Environmental Print Book

Purpose:  Environmental print is the print that we see around us everyday -- street signs, store names and logos, etc.  Thus it is generally the earliest form of print literacy for young children. It can become a powerful tool for helping children to feel empowered and capable as readers. Most children readily recognize the name of their favorite cereal, McDonald's big "M," or the word "Stop" on road signs.

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:

• Magazines to cut
• Photos of familiar community places
• Three-ring binder
• Hole punch
• Heavy 8½ X 11 or 9 X 12 paper
• Glue (glue sticks work best)

 

Directions:

1. Have children choose and cut out pictures of familiar community places.  These might include a local fast food restaurant, a playground, the library, the post office, the park, etc.

2. Glue a picture onto each page.

3. Label the page simply.

4. Punch holes to match binder rings.

    

   Note: This kind of book is expandable as the children become aware of other places in their communities.  Alternatively, this kind of book could be made as an alphabet book, choosing and organizing pictures by their first letters.

Eric Gidseg

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