Z is for zebra: Building Phonological Awareness and Letter Identification

How to Use This Book

• Show the cover and point to the title.
  
  • Have students locate all the letters Z in the title and trace over them with a finger while saying the letter name and sound:
    • Z says /z/ like in "zebra"!
  • Reinforce the idea that each letter has two forms—uppercase (Z) and lowercase (z). Show both forms in the title.
  • Say the word slowly: "ze-bra" and ask students to clap of tap for each syllable.

Letter Recognition & Phonics Activity:

• Point out how the first letter of the word "zebra" is red on each page.

  • Ask: Why do you think the author made it red?
  • Discuss how the red Z helps readers focus on the letter Z and its sound.

• Tell students that the story shows us different pictures of zebras.

  • Have them look at the pictures and describe what they notice.
  • Ask: What do these zebras have in common? How are they different?

Interactive Letter Learning:

• Show students the different games in the book.
  • Explain that these activities help practice the letter Z—its form, name, and sound.
  • Model how to use a pointer finger to interact with the activities (tracing, matching, identifying).
  • Encourage students to follow along with their own fingers as they explore each page.

Comprehension & Discussion:

• • Ask: Which zebra is your favorite? Why?
  • Focus on page 20. Ask: How is this picture different from the rest?

  • Why do you think the author ended the story this way?

• Making connections:

  • Have students think of other words that start with Z.
  • Encourage them to draw their own zebra and write a Z next to it.