Environmental print is the print of everyday life. It’s the name given to the print that appears in signs, labels, and logos. Candy wrappers, labels on peanut butter and the M in McDonald’s are other examples of environmental print. For many emergent readers, environmental print helps bridge the connection between letters and first efforts to read.
Infact, when you are out driving and your child points to the McDonald’s sign and says, “Look Mommy, that is McDonald’s!”, your child is reading!!! When you are out at the grocery store and your child sees a soup can and says, “Campbell’s!”, they are reading!!!
Environmental print is a great starting tool for teaching phonics and reading. Most children recognize labels and logos from their favorite products. Environmental print provides lots of opportunities for kids to interact with letters, sounds, and words.
Print out some environmental print at Hubbards Cupboard over at this page. I laminated the pictures and stuck a magnet on the back. I also added the sentences:
I want to go to…
I want to eat…
I want to eat…
The kiddos can then sort out the print to match the sentence. Next they can read the sentence they made!!! My pre-reader loves this activity and showing others how she reads!!!
Below are two FREE printable Bingo games you attach to a clipboard. The first one you use in the car and your child can check off the things they find as they ride. When they have filled their card, they win. It may take a few car trips to fill the card.
This is one I have used while shopping. My daughter loves holding this in the cart and checking off the “words” she spots as we shop. Once she finds them all, she gets a treat!!!
You may print both of the above card here at Teaching Heart!!!
