Looking for free chicka boom boom printables to pair with a favorite read-aloud? These uppercase and lowercase alphabet activity mats give children several ways to explore letters through coloring, hands-on play, and a little coconut-tree fun.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is one of my favorite books to bring into a preschool classroom. The bright colors, playful rhythm, and letters climbing the coconut tree practically invite children to join in!
Two Free Chicka Boom Boom Printables
This free set includes two alphabet activity mats:
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Uppercase letter mat
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Lowercase letter mat
Use either page on its own or put them side by side to explore uppercase and lowercase letters together. Both can be used as coloring pages or reusable activity mats, depending on the materials you offer.
Start with the Story
Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom together before introducing the mats. Give children time to enjoy the rhythm and notice the letters without turning every page into a quiz.
Afterward, invite them to look for a familiar letter on their printable. The first letter of their name is a lovely place to start.
My son had a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom computer game when he was little, and I still remember the song that went with it. Every time I see the book, that song pops into my head. Some things really do stick with you!
Ways to Use Your Alphabet Activity Mats
Color and Find Letters
Offer crayons or markers and let children color their page. As they work, invite them to find letters they recognize.
Try prompts such as:
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“Can you find the first letter of your name?”
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“Which letter would you like to color next?”
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“Do you see a letter from a friend’s name?”
Choose a few letters at a time. Children don’t need to identify the whole alphabet to enjoy the activity.
Try Dot Markers
Use dot markers to mark selected letters as children find them. You can name a letter, show a matching letter card, or let children choose familiar letters themselves.
This makes an easy small-group activity: everyone can search for the same letter on their own mat.
Make a Reusable Letter Hunt
Slide the printable into a dry-erase pocket or sheet protector. Children can circle letters with a dry-erase marker, wipe the page clean, and try again.
Change the challenge to suit the child: find one familiar letter, find the letters in their name, or look for several letters you’ve been exploring together.
Add Playdough
Place the page inside a protective pocket and offer playdough. Children can roll small pieces of dough and use them to cover selected letters or fill parts of the design.
Keep the activity open-ended. Some children will want to search for letters; others will be more interested in shaping dough and decorating their tree.
Explore on a Light Table
Try the mats on a light table or light board with suitable translucent counters. Invite children to place a counter over each letter they find.
Use counters only with children who can safely handle small objects, and supervise the activity closely.
Match Uppercase and Lowercase Letters
Place the two chicka boom boom printables side by side. Find an uppercase letter together, then look for its lowercase partner.
Start with just a few pairs, especially letters children already know. Talk about what they notice: some partners look similar, while others look quite different!
You can also use the mats alongside alphabet cards or larger letter manipulatives you already have.
Bring the Book into Your Classroom
One of my favorite preschool bulletin boards was inspired by Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. I made a giant coconut tree with letters scattered around it and added the colorful dots that made the book cover so recognizable.
These mats offer a much simpler way to bring that same enthusiasm to a table activity. Pair them with the story, set out a few materials, and let children explore.
Get Your Free Chicka Boom Boom Printables
Both the uppercase and lowercase activity mats are available through the Yogalore Freebie Hub.
Print the version you need—or use both—and choose an activity that fits your children. One set of printables, several ways to play!
More Learning Through Play
Keep the hands-on fun going with our sensory recipes, including homemade playdough you can use with your activity mats.
For another book-inspired theme, explore our bee activities for preschool, which combine creating, learning, and movement.
Our Chicka Chicka Boom Boom printables are one of my favorite freebies we have available on the site. I had the best time making these! These printables make the perfect activity to pair with the book. I love the vivid colors and the sing-songy text!
Use as coloring sheets, or have small counters to place over the letters as they’re identified. Dot markers are also a fun choice. You can also use these on a light table or light board. Place in a sheet protector to use repeatedly (you can use dry erase markers for coloring) or even playdough to fill in the design.
My son had a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom computer game (23 years ago!) that had a cute song that went along with it. I *still* to this day remember that song and think of it whenever I think of the book. Funny how things stick with you through the years.
When I taught preschool, one of my favorite bulletin boards I made was for this book. It was basically the cover of the book, with a giant tree, the letters scattered around the tree and the dots that were also on the cover.
There’s also a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom DVD
Why Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Printables?
This book by Bill Martin, Jr. is a children’s classic and is a preschool staple in so many classrooms. Used to teach letter identification, it’s one of the building blocks to reading — being able to identify letters and learn their sounds.
Uppercase Printable
Lowercase Printable
More things based on books by Bill Martin, Jr and Eric Carle? Visit our store on TpT!
