Language and Literacy Resource Center
Print Motivation Literacy Play Totes
With funding from the Jones Center for Special Education Excellence, Dr. Mary Katherine Duncan
(Department of Psychology) created literacy totes to help build emergent readers’ print motivation.
Print Motivation refers to a person’s interest in reading and writing. One of the best ways to encourage
emergent readers’ interest in reading and writing is through pretend play. The following literacy play
totes include ideas for print motivation-building activities as well as lists of available books and toys. All
of the resources (and more!) are available at the BU Toy Library: Language and Literacy Resource Center.
Profession
Literacy Resources
Play Resources
Literacy Activities
Flip-Flap Body Book
Doctor costume
Sign-in. Make a name tag.
Medical
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Vet costume
Read the eye chart.
How to Heal a Broken Wing
Medical kit
Schedule an appointment.
Heads, Shoulders, Knees
and Toes
Eye chart
Chart patient’s height,
weight, hair & eye color.
Puppets
If You’re Happy and You
Know It
Make a “health” poster.
Create-A-Person
drawing pads
First Human Body
Encyclopedia
Magnetic Board
Environmental Print
Die cuts
Pancakes for Breakfast
Chef/Waitress
costumes
Consult books or charts
on the human body.
Write prescriptions.
Kitchen
Lunch
Food for Thought
On Top of Spaghetti
I Have a Restaurant
Soup Day
Put it on the List
Little Pea
Do Cows Eat Cake?
To Market, To Market
Play food totes
Color-a-Mat: Set
the Table Learning
Mat
Make “Get Well” cards.
Create a menu and/or
shopping list.
Read/Write recipes and
today’s specials.
Compare food labels.
Take reservations.
Wear-N-Write Dry
Erase pad
Make a name tag.
Play Money Set
Write down orders.
Magnetic Board
Make signs
Open/Closed
Exit
Restrooms
Cashier
Business Hours
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Die cuts
Profession
Explorer
Literacy Resources
Birds
Play Resources
Explorer role play
costume
A Closer Look
City Dog, Country Frog
Creature Peeper
magnifiers
Leaves
Read/Write a book on
nature.
Label an exhibit of natural
resources.
This Land is Your Land
Lost in the Woods
Literacy Activities
Keep a journal.
Magnetic Animal
Habitat Set
Jumbo Animal
Figure totes
Read/Make maps.
Read/Write trail markers.
Pocket Guides
Die cuts
Community Helpers
No Dragons for Tea
Police and
Firefighter role
play costumes
Make/Read traffic signs.
Create badges.
Police Officers on Patrol
Stacking
Emergency
Vehicles
A Day at the Police Station
Rescue Vehicles
Make/Read a map to
locate the scene of an
emergency.
I Read Signs
Vehicles and
Traffic Signs
Make/Read a pet tag to
help a lost animal.
A Day at the Fire Station
Fire! Fire!
Write tickets.
I Read Symbols
Magnetic Board
Environmental Print
Die cuts
Mail carrier
Seven Little Postmen
Mailboxes
Read/Write postcards.
The Jolly Postman
Make/Follow a mail route.
Mailing May
Learning Mats—
Map of U.S. and
World Map
Environmental Print
Mailbag
Create/Read a schedule
for pick-up and delivery.
Make/Read postage rates.
Die cuts
Weigh packages and read
a scale.