Fishing for Knowledge

Ages: 2 1/2 years and up

Make learning fun for your child with this interactive alphabet game that lets her cast for letters and even tackle a bit of basic spelling. 

Materials 

• Small screw eye
• 12-inch dowel 
• 12-inch length of string
• 2- by 6-inch piece of card stock
• Hole punch
• 2- by 2-inch piece of adhesive magnetic sheet
• Metal frozen juice can lids (the kind without sharp edges) 
• Letter stickers or permanent marker
 

Instructions
 
To make the pieces: Secure the screw eye into the end of the dowel. Tie the string to the screw eye with a tight knot.

Fold the card stock into thirds. Punch holes in the paper as shown, then tie the loose end of the string through the holes. Adhere the magnet to the bottom of the card stock
Attach one letter sticker to each lid or write the letters on the lids with a permanent marker. Start with your child's name and add letters as you collect more lids. 
To play: Simply scatter the metal "fish" on the floor and show your child how to "hook? them with the magnetic fishing pole. Once she gets the hang of it, challenge her to catch specific letters or even spell her name.
From... http://familyfun.go.com