This easy cup hunt game is a simple and entertaining way to teach children how to recognize alphabet letters. (It can easily be changed to work on sight words, numbers and math facts too.)
Try it out, then become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the tools, strategies and support you need to reach ALL of your learners.
Getting Ready
Setting up the game is really very easy. First, gather a few supplies:
- 5 cups,
- 5 mailing labels,
- A marker,
- Something to hide (small balls, marbles, pom poms, etc.)
Choose 5 letters and write each one on a cup. (I like to introduce a few letters at a time so that I don’t overwhelm kids.)
Then invite your kids over to join you. See?! I promised it was easy.
ABC Cup Hunt
Show the kids what you’re going to hide underneath one of the cups. In my example, I used a bright green pom pom but you could really use anything.
Ask a volunteer to close her eyes as you hide the treasure underneath one of the cups.
When you’re ready, have her open her eyes, read a letter written on one of the cups, and look underneath it to see if it’s covering the object.
Continue playing until she finds the hidden object. This ABC game is so easy to set up and seriously fun to play!
I love this idea! What a simple way to practice letters or words.
Thank you, Gina! It’s one of my favorites too. 🙂
At Easter time, write letters or sight words on plastic Easter eggs and scatter them in the yard or around the house. If the child can tell you the letter or word, they get the treat inside.
Fun idea, Jill! Thanks so much for sharing.
Great idea, and so simple to prepare. I wonder if it would work for sight words.
You’re right, Rebecca. The cup hunt is a perfect activity for sight words practice. 🙂
Love this idea! With the alphabet letters, you could also reverse the method. Using small candies or treats, hide one under a cup and then have them figure out which cup it’s under my providing a word whose first letter corresponds with the correct cup. Ex: The word is ‘Cat’ and I’ve hidden a treat under the cup marked ‘C’.
Oooh! I LOVE that idea, Kait!!
Great game! Children love to find things. I like how it is very repetitive, but fun because of the “treasure” the kids are finding. You could even put a little treat or snack under the cup. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
Comment
hi
i like this idea
my child is 3.3 yrs old
he cant recognize the alphabets well
would like to know a suggestion that SHOULD I TEACH HIM FIRST THE UPPER CASE OR LOWER CASE
please guide thanks
Hi Ankita,
I’m happy to read that you’re a fan of the cup hunt!
Most US preschools start with the uppercase letters first and then move on to lowercase letters in kindergarten. But many people suggest that kids should actually learn the lowercase letters first because they see them more often in text. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Once children begin learning letters they often begin making connections between uppercase and lowercase quite quickly.
All the best,
Malia
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself
or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m
looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
cheers
Aw, this was an incredibly good post. Taking a few minutes and
actual effort to produce a very good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never seem to get
nearly anything done.
If some one desires expert view concerning blogging afterward i
propose him/her to pay a visit this webpage, Keep up the
good job.