LESSON 1: Aa /ă/
Help Your Child Learn to Say, Write, and Explore the Letter Aa!
What Will We Learn Today?
The letter Aa is one of the very first letters children learn when beginning to read and write. In this lesson, your child will discover how to say the /ă/ sound (like in apple and cat), write both uppercase and lowercase Aa, and enjoy meaningful and engaging activities to reinforce learning.
Let’s make learning to read and write the letter Aa fun, active, and full of confidence!
How to Make the /ă/ Sound
The letter Aa often makes the /ă/ sound—just like in the words apple, cat, and hat.
Here’s how to teach your child to say /ă/:
Open your mouth wide.
Keep your tongue low and flat in your mouth.
Turn your voice on—this is a voiced sound.
Say the sound like this: /ăăăăăă/. It’s a continuous sound, so it can be stretched.
Articulate
Try saying the sound in front of a mirror together. Ask, “Can you make the same sound as me?” Stretch the sound out: /ăăăăăăăă/.
How to Write the Letter Aa
Time to grab your whiteboard and marker.
Uppercase A
Start at the top.
Draw a slanted line down to the left.
Go back to the top and draw another slanted line down to the right.
Add a line across the middle to complete your uppercase A.
Lowercase a
Start by drawing a small circle.
Then, draw a straight line down on the right side of the circle.
Make it fun!
Practice writing Aa with finger paint, in the sand, or by tracing big letters in the air.
Fun and Meaningful Activities for Letter Aa
Aa Sound Hunt – Beginning and Middle
Go on an Aa Sound Hunt around your home. Invite your child to find things with the /ă/ sound.
Beginning Sound /ă/ – like in apple, ant, ax
Middle Sound /ă/ – like in bag, cat, hat
Say each word slowly and ask:
“Do you hear the /ă/ sound at the start or in the middle?”
This activity helps build awareness of sounds in different parts of a word.
Aa Collage
Cut out pictures of items that either begin with the /ă/ sound or have it in the middle. Stick them onto a big paper to make your own colorful Aa Collage.
Read and Spot the /ă/ Sound
Read these sentences aloud with your child. Ask them to listen closely and point to the words with the /ă/ sound—especially in the middle.
The cat is on the mat.
Dad has a big bag.
I see an apple on the table.
The man has a hat.
Ask: “Which word has /ă/ in the middle? Which one starts with it?”
Color, Trace, and Write
Use printable worksheets where your child can:
Color pictures with the /ă/ sound
Trace uppercase and lowercase Aa
Practice writing Aa on their own
Download the Aa Worksheet Here:
Flashcards – Middle Sound Focus
Instead of beginning sounds, let’s focus on words where /ă/ is in the middle—perfect for vowel practice.
Use picture flashcards with CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like:
cat
bag
man
hat
Show the picture and ask:
“What sound do you hear in the middle of this word?”
[Download Aa Flashcards – Middle Sound CVC Set Here]:
Conclusion
Learning the letter Aa is a joyful first step into the world of reading and writing. By turning practice into playful moments, your child builds strong early literacy skills—and a love for learning.
Keep it positive, praise progress, and enjoy every “aha!” moment.
What are your favorite ways to explore the /ă/ sound at home? Share your tips in the comments!