Letter Zz

Activities   Songs and Poems   Sing Along Songs 1 and 2


Letter Zz Activities

The letter-sound association we are studying this week is "Z z" as in "zany zebra." Here are some activities you can do with your child to reinforce our classroom activities.

1. Listen for the "Z z" sound in these words. Tell if you hear it at the beginning, middle or the end of each word.

Ziggy, lazy, gauze, buzz, zany, zero, crazy, chimpanzee, zeal
magazine, fizz, gazette, Zanzibar, frozen, hazy, fuzz, hazard,
pizza, Zeus, gaze, zeppelin, gizzard, zither, zigzag, zucchini, zone

2. Which words in these sentences have the "Z z" sound? Say where you hear the "Z z" sound: at the beginning, middle or end of the word.
a. Zachary zoomed around the yard like a crazy rocket.
b. Azaleas and zinnias grow in my garden.
c. You might see zebras and gazelles grazing in Zambia.
d. Zita won a prize at the pet show for her lizard.

3. Play a Word Guessing game. All of your guesses should begin with the "Z z" sound.
a. The number that comes before one is ________. (zero)
b. I like to see the wild animals in the ______. (zoo)
c. My favorite jacket doesn't have buttons, it has a ________. (zipper)
d. An animal that looks like a black and white striped horse is a _____. (zebra)
e. Another word for crazy is _______. (zany)

4. Sing a song called "Zany Z's" sung to the tune of "London Bridge."
Zany Z's are zipping by, Zipping by, zipping by.
Zany Z's are zipping by, Zip! Zap! Zoom!

Zany zebras are zipping by, Zipping by, zipping by.
Zany zebras are zipping by, Zip! Zap! Zoom!

Add more verses substituting other "Z z" words for the word "zebras."

5. Make some zipper rubbings. You'll need different colored crayons, a piece of white paper and a variety of zippers from jackets, duffle bags, jeans, purses, etc. Lay the zipper as flat as you can on a table. Place the paper on top of the zipper then using the side of a crayon, rub it over the zipper. Do this with different kinds of zippers in different colors all over the paper.

6. Show your child how to write "Z z" like this:
Z: Make a line from left to right on the top line then make another line from left to right on the bottom line. Make a sliding board from the top right line to the bottom left line.
z: Same as above only use the middle line and bottom line.


Songs and Poems

Zip Your Lips!
Tune: If You're Happy And You Know It


If you're loud and you know it, zip your lips!
If you're loud and you know it, zip your lips!
If you're loud and you know it,
Then your mouth will surely show it.
If you're loud and you know it, zip your lips!

*****

The Zipper Man
Tune: The Muffin Man
Sing Along to this song!

Do you know the zipper man,
The zipper man, the zipper man?
Do you know the zipper man?
He loves to zip and zip.

He has a zipper coat,
A zipper coat, a zipper coat.
He has a zipper coat
That he can zip and zip.

He has two zipper boots...
He has a zipper tent...
He has a zipper bag...

Add verses about other things you can zip.

*****

Zippers

Three little zippers on my snowsuit,
(hold up three fingers)
Fasten up as snug as snug can be.
It's a very easy thing as you can see.
Just zip, zip, zip!
(do three zipping motions)

I work the zippers on my snowsuit.
Zippers really do save time for me.
I can fasten them myself with one, two, three.
Just zip, zip, zip!
(do three zipping motions)

*****

Nine Little Zebras
Tune: Ten Little Indians

One little, two little, three little zebras,
Four little, five little, six little zebras,
Seven little, eight little, nine little zebras,
Galloping across the plain.

Nine little, eight little, seven little zebras,
Six little, five little, four little zebras,
Three little, two little, one little zebra,
Galloping back again.

*****

I'm a Little Zebra
Tune: I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little zebra,
White and black,
Big bushy mane
Riding down my back.
I like to gallop
And run and play
Out on the African plains all day.

*****

Zoo Keeper Song
Tune: Down By The Station

Down at the zoo
Early in the morning,
You can see the animals
Standing in a row.
You can see me feeding
One and then other.
I am the zoo keeper,
Watch me go!

Down at the zoo
Early in the morning,
You can see the animals
Standing in a row.
You can see me cleaning
One and then other.
I am the zoo keeper,
Watch me go!

*****

I am Learning Zz
Tune: Farmer in the Dell
written by Mrs. Jones
Sing Along to this song!

I am learning Zz,
I am learning Zz,
I love the alphabet,
I am learning Zz.

Zebra starts with Z,
Zebra starts with Z.
I love the alphabet,
Zebra starts with Z.

Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzz Zzzz "Z"
Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzz Zzzz "Z"
I love the alphabet,
Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzz Zzzz "Z."

Continue with other Z words.

*****

A Game

Isn't it funny that a bear likes honey?
Buzz, buzz, buzz, I wonder why he does!
Go to sleep, Mr Bear.
Wake up, Mr Bear.

Children sit in a circle with the child who is the bear in the center with a small pot beside him. During the first three lines the bear pretends to eat the honey, then goes to sleep. A second child tries to pick up the pot but as soon as he touches it the children shout 'wake up, Mr Bear', and the 'bear' chases this thief, who must try to get round the circle and back to his place before the bear touches him.

*****

A little bee,
Sat on a wall,
He said - bzzz bzzzzz,
And that was all.

*****
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