Free pre-K lesson plan · Unit 1: Me and my family
Pre-K 4, week 2: the letter s and counting to 5
This week your learner will hear the s sound, find s in their world and count up to 5 things. Each activity takes about 10 minutes. Print the pages, or do them with things you already have at home.
Week 2 of 36 · See the Pre-K 4 year map · Not sure of the level? Take the 3-question Pre-K 3 or Pre-K 4 picker
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5-minute parent prep
- Write a big S and a small s on a sheet of paper.
- Gather 5 socks and 5 spoons.
- Print pages 2 to 5, or skip printing and use the no-supplies swaps.
Household supplies only: Paper, crayons, 5 socks, 5 spoons. No supplies? Every activity has a no-supplies swap.
The week at a glance
| Day | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Letter s | Letter s page, Sound hunt card |
| Tuesday | Math | Count to 5 page, Sock count card |
| Wednesday | Explore | Five senses card |
| Thursday | Make and move | Snake trace page, Snake slither card |
| Friday | Story and review | Song of the week, Parent notes page |
| Every day | Read, sing, play | Read a picture book together, sing the song of the week, play outside and check in on feelings with the free feelings cards. |
Printable pages
Letter s
Say: "S says sss, like a snake. Sun, socks, snake." Your learner traces the big S and the small s, then colors the pictures that start with s.
sun
socks
snake
sun
socks
snake
Count to 5
Say: "Touch each one and count with me." Your learner touches each picture, counts out loud and colors the matching dots.
My senses
Say: "We see with our eyes. What do we hear with?" Your learner names each body part and what it does, then colors the pictures.
Snake trace
Say: "Make the snake wiggle. Start at the green dot." Your learner traces the wavy lines from left to right with a crayon.
Activity cards
Sound hunt
- Say "sss" like a snake together.
- Walk around the house and find things that start with s: sock, spoon, sofa.
- Say each word slowly and stretch the s.
Easier: You name the thing; your learner says "sss".
Next step: Ask "Does sun start with s? Does ball?"
Say this: "Sssock. Sock starts with sss."
No supplies: Play it as "I spy something that starts with sss."
Literacy: phonological awareness
Sock count
- Put the socks in a pile.
- Your learner finds a match and drops the pair in the basket.
- Count the pairs together, touching each one.
Easier: Use 3 pairs.
Next step: Count to 10 socks.
Say this: "One, two, three, four, five pairs."
No supplies: Count fingers on one hand.
Math: counting objects
Five senses walk
- Stop and look: name one thing you see.
- Be quiet and listen: name one thing you hear.
- Touch something soft and something hard.
Easier: Do see and hear only.
Next step: Ask "Which sense did we use?"
Say this: "I hear a bird. What do you hear?"
No supplies: Do it from one spot in the room.
Science: my body and senses
Snake slither
- Lie on your tummies.
- Slither like a snake and say "sss".
- Freeze when you say "stop".
Easier: Crawl instead of slither.
Next step: Slither slow, then fast.
Say this: "Sss, sss, stop."
No supplies: Needs nothing but space.
Physical: gross motor
Song of the week: The s song
S, s, what do you say?
Sss like a snake on a sunny day.
Socks and spoons and sun up high,
S, s, wave goodbye.
Actions: Wiggle one arm like a snake on every "sss". Try next: Make up a new line with another s word.
Parent notes for Friday
Not a test. Notice what your learner does this week, and practice the rest later. Nothing here is sent to UpOnly Learning.
- Says the s sound
- Finds s on a page
- Counts 5 objects, touching each one
- Names some of the 5 senses
Want the bigger picture? Use the free kindergarten readiness checklist.
Safety for this week
- Use objects too big to fit in your learner's mouth, and stay close during any counting with real objects.
- Child-size scissors only, with an adult watching. Hand scissors over handle first.
- Choose crayons, markers and paint labeled for young learners (look for the AP seal).
- Adults handle anything hot or sharp.
Questions parents ask
Use one letter a week. Say the sound, find the letter on boxes and books, trace it big and small, and play a sound hunt around the house. Short, playful practice every day works better than one long lesson.
Both together. This plan says the name and the sound side by side: "This is s. S says sss." Hearing the sound in real words, like sun and socks, helps your student connect the letter to reading later.
No. Each week comes as a color PDF and a black-and-white PDF made from the same pages. The black-and-white version uses outline pictures, so it is low ink and doubles as a coloring page. You can also do every activity with no printer at all.
Paper, crayons, 5 pairs of socks and 5 spoons. Every activity card also has a no-supplies swap, such as playing "I spy" with the s sound, so you can start with what you already have.
Related pages
- Free Pre-K curriculum for 4 year olds, week by week
- Child development guide: preschoolers, 3 to 5
- Free kindergarten reading practice and kindergarten math practice for when your learner is ready for more
Recommended for your student
Pre-K 4 Full Year
$19.99. One-time purchase, no subscription.
The whole Pre-K 4 year in one print-ready book: 36 weeks of parent plans, printable pages, activity cards and songs for ages 4 to 5, with a clickable table of contents, page numbers and parent answer notes. 309 pages.
See it in the storeSources
UpOnly Learning Pre-K is general education, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your learner's development, talk with your pediatrician. In an emergency, call 911.
To print, create a free account at uponlylearning.com (no card needed), then download the printable PDF.