Alphabet Trees

Alphabet Trees

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Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the reproducible pages in this book for classroom use.
No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999.

Edited by Immacula A. Rhodes

Cover design by Scott Davis

Interior design by Sydney Wright

Illustrations by Teresa Anderko, Maxie Chambliss,
Kate Flanagan, Rusty Fletcher, and Sydney Wright

ISBN: 978-0-545-53832-9
Text and illustrations © 2013 by Scholastic Inc.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc.

Printed in the U.S.A.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 40 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Contents

Introduction..................................................... 4 Easily Confused Letter Pairs
How to Use the Alphabet Trees........................ 4
Activities to Extend Learning............................ 5 a, d............................................................ 35
Connections to the Common Core Standards.... 5 a, o............................................................ 36
Alphabet Word Lists......................................... 6 b, d........................................................... 37
b, h........................................................... 38
Alphabet Trees b, p........................................................... 39
b, q........................................................... 40
Letters c, e............................................................ 41
c, o............................................................ 42
Aa............................................................... 9 d, g........................................................... 43
Bb............................................................. 10 d, p........................................................... 44
Cc............................................................. 11 d, q........................................................... 45
Dd............................................................. 12 f, t............................................................. 46
Ee............................................................. 13 g, p........................................................... 47
Ff.............................................................. 14 g, q........................................................... 48
Gg............................................................. 15 h, n........................................................... 49
Hh............................................................ 16 h, r............................................................ 50
Ii............................................................... 17 i, j............................................................. 51
Jj............................................................... 18 i, l............................................................. 52
Kk............................................................. 19 k, y........................................................... 53
Ll.............................................................. 20 l, t............................................................. 54
Mm........................................................... 21 m, n.......................................................... 55
Nn............................................................ 22 m, w......................................................... 56
Oo............................................................ 23 n, r............................................................ 57
Pp............................................................. 24 n, u........................................................... 58
Qq............................................................ 25 p, q........................................................... 59
Rr.............................................................. 26 s, z............................................................ 60
Ss.............................................................. 27 u, v........................................................... 61
Tt.............................................................. 28 v, w........................................................... 62
Uu............................................................. 29 v, y............................................................ 63
Vv............................................................. 30
Ww........................................................... 31 Alphabet Tree Template.................................. 64
Xx............................................................. 32
Yy............................................................. 33
Zz............................................................. 34

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Introduction

Alphabet Trees offers an engaging and fun way for kids to master alphabet recognition
and letter-sound associations. Knowledge of letters and their sounds is key to
learning to read and write. In his book Phonics From A to Z (Scholastic, 2006,
revised), reading specialist Wiley Blevins notes that the two best predictors of early reading
success are alphabet recognition and phonemic awareness (Adams, 1990; Stanovich, 1992;
Chall, 1996; Beck and Juel, 1995; Share, Jorm, Maclean, and Matthews, 1984). These two
skills—knowing the letters and the sounds they represent and being able to identify these
sounds with automaticity—are essential for early reading development.

The activities in this book give children lots of practice in writing uppercase and lowercase
letters and reading words that begin with each letter. Picture clues provide them with
support in identifying the words. In addition, the word spellings offer further opportunities
to develop letter-sound associations and phonemic awareness skills.

You can use the alphabet trees with the whole class or in small groups. Or place them in
a learning center for children to use independently or in pairs. The activities are ideal for
children of all learning styles, ELL students, and for RTI instruction. And best of all, the
alphabet trees take only a few minutes to complete, making them a quick way to integrate
letter learning into the school day.

How to Use the Alphabet Trees Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Completing an alphabet tree is easy and fun. To begin, Aa
distribute copies of the activity page for the letter you
want to teach. Point out the letter on the basket that’s ___ pple ___ nt
under the tree and name it. Then have children do
the following: ___ ct

1 Trace the uppercase and lowercase letters on the ___ x ___ dd
tree trunk. Then independently write the letter
several more times on each line. Aþþþþ
þa þþþ
2 Complete the word spelling on each apple by
writing the lowercase letter on the line at the Aa
beginning of the word. (Note that for the letter
x on page 32, the blank line may appear at the Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 9
beginning or end of the word stem on the apple.)
Read the word, using the picture clue as an aid in Check pages 6–8 for a list
identifying the word. of words that can be created

3 After filling in all the apples, read aloud the words with each letter.
again, pointing to each word while saying it.

4

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Activities to Extend Learning

Use these activities to give children additional practice with letter recognition and letter-sound associations.

Make Your Own Tree: Use the template on page 64 stack and staple 6–8 pages to the treetop. Ask them
to create your own alphabet trees. To prepare, choose to choose a letter of the alphabet (or assign letters
a letter to feature on the page. Print a model of that to children) and write the uppercase and lowercase
letter on the left side of the lines on the trunk, writing versions of that letter on the trunk. Have children
the uppercase letter on the top line and the lowercase write one word that begins with their letter on each
letter on the bottom line. Write a different word that page and then illustrate the word. Invite children to
begins with the feature letter on each apple, using a read their shape books with partners.
blank line for the first letter of the word. If desired,
draw or glue on a picture for the word next to its Alphabet Memory: To make game cards for this
apple. Then copy a class supply of the page, distribute familiar game, simply write letters of the alphabet on
to children, and have them complete the activity. You a supply of apple cutouts, creating a pair of apples for
might also give copies of the template to children so each letter. (Use either uppercase or lowercase letters.)
they can make their own alphabet trees. Then invite children to use the cards to play Memory.
Each time they find a matching pair of letters, they
Alphabetical Apples: Write each letter—uppercase keep the match.
or lowercase—on a red apple cutout (26 apples
in all). Put the apples in a learning center. Then Musical Word Walk: Label sheets of paper with
challenge children to put the apples in alphabetical words that begin with different letters of the alphabet,
order. When finished, have them refer to an alphabet checking that you have two words for each letter.
chart to check their work. Arrange the pages word-side down in a looped path.
Then have children walk along the outside of the
Alphabet Shape Books: For shape books, mask the path while music plays. Periodically stop the music,
apples on a copy of the tree template (page 64) and have children pick up the nearest page, and then
make colored copies of the template on sturdy paper. find another child with a word that begins with the
Also, cut a class supply of plain paper into quarters. same letter.
To make a book, have children cut out the tree, then

Connections to the Common Core State Standards

The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) has outlined learning expectations in English Language Arts
for students at different grade levels. The activities in this book align with the following Foundational Skills for
Reading for students in grades K–1. For more information, visit the CCSSI Web site at www.corestandards.org.

Print Concepts Phonics and Word Recognition

RF.K.1, RF.1.1. Demonstrate understanding of the RF.K.3, RF.1.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and
organization and basic features of print. word analysis skills in decoding words.
RF.K.1a, RF.K.1b RF.K.3a, RF.K.3b
RF.K.1d RF.1.3g

Phonological Awareness Fluency

RF.K.2, RF.1.2. Demonstrate understanding of spoken RF.K.4. Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and
words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). understanding.
RF.K.2b, RF.K.2c
RF.1.2b RF.1.4. Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to
support comprehension.
RF.1.4a, RF.1.4c

5

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Alphabet Word Lists

Aa (page 9) Ff (page 14) Kk (page 19) Pp (page 24)
act fan key pan
add fish kick pear
ant five king pen
apple foot kite pig
ax fox koala pie

Bb (page 10) Gg (page 15) Ll (page 20) Qq (page 25)
bear game lamp quack
bed gift leaf quail
bee girl leg queen
bell goat lion quiet
boat gum lock quilt

Cc (page 11) Hh (page 16) Mm (page 21) Rr (page 26)
can ham man rabbit
cat hand mask rake
coat hat milk ring
cow hen mop rope
cup hug mouse rug

Dd (page 12) Ii (page 17) Nn (page 22) Ss (page 27)
desk igloo nail sink
dime inch nest snake
dog ink newt soap
door insect nose sock
duck itch nut sun

Ee (page 13) Jj (page 18) Oo (page 23) Tt (page 28)
ear jar old table
egg jay olive tent
elbow jeep on tire
elk jet otter top
exit jump owl turtle

6

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Alphabet Word Lists

(continued)

Uu (page 29) Zz (page 34) b, p (page 39) d, p (page 44)
umpire zap bag dive
under zebra ball door
untie zero book pan
unzip zip pig pear
up zoo pie poodle

Vv (page 30) a, d (page 35) b, q (page 40) d, q (page 45)
van act bat dirt
vase ant boot dish
vest ax box duck
vet deer quail quick
vine dime quiet quilt

Ww (page 31) a, o (page 36) c, e (page 41) f, t (page 46)
watch add can fan
web apple coat fish
well otter egg tent
wig owl elf tiger
worm ox elbow top

Xx (page 32) b, d (page 37) c, o (page 42) g, p (page 47)
box bed cat girl
mix bee cow goat
ox boat cup gum
six dog old panda
x-ray door olive pen

Yy (page 33) b, h (page 38) d, g (page 43) g, q (page 48)
yak bear desk gate
yard bell dog goose
yarn hat game quack
yawn horse gift queen
yo-yo hug goose quilt

7

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Alphabet Word Lists

(continued)

h, n (page 49) l, t (page 54) p, q (page 59)
ham lamp park
hand leaf peach
hippo tape prince
nest tooth quail
nut turkey quiet

h, r (page 50) m, n (page 55) s, z (page 60)
hat man skunk
hen milk sock
rake monkey sun
robot nail zip
rug nose zoo

i, j (page 51) m, w (page 56) u, v (page 61)
iguana mask unzip
inch mop up
ink watch vase
jeep wig vet
jump wolf vulture

i, l (page 52) n, r (page 57) v, w (page 62)
igloo net van
itch nine vest
lamb ring web
leg robin witch
lock rope worm

k, y (page 53) n, u (page 58) v, y (page 63)
key nail vet
king nose vine
kite nurse vote
yarn under yard
yo-yo untied yawn

8

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Aa

___ pple ___ nt

___ ct

___ x ___ dd

Aþþþþ

þa þþþ

Aa

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 9

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Bb

___ ear ___ ed

___ ell

___ ee ___ oat

Bþþþþ

þb þþþ

Bb

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 10

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Cc

___ up ___ an

___ at

___ oat ___ ow

Cþþþþ

þc þþþ

Cc

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 11

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Dd

___ ime ___ oor

___ uck

___ og ___ esk

Dþþþþ

þd þþþ

Dd

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 12

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ee

___ gg ___ ar

___ lk

___ xit ___lbow

Eþþþþ

þe þþþ

Ee

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 13

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ff

___ ish ___ ive

___ ox

___ oot ___ an

Fþþþþ

þf þþþ

Ff

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 14

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Gg

___ um ___ irl

___ ift

___ ame ___ oat

Gg Gþþþþ

þg þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 15

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Hh

___ and ___ ug

___ en

___ at ___ am

Hþþþþ

þh þþþ

Hh

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 16

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ii

___ tch ___ nk

___nsect

___ nch ___ gloo

þþþþ
þi þþþ

Ii

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 17

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Jj

___ ay ___ ump

___ et

___ ar ___ eep

Jþþþþ

þj þþþ

Jj

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 18

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Kk

___ ite ___ ey

___ ick

___ oala ___ ing

Kþþþþ

þk þþþ

Kk

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 19

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ll

___ eaf ___ ock

___ eg

___ amp ___ ion

Lþþþþ

þl þþþ

Ll

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 20

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Mm

___ouse ___ an

___ ask

___ op ___ ilk

Mm Mþþþþ

þmþþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 21

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Nn

___ut ___ ail

___ est

___ ose ___ ewt

Nþþþþ

þn þþþ

Nn

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 22

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Oo

___ wl ___ ld

___ n

___ live ___ tter

Oo Oþþþþ
þo þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 23

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Pp

___ ear ___ en

___ ig

___ an ___ ie

Pþþþþ

þp þþþ

Pp

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 24

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Q

___ueen ___ uilt

Quack!

___uack

___ uail Shh!

___ uiet

Qþþþþ

þþþþ

Q

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 25

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Rr

___ ing ___ ake

___ ope

___ ug ___abbit

Rþþþþ

þr þþþ

Rr

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 26

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ss

___ ock ___nake

___ un

___ oap ___ ink

Sþþþþ

þs þþþ

Ss

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 27

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Tt

___ ire ___ urtle

___ ent

___ able ___ op

Tþþþþ

þt þþþ

Tt

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 28

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Uu

___ nzip ___ntied

___nder

___ p ___ mpire

Uþþþþ

þu þþþ

Uu

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 29

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Vv

___ ase ___ est

___ an

___ ine ___ et

Vþþþþ
þv þþþ

Vv

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 30

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Ww

___ orm ___atch

___ ig

___ ell ___ eb

Ww Wþþþþ
þw þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 31

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Xx

bo___ si ___

___-ray

o ___ mi ___

Xþþþþ

þx þþþ

Xx

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 32

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Yy

___ awn ___ arn

___ ard

___o-yo ___ ak

Yþþþþ
þy þþþ

Yy

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 33

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letter

Zz

___ ero ___ ip

___ oo

___ ap ___ebra

Zþþþþ
þz þþþ

Zz

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 34

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

a, d

___ nt ___ ime

___ ct

___ eer ___ x

a,d þa þþþ
þd þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 35

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

a, o

___ tter ___ pple

___ x

___ dd ___ wl

a, o þa þþþ
þo þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 36

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

b, d

___ ee ___ oor

___ og

___ oat ___ ed

b, d þb þþþ
þd þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 37

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

b, h

___ ug ___ ell

___orse

___ ear ___ at

b, h þb þþþ
þh þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 38

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

b, p

___ all ___ ag

___ ie

___ ook ___ig

b, p þb þþþ
þp þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 39

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

b,

___ ox ___ uail

Shh!

___ uiet

___ at ___ oot

bþþþþ
þþþþ

b,

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 40

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

c, e

___ lf ___ gg

___ an

___lbow ___ oat

c, e þc þþþ
þe þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 41

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

c, o

___ live ___ up

___ ow

___ ld ___ at

c, o þc þþþ
þo þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 42

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

d, g

___ og ___ i ft

___ ame

___oose ___ esk

d, g þd þþþ
þg þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 43

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

d, p

___ ear ___ oor

__ oodle

___ ive ___ an

d, p þd þþþ
þp þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 44

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

d,

___ irt ___ uick

___ uck

___ uilt ___ ish

dþþþþ
þþþþ

d,

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 45

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

f, t

___ op ___ an

___ iger

___ ish ___ ent

þf þþþ
þt þþþ

f, t

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 46

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

g, p

___anda ___ irl

___ um

___ en ___ oat

g, p þg þþþ
þp þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 47

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

g,

___uilt ___oose

___ueen

Quack! ___ ate

___uack

gþþþþ
þþþþ

g,

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 48

Name: ______________________ Date: _______________ Letters

h, n

___ ut ___ and

___ est

___ am ___ippo

h, n þh þþþ
þn þþþ

Alphabet Trees © 2013 by Scholastic Teaching Resources, page 49