Alpha-Bits: Time to Eat the Alphabet
Then the other day my 13 year old asked for cereal with letters. Oh, you mean, Alpha-bits? We had so much fun spelling out her vocabulary words with the Alpha-Bits cereal that I just had to share some ideas for teaching letters, spelling, phonics and word attack skills.
These Alpha-Bits letter activities can be set up in learning centers for classrooms or used as homeschooling activities. Though many of the activities are presented for preschool or kindergarten to first grade age, many can be adapted to older grades.
Learning with Alpha-Bits Table of Contents
Center Time with Alphaet Letters
- Alphabits: A Cereal full of Letters
- Origins of Alpha-Bits
- Michael Jackson Eats Alpha-bits
- The Post Alpha-bits War!
- Alpha-bits Mathmat
- Match the Alpha-Bits Letters
- Evelyn's Hands-on Learning Blog
- More Alphabet Activities
- Look Who's Twittering about Alpha-Bits
- How do you use Alpha-Bits to Teach?
- About the Teacher who uses Alpha-Bits:
Alphabits: A Cereal full of Letters
Eat your Alphabits Letters
1. Pour a bowl and look for the letters in your name with Alpha-Bits.
2. Spell as many words as possible with Alpha-Bits.
3. Write messages to your friends with Alpha-Bits.
Post Alpha Bits Whole Grain Cereal, 10.25-Ounce Box (Pack of 5)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
Product Features
* Case of five 10.25-ounce boxes (total of 51.25 ounces)
* Made with whole grains
* Contains zero grams of sugar
* High in iron and vitamin A
* Kids will love the letter shapes
Origins of Alpha-Bits
Who invented Alpha-Bits?
Photo Credit: Alpha-Bits
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
Alpha-Bits, also known as Frosted Alpha-Bits, is a breakfast cereal made by Post Cereals, which contains frosted alphabet-shaped corn cereal bits. Post Cereals also started producing Marshmallow Alpha-Bits in 1990.
"Alpha-Bits" cereal was invented by a father of seven named Thomas M. Quigley who worked for Post Cereals. The cereal was introduced in 1958, and was taken off the market in 2006. However, Alpha-Bit re-appeared for sale in January 2008 with a new formulation, touting "0% Sugar!" as a "Limited Edition" cereal. The old recipe was reintroduced later in 2008.
Beginning in 1964, the mascot for Alpha-Bits was a postman (Post Man) named Loveable Truly. Since then, mascots have included the Alpha-Bits Wizard, who appeared near children in kitchens. In Canada, the last Alpha-Bits mascot was Alpha, a computer who "makes bits". The Canadian Alpha at first resembled IBM PCs, but recent versions have begun to look like Macintoshes. In the 1980s there was yet another mascot that was refe...
Michael Jackson Eats Alpha-bits
Jackson Five Alpha-bits Comercial
The Post Alpha-bits War!
Post is changing the way they make Alpha-bits!
Photo Credit: alphabits
on Photobucket.
When I started writing this lens I thought I would only be writing about how to use this common cereal to teach letters, spelling and phonics but suddenly I ran across Whole Wheat Alpha-bits which I presume is the new version of Alpha-Bits.
Then I discovered boxes of Sugar Coated Alpha-Bits selling on Amazon for $45 or more. I wonder if this will turn into the huge controversy that Coke created when they introduced their new formula for their cola.
Should their be a revolt against Post and their Alpha-bits Cereal?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes! I demand that they return to Sugar Coating!
No! It's about time Alpha-bits became a more healthy product.
Evelyn_Saenz says:
Alpha-bits tastes better without the sugar. Besides I would rather use the letters for spelling than eating.
Posted October 06, 2009
Alpha-bits Mathmat
Center Time Alphabet Math and Letter Activity
Squirrels Sharing Alphabet Soup
Buy at AllPosters.com
Set out some placemats and ask the children to see how many words they can form with a handful of Alpha-bits letters.
Sometimes we make soup bowls full of words. Sometimes we make cereal bowls full of words. Some children like to arrange a word on each space on the mat.
Post Alpha Bits Cereal 13.5 oz.
Alpha-Bits cereal letters for learning to read and write while you eat your breakfast.
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/29/2009)
BrainyMats - My Place Setting
Placemats for arranging Alpha-Bits words.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
Match the Alpha-Bits Letters
Baby Bear is Looking for Matching Letters in his Alpha-Bits
Baby Bear and His Porridge
Miles, Elizabeth
Buy at AllPosters.com
Using a placemat with the alphabet printed on it children sort the letters and place them on the corresponding letter on the placemat.
Which letter has the most?
Are there any letters missing?
This is a wonderful way to practice math and letter recognition at the same time.
Post Alpha Bits Cereal 13.5 oz.
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/29/2009)
Crocodile Creek Animal ABC Placemat
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 12/29/2009)
Evelyn's Hands-on Learning Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMore Alphabet Activities
Beyond Alpha-Bits: Learning Letters, Words and How to Read
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Word Walls and Pointers
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Word walls are a collection of words for beginning readers to use to promote learning in reading and writing. WordWalls are most effective when the children help to generate them. This lens will point out various types of WordWalls used in classroom...
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Beginning to Read
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Mrs. Wishy Washy and The Big Bad Pig are inviting you all beginning readers to join them in the adventure of learning to read. Learn how to make Word Walls, Literacy Bags, activities for Center Time and lots, lots, more. You will find suggested begi...
Look Who's Twittering about Alpha-Bits
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- _RayeSunshine
- Peter: Brian, there's a message in my Alpha Bits. It says 'OOO'! Brian: Peter, those are Cheerios. <--- *DEAD*
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- mamajalapa
- @Julie_Weathers I bought alpha bits yesterday. Talk about childhood memories!
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- ChrissyRock
- @youaremylifee yah, the Alpha-Bits commercials were wonderful. Those were my Mother's favorite commercials when she was a kid.
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- thekatiescene
- Hell yes. My mom bought Alpha-bits.
-
- youaremylifee
- @ChrissyRock oh my gosh, Alpha-Bits. I love those old commertials. Ubber cuteeeeee! (:
How do you use Alpha-Bits to Teach?
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Reply
- poutine poutine Oct 6, 2009 @ 9:42 am
- So well done and I love all those posters.
Great idea for a lens. A big 5
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Reply
- Evelyn_Saenz Evelyn_Saenz Sep 11, 2009 @ 11:32 am | in reply to JenOfChicago
- Thank you Jen
- Reply
About the Teacher who uses Alpha-Bits:
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Evelyn Saenz: Lensography of a Teacher
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My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning should be integrated and no skills should be taught in isolation. I believe that each topic s...
by Evelyn_Saenz
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