Missing Letters Mystery

Introduction

Using the alphabet, help your child uncover which letters are missing.

Materials:

• Multi-Colored Construction Paper
• Pencil
• Markers or Crayons
• Notepad or Lined Paper
• Scissors (*Adults only)

Directions:

• Have your child pick 7 sheets of the colored paper.
• Adults only, cut each sheet of paper into 4 squares. (You can cut the paper in half vertically and then the two pieces cut horizontally to make the 4 equal pieces.) This will leave you with 28 square pieces of paper. Discard the extra 2 squares.
• Have your child write the alphabet by writing one letter on each piece of paper. For a younger child, draw dotted letters for him to trace.
• When your child is finished, have him put all of the letters in order on the floor.
• After the alphabet is in order, you and your child can turn them over so they are face down.
• Pull 5-10 letters out at random and place them in a pile to the side.
• Your child can then flip all of the remaining letters over and then decide which letters are missing and seek them out in the pile.

Take it further:

Write the Missing Letters

• Take the 26 letters and scatter then around on the floor. Without your child seeing which letters you choose, take out 5-10 letters and put them aside.
• Have your child go through the alphabet starting with A (unless you have taken A out, and then that will be the first letter he writes down in his notebook, or piece of lined paper.)
• Once your child has established which letter is missing, he will write it down in his notebook and move on to the next letter, putting the alphabet in order on the floor as he does so.
• When he has finished the alphabet, his notepad should have all of the missing letters. Either give him back the missing letters to compare to his notebook or have him find them where you have hidden them in a game of letter hide and seek.

Missing Word Mystery

• Instead of randomly taking out letters, for a greater challenge take out letters to spell specific words. After your child is done solving the mystery of what letters are missing, have her unscramble them to complete words. You could start by using the following words:
  • bowl
  • bears
  • bed
  • three

Talk about it:

• In the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears: The Mystery, the Super Readers had to figure out who was making the mess in the Three Bears' House so they could help clean it up. What happens when someone makes a mess? Talk about the importance of cleaning up or asking for help if you�ve made a mess.