Phonics Fun: Write the First Letter and Draw! (Ages 3-5)
This worksheet asks children ages 3-5 to identify a picture's beginning sound and write the matching letter, then draw their own picture for extra practice, combining phonemic awareness with early letter formation. Writing the letter by hand, rather than just circling it, demands more fine motor control and reinforces the sound-symbol link more deeply than recognition alone. The open-ended drawing task also lets children apply the same beginning sound to a word of their own choosing.
Part of the pack
Month 12: Learning & Development | Ages Up to 4Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Look at the picture in the 'Write' section together and say its name slowly, emphasizing the very first sound. Guide your child's hand as they write that letter on the line provided, using correct letter formation. Move to the 'Draw' section and ask them to think of something else that starts with the same sound, then draw it in the space given. Once finished, have them say both words aloud, pointing out that they share the same beginning letter.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Practice forming the written letter in the air with a finger before putting pencil to paper.
- •Look through magazines for pictures that start with the same letter and cut them out.
- •Build the letter shape out of playdough or pipe cleaners.
- •Start a simple word list on a fridge chart, adding a new word each time your child thinks of one.
Tips for parents and teachers
Watch your child's pencil grip and letter formation rather than focusing only on whether the sound is correct — at this age, motor control is still developing and reversals are normal. If they get stuck choosing something to draw, offer two or three word options rather than solving it for them. Celebrate the drawing as much as the writing, since it shows they can generate their own example independently.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
Related worksheets
Phonics Fun: Matching Letters and Words Worksheet for Preschoolers
Identifying the beginning sound of a pictured word and writing the matching letter teaches children ages 4-5 phonemic awareness, the ability to isolate individual sounds within spoken words, which is one of the strongest predictors of future reading success. Saying each word aloud after writing the letter reinforces the connection between the printed letter and its spoken sound, closing the loop between listening, writing, and speaking. This worksheet moves children from simply recognizing letters to actively applying letter-sound knowledge, a more advanced early literacy skill.
F, G, H Letter Sounds Cut and Paste Worksheet
This worksheet builds phonemic awareness in children ages 4-5 by asking them to isolate the beginning sound of each picture and sort it under the correct letter — F, G, or H. Sorting across three letters at once, rather than just one, requires children to hold multiple sound-letter associations in mind and choose between them, which is a step up in difficulty from single-letter worksheets. This kind of comparative sound-sorting strengthens the phonics foundation needed for early reading.
C, D, E Letter Sounds Worksheet: Circle and Count!
This activity gives children ages 3-5 focused practice recognizing the beginning sounds of the letters C, D, and E, asking them to circle matching pictures in different colors for each letter before counting the results. Combining phonics with counting means children practice two skills in one sitting: identifying initial letter sounds and recording a numeric total, both foundational for kindergarten readiness. Color-coding each letter also helps children visually organize the three sounds instead of mixing them together.
Alphabet Adventures: 'A' and 'B' Picture Sorting Worksheet
This worksheet strengthens phonemic awareness in children ages 4-5 by having them listen for and identify pictures whose names begin with the letters 'A' or 'B,' then sort them accordingly. Focusing on just two letters at a time, rather than the whole alphabet, gives children a manageable, focused way to practice isolating beginning sounds before tackling more letters.
Alphabet Adventures: Write the First Letter - A to T Worksheet
This worksheet builds early phonemic awareness in children ages 4-5 by asking them to identify a pictured object, say its name aloud, and isolate the very first sound to write as a letter. Practicing this across a wide range of letters, A through T, gives children repeated exposure to the letter-sound connection that underlies all future reading and spelling. It also strengthens letter formation as children physically write each capital letter.
Cut and Paste the First Letter: Fun Phonics Worksheet for Preschoolers
Children ages 4-5 practice identifying the beginning sound of a word and matching it to the correct letter, a core early phonics skill, while also building fine motor control through cutting and pasting. Connecting a picture's name to its first letter sound is one of the clearest building blocks toward independent reading.
Vocabulary Worksheet: Circle the Objects That Start with the Letter!
This worksheet reinforces letter-sound recognition for children ages 4-6 by presenting a target letter and asking them to identify which pictures in a row begin with that sound. Unlike single-picture beginning sound tasks, scanning an entire row of images and filtering for matches builds sustained visual attention alongside phonics, since children must reject several near-matches before finding the correct ones.
Letter Recognition Worksheet: Circle the Objects Starting with Y and N!
This worksheet builds letter-sound correspondence for the letters Y and N by having children identify and circle only the pictures whose names begin with those specific sounds. For three- to five-year-olds, practicing two letters side by side, rather than just one, adds a layer of discrimination — children must correctly identify which of two different sounds a word starts with, not just recognize a single target sound.
Guides for this topic
How to Teach CVC Blending: A Step-by-Step Method That Works in Two Weeks
A step-by-step method for teaching CVC blending, covering continuous sounds, word families, common errors, and a 14-day plan that most children finish reading CVC words.
Phase 2 Phonics at Home: Sound Order, Blending Games, Worksheets
Phase 2 phonics at home: the five sound sets in order, oral blending, tricky words, a two-week routine, common mistakes, and free worksheets.
Reception Year Explained: EYFS Learning and How to Help at Home
A teacher's plain-English guide to the Reception Year: the seven areas of learning, Early Learning Goals, Phase 2/3 phonics, the RBA and home routines.
Reviews
Every worksheet for ages 3–5, no watermark
Members download the full library of 1,000+ worksheets and every activity pack without watermarks or daily limits. One year costs ₹1,000 in India or $20 elsewhere.
See membership plansOr download any worksheet free with a watermark (5 a day).