Introduction: Exploring Letter Geometry
I've been teaching kindergarten for 20 years. This summer I got a 3d printer. I created a few 3d designs for my classroom that I thought a few parents/teachers might also need.
The first thing I designed was a letter making kit. This kit allows students to experiment with the geometry of uppercase letters--All upper case letters can be made with this kit. Folks simply need to download the gcode file and print. It's on Thingverse, so folks can also have the kit printed and sent to them in what ever color their child chooses. Once kids play with these letter parts, they will learn the simple geometry involved with making letters. Understanding the simple geometry of capital letters allows a child to go from drawing letters to printing them--An increase in speed and readability. Being able to identify letters will also increase a child's reading ability.
I also created a name stencil. The font used in the stencil replicates the font I teach in my classroom. The center parts of the letters are not connected (Connecting them would interfere with the font). A child could use this stencil to practice print their own name. Parents can either download the gcode or they could have this stencil made for them. What kid doesn't want a their own name stencil?
Supplies
Download or order a letter kit at this site:
Step 1: Do You Want Print This Yourself? or Do You Want It Printed for You?
Step 2: Introduce How Letters Are Made.
Show your child an alphabet chart. See alphabet chart above:
Talk about how all uppercase letters are made of just 4 different kinds of lines-small curve, large curve, small straight, and large straight. Show child how to make a letter. Have child make a simple letter like 'A'. Repeat the next day.
Step 3: Create a Traceable Worksheet
Create a worksheet with a traceable font in a word processor and print it out. I pasted an image of this below. Make the font bigger if a child is having difficulty. Have your child trace over the letters. A good font can be found here:https://www.dafont.com/kg-primary-penmanship.font
Step 4: Letter Sort
Buy magnetic letters. You could print them, but they cost $12 https://www.amazon.com/EduKid-Toys-Magnetic-Letters-Numbers/dp/B00RM4O83C
Have child sort letters according in the following ways: Letters made of only straight lines, letters only made of curves, and letters made of both curve and straight lines.
Step 5: Child Makes Letters in Different Modalities
Use a whiteboard or chalkboard to make letters.
Use outside chalk on the sidewalk to make letters.
Use water and a brush on the sidewalk to make letters.
Use tempera paint and paper to make letters.
Use a wide variety of pens, markers, and crayons to make letters.
