AGES:  Prereaders

MATERIALS:  Cornmeal, plastic containers, measuring spoons, funnel or sifter, chopstick or   unsharpened pencil, shallow roasting pan

Spread a thin layer of meal over the bottom of the pan and form a letter by plowing through the meal with your finger.  Say the letter and its associated sound for a child who doesn't recognize letters yet; ask a child who can recognize letters to identify the one you have drawn.  Children may want to trace your letter, try one of their own, or just draw designs.

Some children may prefer a tool such as a chopstick or unsharpened pencil to a finger because thats how they see older people write.  It doesn't matter how they grasp the tool now; they can learn the proper way when they are ready to learn how to form, rather than recognize, letters.

Cleaning up is no big deal:  When your kids are finished playing, just dust off clothes and sweep the floor.