The Letter Z - A fun an interactive tactile board inspired by Thunder and Sunshine's You Tube Video

Esther Crow, children's musician and singer from Thunder and Sunshine, contacted me recently to tell me about her new You Tube video 'The Letter Z'. It is such a fun and funky song. Both my kids, aged 4 and 5 really loved it. Though they already know their alphabet, they enjoyed the video. It is useful for any young learner because it not only teaches the letter sound and words that begin with it - but it also talks about words with Z in the middle and what words beginning with Z would sound like if Z didn't exist - my five year old in particular loved this.

Inspired to make a follow on activity after watching the video - because follow-on activities are always great to develop learning and solidify what kids have already learned - I made this easy-to-make tactile learning board. Some felt, a glue gun (as always!), and a few bits from around the house and here it is!

The z words in the board areZip (or zipper) - which is functioning!

Zebra - which is attached with velcro so can be removed

Zig zags - which are made from a tactile foam material

Zucchini - made from felt

Zero - made from grey felt

Zoo - which is a small plastic box, glued on at the back with a brown gate cut from foam and glued onto the clear plastic lid to the box. I glued it at an angle so it functions like a pocket and small animals can be put inside and taken out again.

More about Esther Crow and Thunder and Sunshine

Esther Crow is NYC-based and, besides being a musician and songwriter, is also a part time teacher and children's entertainer. She is a regular guest reader at the Bank Street Book Store at their story time. She is also available to hire for children's parties.

Esther particularly enjoys incorporating various sounds and genres in the music that she writes. In 2007 she and her husband, Dan Crow, founded The Electric Mess, a rock band, with friend and bass-player, Derek Davidson. Esther founded Thunder and Sunshine after deciding to turn to music full time in 2013.

Thunder and Sunshine have another new video due for release in December so subscribe to their channel to keep up to date!

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