Pumpkin seed cards can help children connect the two forms of a letter. Start with a few familiar pairs and ask children to explain what they notice about each form before they sort.
At a glance
Show one letter pair and sort a few seeds before adding more mats.
1. Name both forms
Show capital and lowercase letters side by side. Say the letter name and ask children what looks alike or different.
2. Model finding a seed
Choose one seed and compare its letter with both models on the mat. Place it when you find the pair.
3. Start with contrasting letters
Use pairs that look clearly different. Save commonly confused forms for a separate side-by-side lesson.
4. Ask for one clue
Invite children to point to a line, curve, or part of a letter that helped them identify it.
5. Mix the mats for a check
Change the order of the mats and offer a fresh seed. Watch whether the child uses the printed letter instead of the mat position.
A classroom example
In a fictional group, Jo places lowercase a with o. Her teacher compares the two and points out the extra stroke on a. Jo moves the seed and finds capital A next.
Companion printable
The 28-page PDF includes 26 alphabet mats, 104 cut-apart seeds, and a setup guide.
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