The Letter “I”

See also:
Ants (insects)
Insects
Snow and Ice
Ice Cream

Things that begin with the letter “I”:

  • Ice
  • Ice Cream
  • Igloo
  • Iguana
  • Ivory
  • Ink
  • Invisible
  • Invite
  • Invitation
  • Investigate
  • Idaho
  • Iowa
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • India
  • Ivy
  • Ice Skates
  • Idea
  • Iris
  • Iron
  • Iceberg
  • Island
  • Inch
  • Inchworm
  • Insects
  • Inside

Arts and Crafts

Stamping Patterns

Use “I”-shaped rubber stamps to create a simple pattern on the top half of a piece of paper. Ask your child to help you recreate the pattern on the bottom half of the paper. Tip: Start with one stamp, and have your child pick which stamp you used. Start slowly and work your way up to more complicated patterns.

Lacing Cards

Cut colored poster board into an “I” shape and punch holes around the edges. Then let your child lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards.

Cookie Cutter Painting

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a large shallow container. (A pie tin works well.) Show your child how to dip the cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make pictures by using cookie cutters that are I shapes or of items that begin with the letter “I” and colored paper.

Torn Paper “I”

Supply the children with a full sheet of white paper and half sheet of another color paper. Ask them to make an “I” by tearing pieces of the paper and gluing them onto the white paper. For a more basic project, trace the letter I onto the paper, and have the child fill the “I” with the paper.

“I” Rubbings

Cut “I” shapes from paper doilies or sandpaper. Tape these shapes to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the shapes and rub a crayon over the shape.

Butterfly Ink Blot

Cut out a butterfly shape on white paper, the shape should be symmetrical. Fold the paper in half, and ask the child to paint half of the butterfly. When the child is finished, ask him/her to press the paper halves together, so that both sides will look the same. Have the child rub the folded paper. Open the paper, and you have a butterfly with matching wings.

Inked Fingerprint Insects

Supply each child with a piece of white paper and different colored non-toxic stamp pads. Show the child how to make fingerprints on paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add legs and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and antennae.

Make an Insect

Have the children make an insect with marshmallows, toothpicks and pipe cleaners. Use the toothpicks for legs and to connect the body parts, use the pipe cleaners for antennae or a tail.

Play-Doh Insects

Have your children make insects out of Play-Doh.

Insect Headbands

Have the children cut out two strips of paper that when connected will fit around their head. Connect the strips with glue or tape, (staples will catch the child’s hair). Supply the children with two pipe cleaners… and have them shape them however they want to and tape them on the inside of the headband. On mine I wrote “Busy Bee Suzy” and “Beautiful Butterfly Max” or whatever they wanted to be.

Dippin Insects

Obtain cookie cutters that are shaped like insects. Have the children dip the cookie cutter in a shallow container of paint, then press onto a piece of paper to make prints.

Ice Cube Art

First, you need a large plastic container with a lid. (I used a shallow peanut butter container.) Next cut out paper that will fit in the lid of the container. Place a few drops of paint into the container with a few ice cubes (be sure to observe carefully as ice cubes are a choking hazard) then place a very small amount of paint on the lid and pre-cut paper on the paint. (I use the paint to make the paper stick to the lid.) Place the lid on the container, flip and have the children shake. When finished, remove the paper and allow to dry, and place a clean piece of paper in the lid for the next child.

Inch Worm Art

This one is a lot of fun, and has great results. Set out a piece of yarn for each color of paint you intend to use. Have the child dip the yarn in one color of paint, and run it across the paper. Use a new piece of string for a different color.

Inkblot Pictures

Fold a piece of paper in half. Open the paper and have your child paint on one side of the paper. Have the child fold the paper in half again, with the paint inside and press the halves together. Open the paper to see the identical pictures.

Ice Cream Art 1

Cut out Ice Cream Cone (with the ice cream) shapes from construction paper. Have the children use bingo dabbers to make sprinkles on the cone.

Ice Cream Art 2

Cut out Ice cream cone shapes, and scoops of Ice cream shapes from different colors, have the children glue the scoops onto the cones for a super ice cream cone.

Ice Cream Art 3

Follow the instructions above… let the ice cream cones dry… then let the child add real sprinkles or brown paint for chocolate syrup.

Math, Science, and Games

Where’s the Insect?

For this activity, you will need index cards, a piece of construction paper, and two sets of matching stickers. Place one set of stickers on the construction paper. Place each sticker of the second set on its own index card. To play: the children pick an index card and try to find the matching bug on the construction paper. Kinda like “Where’s Waldo?”

Counting Insects

For this activity, you will need index cards and insect stickers. Place the stickers on index cards. Place one on one card, two on another and so on. Then on the back of the card write the number “1”, “2” and so on. The children count the insects and say the number and then flip the card over and see if they are correct.

Sand Table Fun

Add plastic insects to your sand or water table.
Add ice to the water table
Make the water “Icy”

Insect Sorting and Matching

Provide the children with plastic insects to sort and match. For additional fun, provide the children with various colors of cups for the insects to go in.

Torn Paper Igloos

Supply the children with a full sheet of blue paper and a half sheet of white paper. Ask them to make an igloo by tearing pieces of the white paper and gluing them onto the blue paper.

Creative Invitation Ideas

  • Host an Ice Cream Party and have the children decorate the outside of the invitations.
  • Fold a piece of construction paper in half. Provide children with a variety of materials, wrapping paper, paper, glitter, ribbons, bows, and let them make an invitation for someone special.

Measuring in Inches

Have the children measure a variety of items in inches.

Measuring the Children in Inches

Measure each child in inches. Graph the results.

Estimation in Inches

Show the children an object that is one inch long. Have the children search the room and bring back something that is about one inch long. Repeat with six inches and again with 12 inches.

Ice Cream Flavors

Cut out ice cream scoop shapes from various different colors of construction paper. Ask the children to name the ice cream flavors. What might the ice cream taste like? What is their favorite color and flavor?

Ice Cream Match

Cut out 2 ice cream scoop shapes from each different color of construction paper.. you may want to laminate them to last longer. Have the children pick out an Ice cream scoop, then find it’s mate.

Ice Cream Scoops

Cut out ice cream scoop shapes from various different colors of construction paper. Cut out five Ice cream cone shapes. Label the cones from 1 to 5. Ask the children to place the approprite # of scoops of ice cream on each cone.

Snacks

Icy Cones

You will need a snow cone machine and the recommended ingredients. For the one I have, I need ice and snow cone syrup. Have the children look at the ice before you put it in the machine. While you grind the ice, have the children listen to the sound it makes. After the ice is made, have the children look at the ice again. You could add some of this ice in the sand and water table for the children to feel. Make snow cones for the children. Have the children smell the snow cones, does the ice have a scent? Does the syrup? Then have the children eat the snow cones. How does it taste?

Ice Cream Sundaes

Bring everything you need to make ice cream sundaes to class. Make sure to keep allergies in mind! For children who can’t have lactose, sorbet is a great replacement.