Preschool Kindergarten
Language ArtsFine Motor ActivitiesPrintablesSensory Activities
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.
Learning to write is a whole lot more fun when you ditch the worksheets and opt for more hands-on activities instead.
This popcorn writing tray does just that and fits in perfectly with a circus preschool theme unit!
Whether your child is just beginning to learn letter formation or they could simply use some extra practice, this popcorn writing tray is the perfect way to incorporate a little handwriting practice and sensory play into your day.
Popcorn Letter Practice
This fun writing tray uses just a few simple materials and comes together in no time at all!
To make a popcorn writing tray of your own, you’ll need:
- Unpopped popcorn kernels
- A shallow tray or dish
- A marker or pencil (optional)
- The printable popcorn letter pieces (below)
Start by pouring a small number of popcorn kernels into your tray.
Quick tip! With popcorn kernels being on the larger size, you’ll need to refrain from pouring a large amount into your tray. You want a single layer of kernels covering the bottom of the tray. Anything more than that and your letters won’t “hold” when you draw them in the tray.
When your tray is ready, print and cut out the popcorn alphabet cards, both upper and lowercase letters are included in the set.
If you’d like, you can also laminate them for durability.
When you have your tray set up, give your child a marker or pencil that they can use to write their letters. They could also simply use their finger if they’d prefer.
Have them work their way through the popcorn alphabet cards, practicing their handwriting skills while also reinforcing their letter recognition.
If they are just starting to learn how to write their letters, start with just a few at a time. Uppercase letters are generally easier for small children to form correctly when they are just starting out.
As they start to recognize more letters, add more letter cards to their pile or swap over and introduce the lowercase letters.
