First off, it's such a fun play on words ... this unit teachers letters (the alphabet) around the theme of letters (mail!). So cute!
This unit with over 20 activities is such an incredible resource for teaching the alphabet to preschoolers (while also capturing the interest of my kindergarten-aged daughter! Easily adapted to early readers!). Let me show you all of the ready-to-go materials and thoughtfully designed activities we've prepped for you to make learning letters an adventure you and your littles can enjoy together.
The Explore Letters unit features 24 planned activities and comes with everything you need—no last-minute store runs or scrambling for supplies! Each activity blends literacy, art, sensory play, and fine motor skills while aligning with early education standards. Whether you’re introducing letters or reinforcing phonics, this unit adapts to your child’s learning needs and pace.
This unit also features some fantastic children's literature that tie in basic preschool and kindergarten skills of cutting, pasting, making patterns, and color recognition.
As a parent, you’ll appreciate how stress-free it is to jump right into these activities. The included step-by-step guide makes it easy to lead your child through meaningful lessons, even if you don’t have a teaching background.
What’s Included? Everything You Need for Fun and Learning!
This unit has everything to make teaching the alphabet both easy and exciting:
Books to Treasure: Curated children’s books include:
Dragon Post by Emma Yarlett
ISH by Peter Reynolds
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Detailed Activity Guide: The guide includes instructions, questions to spark conversation, and extension ideas to deepen learning.
Learning Resources Alphabet Learning Mailbox: A mailbox learning toy that helps children learn letter recognition and sounds in a fun, engaging way. Amazing for pretend play!
Activities You’ll Enjoy: Build a Coconut Tree inspired by Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, turn a cardboard box into a whole new world, or play the Alphabet Mailbox game. These hands-on activities bring letters to life in a way your child will love.
Learning Resources Alphabet Letter Blocks: Sturdy, colorful blocks your kids can stack, stamp into playdough, build words, and trace.
Three Crayola Playdough Colors & Dragon Figurines from Safari Ltd: Combine sensory play with open-ended imaginative play inspired by the Dragon Post book!
All Materials Provided: Everything you need, from craft supplies to game pieces, is included in the box. No extra shopping required!
A Six-Week Unit Plan for this Letters Unit
This unit is designed to be flexible, so you can tailor it to your schedule. Here’s how I used I planned it out to use with my own kids:
Week 1: Dragon Post and Alphabet Mailbox
You will LOVE the Dragon Post book to kick off this week (trust us, it's so unique!) and the Learning Resources mailbox is SUCH a cool (and absolutely educational) toy. The activity guide has nine different alphabet activities laid out for this week, including a real set of coloring page postcards (and real stamps!) for your kids to send their own mail.
Week 2: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Letter Blocks
What a fun week with the alphabet blocks and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ... a perfect pairing! The unit activity guide lays out a bunch of fantastic literacy activities for this week, as well as a fun coconut tree art project.
Week 3: A Bad Case of Stripes
A Bad Case of Stripes is about a girl who's so concerned with fitting in that she ends up with a case of the stripes. To go with this book, we made a name acrostic art all about what makes us unique and special, and then made our own stripey arms.
Week 4: Ish Book and Creativity Exploration
This week's activities are built around the book Ish, a beautiful story about a boy named Ramon who realizes that his drawings don’t need to be “perfect”—they just need to be “-ish."
The unit comes with a sketchpad and colored pencils so your kids can make their own "ish" drawings like Ramon. They'll also experiment with crumbled paper paintings (it ties in with the story, you'll see!).
Week 5: Not A Box
This week we read the awesome book Not A Box, in which the main character shows that a box is never just a box ... it's a rocket ship, a racecar, a mountain, etc.
After reading the book, we did a simple writing project, and then the kids had a super fun creativity session where I gave them a big cardboard box and all the art materials for this unit and just told them to go to town. My son made his box into a minecart (Minecraft crazy over here!).
Week 6: Review and Celebrate
This week we revisited our favorite activities, still playing with the letter mailbox and re-reading Dragon Post. Here's an idea if you're feeling festive: throw an alphabet-themed lunch party! Letter-shaped snacks and games made for a fun and memorable conclusion to your learning adventure.
Why This Unit Is Perfect for Your Family
This unit makes learning stress-free, flexible, and fun. The hands-on activities create meaningful bonding moments while building foundational literacy skills. My kids have grown more confident in recognizing letters, understanding phonics, and even writing simple words.
The Explore Letters Preschool Unit Study is a wonderful way to deepen your child's understanding of the alphabet without the hassle of planning and prepping. It’s designed to make learning enjoyable for both parents and kids!
Tips for Organizing Materials
One of the best ways to get the most out of this unit is to organize the materials ahead of time. Here are a few tips to keep everything easy to grab and go:
Use Zip-Top Bags or Small Containers: The materials already come packaged by activity (yay!). To make it even easier, group the materials by week. Label the bag/container with the week name to make setup quick and stress-free.
Designate a Storage Spot: Choose a basket, bin, or shelf to keep all the materials in one place. This way, you’ll always know where to find what you need.
Prepare in Advance: Spend a few minutes at the start of each week reviewing the activities and setting aside the materials you’ll need. Having everything ready to go makes it easier to dive into the fun.
Keep Extras Handy: Store extra craft supplies like glue sticks and scissors nearby, just in case. While the kit includes everything you need, having backups on hand can be helpful.
Ready to Start Your Alphabet Adventure?
If you’re looking for a fun, comprehensive way to teach your preschooler (or even kindergartener!) the alphabet, this unit is the perfect resource. With everything included, you can focus on creating joyful learning moments with your child. Let the alphabet adventure begin!
Elizabeth is a former public school teacher turned homeschool mom. She's been homeschooling for six years with her kiddos who are currently in kindergarten and third grade. At Knowledge Crates, Elizabeth develops the elementary unit studies and test-runs activities with her kids.
Knowledge Crates are thoughtfully curated and secular educational activity boxes designed to make learning fun, hands-on, and stress-free for families.
Each crate is packed with activities, books, and all the materials needed to spark curiosity and creativity in children.
Whether you're a homeschooling parent or simply looking for screen-free ways to keep your kids engaged, Knowledge Crates provide a convenient and enriching solution that fosters exploration and discovery.
Who are Knowledge Crates designed for?
Knowledge Crates are designed for families with children ranging from preschool to high school.
Unit Crates: The preschool units are ideal for children from preschool through grade 1. While some of the skills included may already be mastered by older kids in this range, this gives children a sense of accomplishment as they confidently complete activities on their own! The elementary units are tailored for children in grades 2–5, providing more challenging and engaging activities to keep them excited about learning.
Mini Crates: These versatile crates are designed for children ranging from preschool all the way through high school. Each mini crate includes a detailed list of what’s inside, along with photos of the materials, so parents can easily choose the best fit for their child’s interests and age group.
Sensory Play: Loved by kids of all ages, our sensory play options provide hours of engaging, hands-on exploration that fosters creativity and fine motor development. Whether your child is a toddler or older, sensory play is a hit in every home!
Can Knowledge Crates be used as part of a homeschool curriculum?
Absolutely! Knowledge Crates are a fantastic addition to any homeschool routine. Whether you’re looking to supplement your core curriculum or need ready-made activities to engage your kids, our crates provide all the materials and guidance you need.
Each unit study crate is carefully designed to explore a specific theme in depth, from the wonders of the ocean to desert habitats and beyond. The step-by-step guides and hands-on projects make it easy to incorporate crate activities into your lesson plans, saving you time and adding variety to your homeschool day.
Will Knowledge Crates really work in my homeschool?
Every family is different, and that’s why we design Knowledge Crates to be flexible. Whether you’re homeschooling full-time, looking for weekend activities, or need an engaging way to keep your kids learning during breaks, our crates adapt to your needs. They’re perfect for preschoolers exploring sensory play or older elementary kids diving into creative and STEM-focused projects.
And if you're worried about the value, consider this: everything you need is included. No hidden costs, no extra materials to buy —just open the box and start creating moments of learning and discovery. The materials are even reusable, so many of the activities can be enjoyed again and again!
My kids and I have had such a great experience with Knowledge Crates that I gifted this crate to my nephew and he loved it! My sister told me that he was entertained for at least 2 hours when they first opened up the crate. She said the rainbow volcano activity alone kept him entertained for an hour and then he kept asking for more. I love knowing that there are so many more fun and engaging activities that await them in this create.
My daughter can spend at least 40 minutes to an hour in one sitting with this kit. Her younger brother joins her with the sensory rice that he got from his Bee Crate. We are going over the book together as she explores and plays with the sensory items that come in this crate. She has also added in the weather charms that came with her weather crate. The book has helped us with bringing up and discussing bullying so far and has been a great way to help her with opening up about her experiences with and around this issue. She loves the book and we are looking forward to keep reading it together and the conversations that come from it. She really loves all of the sensory options that come with this kit. I highly recommend it.
