Want an easy art project idea that incorporates a little spelling practice? Try doodle spelling!
This creative and multisensory activity is a fun way to direct some extra focus toward particularly hard words that just won’t stick.
Here’s what you’ll need:
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Directions:
Identify a few words that you frequently misspell.
Write the words in large letters. You can put them all on one large sheet of paper, or make smaller individual cards. Writing should be at least 2 inches tall so you have plenty of room for the next step…
Trace words with white glue and let the glue dry. Depending on the thickness of the glue and the humidity where you live, it might take several hours. This part of the process is optional, but it makes the letters stand out a bit, and it adds a different texture, so kids can interact with the letters using their sense of touch.
Once the glue is dry, trace the letters with your finger. They should feel a little puffy and smooth compared to the slightly rough texture of watercolor paper.
Now it’s time to doodle. Highlight tricky parts of the word with special doodles. You can underline vowels or draw other doodles to remind you how the word is spelled. Fill in the rest of the space with other shapes and squiggles until you’ve filled the page.
Add color! Watercolors work well, but crayons are also great!
Hang your spelling poster someplace you can see it often. Practice your words frequently by tracing each letter with your finger, then close your eyes and picture the tricky parts of the word.
Variations:
- Write words that all share the same phonics spelling pattern, and make your doodles relate to the pattern. For example, draw lots of circles to make oooo’s on a page with words that have the long u sound.
- Color all words that share common spelling patterns the same color.
- Leave the words unpainted, except for the trickiest or hardest-to-remember part of the word. Highlight the hard parts using a bright color to make them stand out.
Not ready for spelling words yet? You can use a similar multisensory approach with the littlest learners. Check out my guest post on Multisensory Doodle Letters over at Nurture Store. It’s part of a really fun and creative ABC’s and 123’s series!
If you’re looking for more ways to integrate creativity and literacy, you might like these Think, Doodle and Write Kits. They’re a fun addition to home or school writing centers. Each kit is focused on a simple idea to inspire creativity, critical thinking and curiosity through reading, writing, speaking and listening activities. You can grab the Thank You Kit for free when you join my email list! (You’ll also get access to my growing library of subscriber-only printables.)
