How to Make Cursive Sandpaper Letters

Use a colorful fine-grained sandpaper to make the letters visually appealing.

The Montessori education system is an innovative approach to teaching children developed by Maria Montessori and widely used throughout Europe. One of the key tenets of this approach is teaching children their letters and sounds using multiple senses, rather than by simply writing letters over and over. Under this approach, children use tactile materials to feel the shape of each letter as they are taught what it sounds like. By tracing a sandpaper version of a cursive letter with their fingertips, students can easily learn how to write the letter; they also connect the letter with its common sound.

Things You'll Need

• Very fine-grade sandpaper (120 or higher)
• Letter templates
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Cutting board
• Utility knife or heavy-duty scissors
• Colored card stock
• Craft glue
• Storage box or bin

Instructions

1. Draw or print a template of each lowercase cursive letter one to two inches high; the lines of the letters should be at least 1/8 of an inch wide so the children can clearly feel them.

2. Trace the templates onto very fine-grained sandpaper with the gritty side face up. Carefully cut out each letter with heavy-duty scissors or with a utility knife on a cutting board.

3. Cut twenty-six 3 by 5 inch pieces of the colored card stock. To adhere to the Montessori approach, cut five blue pieces for the vowels and 21 pink pieces for the consonants.

4. Glue the five sandpaper vowels to the blue cards using the craft glue. Glue the 21 consonants to the pink cards. Allow the glue to dry completely for 30 to 60 minutes.

5. Store the sandpaper letter cards in a box or plastic bin. Introduce three or four letters to the children at a time. Show them how to trace their fingertips over the shape of the cursive letter, while you say the sound the letter makes. Continue this exercise until they are familiar with the letters, then gradually introduce additional letters. Once the children can correctly relate each letter to its corresponding sound, begin linking individual letters together to make three-letter words to teach to the children.

Tips & Warnings

• Use very fine-grade sandpaper to avoid scraping the children's fingers. They should be able to discern the shape of the letter without hurting themselves.

References

• Beautiful Sun Montessori: Sandpaper Letters Tutorial; April 19, 2009
• Montessori World: Sandpaper Letters -- Introduction
• Montessori for Everyone: Montessori Basics 9: Sandpaper Letters
• Family Education: Sandpaper Letters; Rifka Bullen