This page has a set of shapes - lines, curves, and circles - that can be used to build the letters of the alphabet. The exercise is designed to help the student notice and become familiar with the relevant parts of each letter.

The shapes should be run off on colored cardstock, laminated, and cut out. There is also a set of letter frame cards. Students will find the needed shapes and fit them into the letter outlines on the letter frames. Run off the cards on white cardstock.

These materials may be used at the Readiness Level and at the Learning the Alphabet Level. At the readiness level, you won't use the letter frames. You'll just build a very simple design of two or three pieces and have the student copy. This helps the student develop concepts of above, below, beside, and so on. Students will have to look carefully to build patterns that match, a habit that will help them discriminate between similar letters.

The letter shapes and frames below are not currently active. I made this in a different format and will have to redo it in order to save it as a pdf file. The instructions can be downloaded.

Letter frames

Letter building shapes

Instructions for building designs and letters with letter shapes