Family Collage: Photos + Beginning Sounds

Level 1 focuses on concrete, hands-on learning.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Materials

Large sugar paper (one per child)

Magazines with diverse family photos

Child-safe scissors

Glue sticks

Variety of family and home-related stickers (e.g., houses, furniture, people)

Picture prompts of family members (e.g., mommy, daddy, sibling, pet)

Markers

Smocks (optional)

Learning Objectives

Children will be able to identify and name at least two family members.

Children will demonstrate an understanding of beginning sounds by matching a picture prompt to a letter.

Children will express ideas about their own families through collage.

Children will practise fine motor skills when cutting, gluing, and sticking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Gather children and introduce the theme of "My Family." Ask, "Who lives in your home with you?" Display picture prompts of family members and say their names together.

2. Explain that they will create a special collage about their families. Show examples of magazine pictures featuring different types of families.

3. Invite children to look through magazines and find pictures of people they might see in their homes or families. Encourage them to cut out pictures with their child-safe scissors.

4. Provide each child with sugar paper and glue sticks. Guide them in gluing their chosen pictures onto the paper to create their family collage.

5. Introduce beginning sounds by holding up a picture prompt (e.g., 'd' for daddy). Say the sound of the letter and ask, "What sound does 'daddy' start with?"

6. Have children find letter stickers that match the beginning sounds of their family members. Help them place these letter stickers near their families on the collage.

7. Offer family and home-related stickers for children to add to their collages, asking, "What does this sticker remind you of in your home?"

8. Encourage children to share their collages, pointing out the pictures of their families and the letter sounds they learned about.

Educator Tip

Support children who struggle with cutting by pre-cutting some images. For children who prefer not to cut, they can select whole pages or tear pieces of paper to glue. Ensure all family structures are represented positively and respectfully. You can also invite families to send in a preferred family photo for the child to add to their collage before the activity.

Assessment

Observe children as they create their collages. Note if they can identify and name family members shown in their pictures or mentioned verbally. Listen for their attempts to make beginning sounds and identify corresponding letters. Collect their collages to see how they represent their families and their use of materials.

Educator tip

Pre-cut pieces; model language; include diverse family structures.

Assessment

Observe and note: ability to follow two-step instructions, use of new vocabulary in context, early problem-solving strategies, and sustained shared thinking episodes. Assess against Development Matters age-band expectations. Teacher checklist: engagement, beginning sound identification.

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