials
- free printable alphabet game
- blank dice
- small manipulatives like floral stones or buttons
The Set Up
Print out the game boards and laminate them. The printable includes a die for each game, but if you don’t want to take the time to assemble the paper die, you can just write the letters on a set of blank dice like these. That’s what I do.
If making your own dice, write the corresponding letters in lowercase. This way, preschoolers can practice matching uppercase and lowercase letters as they play.
Set out the game sheets on a tray and set out a small bowl of manipulatives along with the dice.
How to Play Race to the Top Game
Start by selecting a game sheet to play.
There are two different versions on the game. One version features letters in alphabetical order, with six letters to a sheet. The second version features letters in the order that corresponds to the Daily Lessons in Preschool Phonics curriculum. I originally made these rainbow games as review every four weeks, like in my curriculum.
Follow the play of the game like this:
- Select a game sheet for play.
- Roll the corresponding die.
- Identify the lowercase letter name on the die.
- Make the corresponding sound.
- Fine the uppercase letter on the game sheet and cover with a small manipulative.
- Continue play until one column has reached the top of the grid.
Since this game teaches graphing skills as well as alphabet knowledge, it is a great combination of both math and literacy working together! Check out our preschool daily lessons in graphing unit for more graphing math activities.
More Race to the Top Games
- Zoo Animal Race to the Top Counting Game
- Apple Race Math Game
- Fall Roll and Graph Game
- Snowman Race to the Top Math Game
- Race to 20 Math Games
More Letter Identification Games
- I Spy Letters
- Sunglasses Alphabet Activities
- Don’t Feed the Monster Alphabet Game
- Letter Sounds Alphabet Board Game
- Koala Letter Recognition Game
- Alphabet Clip Strips
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Product on sale* Daily Lessons in Preschool Literacy CurriculumOriginal price was: $135.00.$99.00Current price is: $99.00.
Rainbow Preschool Toys
Playtime in preschool is so important and these rainbow preschool toys are a bright and cheery way to invite play into the home or classroom.
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- 【Educational toy】Great montessori toys for babies and toddlers， 63PCS include 7 Shapes and 21…
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- Building Colorful Skills: Kids learn a rainbow of sorting, patterning, and early addition skills…
- Fine Motor Fun: Designed for little hands, this toddler toy’s fine motor tongs help kids build…
- Built-In Storage: When playtime’s done, this preschool learning toy’s 30 counters, 5 activity…
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- Learn through play: Engage your little one in immersive learning and play with our captivating STEM…
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- Acrylic Rainbow Blocks Set: Our building stacking blocks set comes with 128 colorful geometric…
- Learning Educational Kids Toy: This colorful learning and educational toy is an ideal toy to promote…
- Safe Materials: Our building block set is made of high-quality acrylic and non-toxic wood materials,…
- COLOR CHANGING TOYS FOR KIDS: Translucent paddles that children can look through to change their…
- PRESCHOOL SCIENCE FOR KIDS: Demonstrate the principles of color mixing
- 3 DIFFERENT TEXTURES: Each paddle is segmented with 3 different textures
Get Your Free Letter Identification Game!
If you think your students or children will enjoy Rainbow Letters Race to the Top, you can get your free copy by clicking the giant red button below
More Rainbow Activities for Kids
Here are even more free rainbow preschool activities! From rainbow science in our free lesson plans to practice fine motor skills and scissor cutting in crafts.
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
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My kids love the rainbow letter race. Do you have a number one?
Ooh…I don’t have a number one but that is a great idea! Going to make one now!