Environmental Print

We are going to make a special "book" out of our favourite box fronts. Please send in your child's favourite cereal box, cracker box, or cookie box. My favourite is Shreddies. Did you know that there aren't Shreddies in the USA? I lived there for a year and had to fill the trunk with them every time I came home!

The thinking behind the boxes is that the writing on them is "environmental print". Environmental Print is the print of everyday life: The symbols, signs, numbers, and colors found in McDonald's, Pizza Hut, 7-Up, and on Stop signs, for example. It gives an excellent entry point for young children to begin to learn to read and write. Children have a concrete connection to everyday print. They "read" it within the context of their everyday experiences--their interests and backgrounds. It bridges the gap between the functional print of school and the print outside.