This alphabet matching game snack started out as a bit of a joke to make my kids laugh but it has quickly become one of their favorite snacks, and something they ask for all the time!
Alphabet Matching Game Snack
Playing with your food isn’t for everyone but we don’t take anything too seriously at our house. If it’s fun, sneaks in a little learning and gets two picky eaters to empty their plates, it’s a winner!
And this snack is just like any regular memory matching game that you might play using picture or word cards, just using crackers instead!
The best part about this activity is that it can be easily adapted to suit all sorts of learning objectives, from the alphabet to colors to shapes.
We have been using alphabet cookie cutters to prepare our snacks but you could use anything you like – geometric shapes, numbers, or themed objects like animals or vehicles – if you can source a set of small cookie cutters for it, it’s good to play.
Sometimes we just play with different types of spreads to create a color matching game. In the example below you can see we have used Vegemite, cream cheese, beetroot dip and mashed avocado.
Apart from your choice of spread, all you will need is your choice of plain crackers, like water crackers, and toppings that can be cut easily with a cookie cutter – cheese slices, sliced ham, chicken or turkey work well.
To make your Alphabet Matching Game Snack;
Start by cutting your shapes first. Spread slices of cheese or sliced meat out on cutting boards and cut two of each shape you want to use. Your children will love being involved in this step.
Store all of your off cuts from your cheese/ham etc… in sealed containers and use them on top of homemade pizzas or in other dishes so there is no wastage.
Cover one side of each cracker with your choice of spread. The current favorite at our house is beetroot dip! But you could use mashed avocado, cream cheese, peanut butter, Nutella, hummus, tahini or any other dip.
Place your cheese/meat shapes on top of the spread on the crackers, making sure there are two of each one on the plate.
Mix up the pairs and then turn them over so that the letters and toppings are face down on a flat plate or platter.
To play the matching game, two children take turns to choose two crackers to turn over. It the shapes on the crackers match, the child keeps the crackers to eat. If the shapes do not match, the crackers are turned back over and it is the next player’s turn.
RELATED: Want more information about how to get started with learning about letters with preschoolers or kindergartners? Be sure to check out our wonderful activity/resource pack – Alphabet Fun: Hands-On Letter Learning Activities for 3-6 Year Olds.
Alphabet Matching Game Snack
Ingredients
- Water crackers
- Your choice of block cheese, cheese slices, sliced ham, sliced chicken or sliced turkey
- Your choice of spread/s - mashed avocado, beetroot dip, cream cheese, peanut butter, hummus, tahini, Nutella
Instructions
- Use cookie cutters to cut two of each shape from slices of cheese or sliced meat.
- Cover each water cracker with your choice of spread.
- Place your cheese/meat shapes on top of the crackers, spread side up, making sure there are two of each shape.
- Mix up the pairs and then turn the crackers over and place face down onto a plate or flat platter.
Notes
- To play the matching game, two children take turns to choose two crackers to turn over. It the shapes on the crackers match, the child keeps the crackers to eat. If the shapes do not match, the crackers are turned back over and it is the next player's turn.
- Store your offcuts from the cheese and sliced meat in sealed containers and use them on top of homemade pizzas so there is no wastage.
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For even more alphabet fun, check out these related activities;
Caz George is Mum to three girls. Their days are filled with creative ways to play and learn, and usually involve a whole lot of noise!
That looks really good and fun to do. Can you use single wrapped cheese, like from kraft?
Our kids love this kind of play! We’ll definitely be trying your suggestions next week as we are stuck inside in -10 degree temps at the moment. Will add a bit of FLAIR to our daily snacks! Thank you!