Jack and the Beanstalk Letter Matching Activity (Upper & Lowercase Printable)
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Looking for a fun, hands-on way to teach letter recognition? This Jack and the Beanstalk letter matching activity helps kids practice matching uppercase and lowercase letters while building their very own beanstalk.
It’s playful, interactive, and perfect for preschool and early learners.
I am so excited to share this cute activity with you. We have been focusing on gardening activities this week on my site, and I have loved coming up with creative ways to teach kids with this theme. Jack and the Beanstalk is the perfect fairy tale to go with gardening! Pair it with the Jack and the Beanstalk Counting Math Game for Kids.
Why Kids Love This Activity
Combining a familiar story with hands-on learning makes everything more engaging.
Kids get to:
- Build a “beanstalk” as they learn
- Match uppercase and lowercase letters
- Play and retell the story
It turns letter practice into something creative and memorable.
What You’ll Need
- Printable beanstalk letter templates (download below)
- Straws (paper or plastic)
- Wooden skewers, chopsticks, or sticks
- Playdough (or foam/box to hold sticks upright)
- Scissors + hole punch
- Optional: Jack and the Giant printable pieces (included)
How to Set Up the Beanstalk Activity
1. Print and Prepare the Pieces
Print the letter templates and cut out the leaves.
Hole punch each leaf so they can slide onto the stick.
You can also print the Jack and Giant pieces (color or black and white).
2. Make Your Beanstalk
Cut straws into small pieces (about 1–1.5 inches).
These act as spacers between each set of letters.
Place your skewer or stick into playdough to hold it upright.
3. Add the Story Elements (Optional)
Tape Jack to a straw piece at the bottom and the Giant at the top for a fun storytelling element.
How to Play (Letter Matching)
- Start by adding a straw piece to the stick
- Find a matching uppercase and lowercase letter
- Slide both onto the stick and fan them out
- Add another straw spacer
- Repeat with new letter pairs
Continue building until your beanstalk reaches the top!
Tips for Different Ages
- Younger kids:
Use just a few letters at a time to avoid overwhelm - Older kids:
Try timing the activity or mixing all letters together - Full alphabet:
Use multiple sticks or shorter straw pieces to fit more letters
Add Play-Based Learning
After building, let kids play!
This is where the magic happens:
- Retell the Jack and the Beanstalk story- Use my printable Mini Fairy Tale Books
- Move Jack up and down the beanstalk
- Pretend the giant is chasing him
This kind of imaginative play helps reinforce both literacy and comprehension.
Skills Kids Are Building
This activity supports:
- Uppercase and lowercase letter recognition
- Early reading readiness
- Fine motor skills
- Sequencing and storytelling
Download the Jack and the Beanstalk Letter Matching Activity
Ready to build your own beanstalk? Download the printable and start learning through play.
See More Related Activities:
Fairy Tale STEM Activities Bundle for Kids
Printable Garden Alphabet Cards
Preschool Alphabet Letter Building Templates
Great for center time.