Ready to make learning the alphabet extra fun? These koala letter matching clip cards are just the thing! This printable helps kids learn to recognize letters from A to Z. It also allows them to practice matching uppercase to lowercase.
Using clothespins gives little hands a fine motor workout too!
Setup and Instructions For The Koala Letter Matching Clip Cards
Setting up this activity is a breeze. Just print the cards, cut them out (four per page), and you’re good to go. Stack multiple pages to speed up cutting time. If you want to reuse them often or with multiple students, now would be the time to laminate them.
To reduce plastic waste, I personally skip the laminator myself. Since this activity is so simple to print, you can print one out in a new, fresh theme when this one wears out.
Once you are ready for game play, shuffle the cards and place them in a central pile. Working with a group? Spread cards out on the table or divide them into a few small piles for easier sharing.
Of course, each child will also need a small collection of clothespins to play. To begin, kids will first name the uppercase letter the koala is holding on the sign. Then, they will use a clothespin to mark the correct lowercase match from the letters across the bottom of the card.
If your students are ready, you can also incorporate letter sounds by asking them to say the most common letter sound aloud. For vowels, you can have them say both the short and long sounds.
Once your kiddos have used the cards a few times with your guidance, the game can easily be used for independent work, student-led literacy centers, or a partner activity.
What You’ll Need To Play
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- Printable clip cards (Grab them at the bottom of this post.)
- Clothespins (Mini rainbow clips add a fun pop of color!)
- Laminator (Optional)
- Cardstock (Recommended)
- Scissors
Customizing the Activity for Different Needs
Every child learns at their own pace, and these cards make it easy to adjust the challenge. Choose cards with either 2 or 3 letter options at the bottom—start with fewer choices and work up to more as confidence grows.
Have a learner who finds pinching clips tricky? Laminate the cards and use dot markers or bingo daubers instead. You can also add easy-grip handles to the markers for extra support.
If a child uses eye gaze or an augmentative communication device, you can download the simplified koala letter cards (free!) to use with Velcro boards, communication tools, or felt activities. They’re super versatile and inclusive!
Another Fun Way To Use The Alphabet Clip Cards
For even more, repurpose this activity to make a hidden letter hunt. To make the activity, cut the lowercase letters off the bottom of each card. Then, hide the uppercase koala cards around the room. Select 5–10 letters to start with to keep it manageable.
Once the uppercase cards are hidden, hand each child one lowercase card and challenge them to find the koala card with the matching uppercase letter. It’s a great way to get kids moving and learning at the same time!
More Koala-Inspired Alphabet Fun
- Koala Alphabet Activity 1
- Activity 2
