Sand and Salt Writing Trays for Letter Formation in PreK and K

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Before little hands are ready for a pencil, they need to feel how a letter moves. A sand or salt writing tray is one of the simplest ways to do that. Kids trace letters with a finger, shake the tray, and start again, with no erasing and no frustration.

For my little ones who were not ready for a pencil yet, the salt tray was where letters first clicked.

How to make a writing tray

1. Grab a shallow tray or a box lid. A bright color underneath makes the letters pop.
2. Pour in a thin layer of salt, sand or colored sand.
3. Add a letter card at the top so students can see the model.
4. Students trace with 1 finger, or use a paintbrush or wooden stylus.
5. Shake gently to erase and try again.

The trays and colored sand I like are in the Fine Motor and Pre-Writing Toys list in my Amazon shop.

Go from the tray to paper

Once students can form a letter in the tray, move to paper with the Letter Formation Practice Sheets A-Z. Each letter has a 4 page book:

• Tracing the letter
• Writing the letter
• Finding the letter
• Finding its beginning sound

That is 26 letter books and 107 pages total, so you have a simple routine for letter of the week or letter of the day.

"Awesome resource, easy to print and use with my preschoolers" (TPT review)

Ideas to keep it fresh

• Rainbow trays. Color the salt with a few drops of food coloring, or put a rainbow paper underneath.
• Seasonal fillers. Try shaving cream or a little glitter in the salt for a holiday week.
• Name practice. Have students write the first letter of their name, then their whole name.
• Partner practice. One child says a sound, the other writes the letter that makes it.

Looking for more hands on letter practice? See all my Sensory posts.

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Get the Letter Formation Practice Sheets on TPT

Made by a teacher who's been right where you are.

Jessica Ann Stanford, Teachers Follow Teachers