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Home / Early Learning / Literacy / Magnetic Letter Sorting to Teach the Alphabet

Magnetic Letter Sorting to Teach the Alphabet

Shared by Mary Catherine 22 Comments

Magnetic letter sorting is an easy, hands-on way to teach the alphabet in preschool and kindergarten. Use the free printable letter mats for this early literacy activity (grab your copy at the end of this post).

Collage of sorting magnetic letters with text that reads free printables for letter sorting

One of my go-to early literacy supplies is a good set of magnetic letters.

Full disclosure – it’s actually multiple sets of magnetic letters.

There’s a never-ending list of magnetic letter activities to teach the alphabet, words, names, and so forth.

Today I want to talk about just one simple method – sorting magnetic letters.

Free printable letter sorting mat that reads 'Do the letters have vertical lines?

Related: How to Teach the Alphabet

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Table of Contents

  • What’s So Great About Magnetic Letters?
    • Kids Use their Senses
    • A Child’s Natural Curiosity
  • How Magnetic Letter Sorting Helps Teach the Alphabet
    • Children Compare and Contrast Letters
    • New Language is Learned During Letter Sorting
    • Letter Sorting Possibilities
    • Letter Sorting Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
  • How to Store Magnetic Letters
  • Huge Magnetic Letter Sorting Pack
  • Even More Ideas for Learning with Magnetic Letters
  • Get Your Free Printable

What’s So Great About Magnetic Letters?

Even before the children start letter sorting, magnetic letters are teaching.

Kids Use their Senses

To begin with, just the act of playing with and holding the magnetic letters helps teach a child. The letters will look different, whether by size, shape, color, or another defining characteristic.

On top of that, the letters will feel different in her hands.  The letter ‘x’ isn’t going to feel exactly the same as the letter ‘a’.  

While she may not start out knowing what the letters are, her senses will be cataloging what she sees and feels.

Preschool child learning about the alphabet while sorting magnetic letters.

A Child’s Natural Curiosity

Plus, the child’s innate sense of curiosity will eventually come into play. He’ll want to know what these things are that he’s playing with, so he’ll ask questions.

He will make connections, sometimes with an adult’s help of course.  For example, he might point out that one of the magnetic letters looks like a letter he’s seen in his name.  He might notice that one of the letters is on the stop sign he sees in his neighborhood every day.

How Magnetic Letter Sorting Helps Teach the Alphabet

Sorting magnetic letters might seem like just a math activity, but it’s so much more than that!

In actuality, it’s an amazing, hands-on way to teach children about letters.

Children Compare and Contrast Letters

When a child is asked to sort magnetic letters, it forces her to attend to the similarities and differences within the letters.

This will make her take note that the letters are not all the same.  Even if she’s just focusing on the color of the letter, she will quickly learn that there are certain differences to be found.

Child letter sorting on free printable magnetic letter mat.

Related: Word-Making Earth Day Sensory Bin

When looking at letters she’s grouped together in the same category, the child is likely to notice how the letters are the same color but different shapes.

Her mind becomes used to assessing and comparing what the magnetic letters look like.  This is a precursor for learning the individual letters and their distinct characteristics.

New Language is Learned During Letter Sorting

When a child sorts magnetic letters, his descriptive language improves.  His teacher (or parent) is giving him the language with which to describe letters.

Having the language to express the ways the letters are similar brings a new perspective to the process.  It allows him a way to verbalize the observations he’s making while sorting.

Preschooler smiling and proud after she's sorted purple and blue magnetic letters.

Keep in mind that letter sorting can be done individually, in small groups, and as an entire class.  

Children can sort on their own or with an adult there to help.  Asking questions and making comments as the children complete this task helps provide them with language.

It also helps draw their attention to the individual letters.  For example, you might make simple comments like, “I notice that the uppercase ‘E’ doesn’t have any holes, but the lowercase ‘e’ does.”

Letter Sorting Possibilities

Below is a list of some ideas regarding how children can sort magnetic letters.  Please keep in mind that there are different levels of skill involved in the letter sorts.

Free printable letter sorting page that reads 'Do the letters have holes?'

Related: ABC Learning with Icy Fizzy Letters

Choose ways of sorting that best meet the needs of the children you are working with.

  • Color
  • Letter
  • Uppercase versus lowercase
  • In my name
  • In my friend’s name
  • Have holes
  • Have curves
  • Straight lines
  • Vertical lines
  • Tails
  • Tall versus short
  • Sounds

Those are just some ways of sorting magnetic letters.  What are some other ways you sort them with your children?

Letter Sorting Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated

As you can see from some of my older photos, you don’t need anything special to sort the letters.

I’ve often used construction paper that I’ve handwritten graphs on, and the children seriously don’t mind. Sometimes it was a quick graph I made on the whiteboard easel before circle time or center time.

Sorting magnetic letters on the easel in preschool

Related: Fun Alphabet Songs for Preschool and Kindergarten

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Of course, having a set of already-made magnetic letter sorting mats is just handy. It means they’re ready to be pulled out as needed, or you can store them in the literacy center so the kids can use them during independent time. For these, you can just laminate hand-drawn sorting mats or you can use printable sorting mats.

I’ve put together 5 free printable sorting mats you can grab at the end of this post. Print the sorting mats, laminate them, and use them with the kids tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the giant pack of sorting mats I share at the bottom of the post.

Free printable mats for letter sorting, along with a cookie sheet and magnetic letters.

Related: Preschool Alphabet Activities Using Gold Coins

How to Store Magnetic Letters

I’ve been asked many times which magnetic letters I use and how I store them. There are so many choices out there, so go with what works best for you!

Over the years, I’ve kept a few sets of Lakeshore’s uppercase and lowercase magnetic letters in my stash. Learning Resource’s magnetic letters are also great if you’re leading a whole group lesson on a teacher easel.

In terms of storing the letters, I love using a 24-drawer hardware storage bin. It’s been with me through multiple moves (one of which was cross-country) and many students.

Sorting magnetic letters - How to store magnetic letters in preschool

I also have something like using a hardware organizer “briefcase” for when I’m traveling from room to room with the letters. This is also handy to keep things organized in a mobile literacy center.

Huge Magnetic Letter Sorting Pack

We now have a HUGE (seriously, it’s over 300 pages) pack devoted to magnetic letter sorting. There are a variety of prompts in the form of full-page and half-page sorting mats, as well as printable prompts you can attach to your magnetic teacher easel during whole group learning.

Grab the magnetic letter sorting pack from Preschool Teacher 101

magnetic letter alphabet sorting mats cover

See the letter sorting mats in action here:

Save time planning for preschool with Preschool Teacher 101. You’ll find done-for-you lesson plans, math and STEM activities, and literacy ideas. Be sure to check out the membership options for even more savings.

ABC Letter Mats
I Spy ABC Scavenger Hunts

Even More Ideas for Learning with Magnetic Letters

Collage of letter ideas with text that reads 16 magnetic letter activities for kids

Magnetic Letter Name Sensory Bin from Powerful Mothering

Elkonin Sound Boxes from Playdough to Plato

Self-correcting Magnetic Word Work from Differentiated Kindergarten

Alphabet Magnet Beginning Sounds Center from The Kindergarten Connection

Pull and Trace Alphabet Magnets from The Kindergarten Connection

Magnetic Letters Sequencing Cards from Sara J Creations

Secret Code Seasonal Words from Fun Learning for Kids

Editable Sight Word Mats from Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station

Letter Identification Alphabet Train from Stay at Home Educator

Beginning Sounds with Magnetic Letters from Pages of Grace

Number Word Mats from Fairy Poppins

Magnetic Letter Sorting from Fun-A-Day

From Beginning Sounds to CVC Words from Liz’s Early Learning Spot

Magnetic Letters Nouns Game from Teach Me Mommy

CVC Word Spinners from Sweet Sounds of Kindergarten

Magnetic Letters Center for All Year from The Simplified Classroom

(Not Shown) Seek and Find Magnetic Letter Matching Game from STEAMsational

Get Your Free Printable

The free printable sorting mats are available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re already a member, enter your information in the form below to get the printable sent to your email inbox.

Not a member? No worries! Enter your information in the form to join us. You’ll get the printable sent to your inbox as a welcome gift. If you can’t see the form, click on the highlighted text below instead.

You can access the form in a new tab if that’s better for you!

This post was originally published April 4, 2013. It’s been updated with a few new photos, more information, and printable sorting mats (as requested by some awesome readers).

Collage of letter sorting printable with text that reads magnetic letters free printable sorting mats.

Filed Under: Literacy Tagged With: Alphabet, Free Printable

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Comments

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  1. Mary Catherine says

    April 4, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    Hi Melanie! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Carrie @ Frugal Foodie Mama says

    April 5, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Oh, this is so clever! Definitely going to try this with baby girl in about a year or so.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      April 5, 2013 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks, Carrie! It’s amazing how such simple activities teach children so much.

      Reply
  3. The Monko says

    April 5, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you for this post. It would never have occured to me to do something as simple as get my son to sort the letters by colour. But you are so right that just holding the letters will help him get used to them. I’m going to try this.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      April 5, 2013 at 4:37 pm

      Thanks so much for visiting!! 🙂 I love how simple ideas can help children learn. Over the course of my teaching years, I have seen magnetic letter activities allow kiddos to explore so many important concepts.

      Reply
  4. Varya @ littleartists says

    April 7, 2013 at 9:37 am

    What a neat idea! We do the sorting of the magnet letters and numbers but in a different manner. Should try your way!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      April 7, 2013 at 4:52 pm

      Thank you Varya! Sorting in all sorts of way is meaningful for kiddos. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Angela @ Teaching Mama says

    April 11, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    This is a really cool activity! I’ve never thought about doing this and will have to try it out with my boys!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      April 11, 2013 at 2:49 pm

      Angela, thanks so much for stopping by with the kind words. 🙂 Let me know how it goes with your boys.

      Reply
      • Angie says

        June 25, 2013 at 10:55 am

        I teach 20 4PK kids. How many letter sets would you purchase, or is there a place I can buy bulk letter/numbers to use for small groups as well as name kits.

        Reply
        • Mary Catherine says

          June 25, 2013 at 11:14 am

          Hi Angie! Thanks for stopping by. I was just looking up to see if there are any good places to buy the letters in bulk. They’re sold in larger amounts on Amazon and the like, but the price is more or the quality is poor. {Anyone else reading this — have you happened upon a good resource for bulk letters?} The letters I always come back to are those from Lakeshore. They come in uppercase, lowercase, and they also have jumbo versions (which are great for sorting and for using on the teacher magnetic white board). I’ve had many of my letters for over 10 years, and they’re still going strong!

          In terms of how many — that’ll vary depending on the names in your class, of course. I’d start with 2 uppercase and 2 lowercase sets to begin with. If you have more in the budget, though, aim for more. There are always so many things to do with magnetic letters! The bin of letter tiles are also great (but they’re all one shape – square – and they’re not magnetic).

          Let me know how it goes, Angie! 🙂

          Reply
  6. chelsey @buggyandbuddy says

    August 22, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    I am madly in love with this! Such a great activity for home or in the classroom. I think I’m going to start doing this with Lucy and then save it for when I’m back in the classroom. Win-win! 😉

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      August 22, 2013 at 6:48 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad, Chelsey! It’s always so interesting to me how “little things” (like sorting) can engage children’s minds in such big ways!! Let me know how it goes with your little gal!

      Reply
  7. Shaunna @ Fantastic Fun and Learning says

    August 25, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    What a great list of ideas for sorting magnetic letters! Thanks for sharing at Discover & Explore—our readers always LOVE your ideas, and so do I!

    Reply
  8. Amy @ Sunlit Pages says

    July 23, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    I’ve been looking for fun ways to help my two-year-old learn his letters. This is fantastic! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      July 24, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks so much, Amy! The kiddos really do get a kick out of using the magnetic letters, and so much learning can take place with them. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Leigh says

    September 30, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    Thank you for sharing your ideas! LOVE them.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      October 7, 2018 at 11:50 am

      So happy to hear that, Leigh!!! 🙂

      Reply
  10. kim says

    August 28, 2019 at 11:35 am

    cant wait to use this freebie! thank you

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      September 4, 2019 at 9:44 am

      Happy to help, Kim! Let me know how it goes.

      Reply
  11. Lovely says

    June 21, 2021 at 12:13 am

    The download doesn’t work.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      June 21, 2021 at 11:14 am

      In order to access the download, you need to click on the large teal button near the bottom of the post and enter your email. Please be sure your pop-up blockers aren’t turned on, as that might interfere. You can email me at mc@fun-a-day.com if you need more help with this. Thanks!

      Reply
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My name is Mary Catherine, and I love to share meaningful {and fun} learning activities for kiddos! Feel free to browse and stay awhile!

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