Letter N Game

Big N, little n and the N in nest all come together in the Letter N Game, a cozy star-catching night for preschool kids. Penny is on a toy hilltop at night, with a little telescope and a glowing tent, and plump toy stars float down from the dark sky. Every star carries a letter or a picture. Children tap a star, or slide Penny’s star net under it, and the net swoops up and catches it with a twinkle. In rounds one and two every caught star flies up and lights one point of a big N in the night sky, so kids watch the letter’s shape grow from their own answers. Kids can tap any caught star and Penny names its letter or picture again. Playing the letter n game again and again helps little learners recognize the big N and the little n, tell N apart from look-alike letters like M, H and Z, and hear that nest, nose, nut, noodles and net all start with N.

In this letter n phonics game, Penny cheers kids on through three short rounds. First they catch the big N among letters like M, H, Z and K, with the tip that big N is a tall line, a slant down, and a tall line up. Then they catch the little n among look-alikes like m, h and u, with the tip that little n is a short line down, then up and over, like a hill. Last they catch the pictures that start with N and skip the moon, sun and cup. The letters and pictures a child mixed up come back for one more try. Penny reads every direction out loud, names each answer (“Nest starts with the letter N.”) and gives a kind hint after a wrong catch. Play it in your browser on a phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.

What’s Included

• Online game that plays in any browser on desktop, tablet and phone
• Included with every Have Fun Teaching membership
• 3 rounds: big N, little n, then pictures that start with N
• Voice directions, twinkly sound effects and a star score at the end

Here are three reasons this letter n game helps kids learn. First, every choice floats next to letters and pictures that look or sound close, like M beside N, m and h beside n, and moon beside nose, so kids learn to spot exactly what makes an N an N. Second, Penny names the letter or the word after every right answer and uses the same words teachers use, like big N, little n and starts with N, so the lesson sounds the same at home and at school. Third, the twinkly catches, the golden star surprise, the big N that lights up in the sky, the streak celebrations and the stars at the end keep kids smiling and asking to play again.

Teachers and parents can keep the N fun going after the game. Trace a big N in the air together: a tall line down, a slant down, and a tall line up. Go on an N hunt at home and look for a nose, a napkin and a nut. Say N words slowly together, like nnnnest and nnnnose, and feel the hum in your nose.

Related Resources

• Letter N Song (Animated Music Video)
• Letter L Game
• Letter K Game
• Letter N Tracing Worksheet