V is for violin! 

Are you teaching the letter V?

Young children need more than a worksheet to really learn a new letter. They need opportunities to see the letter, say its sound, hear the sound in words, form the letter, and use what they're learning.

Here are some simple and engaging letter V activities for kindergarten and preschool.

What Sound Does V Make?

The letter V represents the /v/ sound.

Have children place their fingers gently on their throat while saying:

/vvvvv/

They may notice a vibration as they make the sound.

Then practice:

V says /v/.

Encourage children to listen carefully to the sound.

V Is for Violin 🎻

One of the easiest ways to help children remember a new letter is to connect it to something meaningful.

V is for violin.

Ask children:

• Have you ever seen a violin?
• Have you ever heard a violin?
• How do you play a violin?
• What other words begin with /v/?

Then introduce some additional V words.

V Words for Kids

• violin
• van
• vase
• vest
• vine
• veterinarian

Have students listen carefully: Does the word begin with /v/?

Letter V Beginning-Sound Game

Say a word aloud. Students give a thumbs-up if the word begins with /v/ and a thumbs-down if it doesn't. Try these:

violin - van - sun - vest - map - vase - fish

Then make the activity a little more challenging. Say: seven

Ask: "Do you hear /v/ in seven?" Yes!

Then ask: "Does seven begin with /v/?" No.

This helps children pay attention not just to whether a sound is in a word, but where the sound occurs. Is it at the beginning/middle/end?

Practice Writing Uppercase V and Lowercase v

Give children opportunities to practice both forms: V and v

Try several different ways to form the letter:

• Write V in the air.
• Trace V with a finger.
• Form V with play dough.
• Trace V on a textured surface.
• Write V on paper.
• Find V among other letters.

Using multiple ways to practice can make letter formation more engaging for young learners.

V Letter Hunt

Take the learning beyond the table. Give students a clipboard or piece of paper and go on a V Hunt around the classroom.

Look for:

• V on books
• V on posters
• V on labels
• V in students' names
• V on classroom materials

Every time students find one, have them say: "V says /v/!"

V or Not V?

Write or display a collection of letters: M V T A v S V B C v

Ask students to find all of the V's. Then ask: "What sound does V represent?"

This simple activity connects: letter recognition → sound identification

That's an important step toward phonics and reading.

Read V Words Together

Once students are familiar with the letter and sound, give them opportunities to notice V in words.

Try: van, vet, vest, vine

Ask: "What letter do you see at the beginning?" "What sound does it represent?" "Can you hear /v/?"

This is where alphabet learning begins to connect to phonics instruction.

Make Letter V Learning Interactive

Children don't have to sit at a table to learn. Try a classroom V Hunt. Ask children to find V's in books, signs, labels, and classroom materials.

You can also have them:

The goal is to give children multiple opportunities to interact with the letter and its sound.

Looking for a V Is for Violin Book?

I created V Is for Violin to give young learners an engaging way to practice the letter V while building early literacy skills.

The book can be used in preschool and kindergarten for:

• Letter recognition
• Letter formation
• Beginning sounds
• Vocabulary
• Phonemic awareness
• Small-group instruction
• Literacy centers
• Independent practice

Want All 26 Letters?

If you're teaching the alphabet systematically, you don't have to search for a different resource for every letter. The Alphabet Story Book collection brings the entire A–Z experience together.

Children can explore each letter through a story-based approach while building their knowledge of letters and sounds.

EXPLORE THE COMPLETE ALPHABET COLLECTION

From Letters to Reading

Learning the alphabet is only the beginning. Ultimately, children need to use their knowledge of letters and sounds to decode words and read connected text.

That's why a strong early-literacy progression moves from:

Letters → Sounds → Blending → Decoding → Fluency → Comprehension

P.S. Want free decodable books to get started? Grab them here!