33 Unique Show and Tell Letter U Ideas

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I created all of my Show and Tell A-Z lists when I realized I was struggling to think of things for my preschooler to share each week. Here are all of my show and tell ideas for letter U – so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute too!

Tips for Finding Show and Tell Items

When I try to think of items for show and tell, I try to go through various categories of things we have in our house:

• animals
• books
• food/drinks (real or pretend)
• TV/movie characters
• family member names (to send a picture)

If all else fails, I send a foam letter from our bathtub toys or a letter from a wooden alphabet puzzle.

Make sure whatever your child chooses, it isn’t something breakable or valuable! And check to be sure it fits inside of their backpack.

Don’t miss my additional tips to prepare for show and tell day at the bottom of this post!

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Ideas for Show and Tell Letter U

Here are all of my ideas for things that begin with U (that you may find in your home):

Animals that begin with letter U

You may have stuffed animals, plastic animals, or books with these creatures. Or just do a quick internet search and print out a photo!

• Urchin
• Unicorn
• Umbrellabird
• Uakari (a type of monkey)

Books that feature the letter U

• Under My Umbrella by by H.P. Gentileschi
• Umbrella by Taro Yashima
• The Underwater Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

Food and drinks that begin with the letter U

Check with your child’s teacher before sending real food or drinks to school.

• Udon noodles
• Ugli Fruit
• U-No Bar
• Upside-Down Cake
• Urge soft drink
• See our full list of foods that start with the letter U here!

TV/Movie characters that begin with letter U

• Ultron from Transformers
• Unikitty (LEGO Movie)
• Uzumaki Naruto
• Uncle Scrooge from A Christmas Carol
• Umpire from Chicken Little
• Ursula from The Little Mermaid
• Underminer from Incredibles 2
• Uncle Ugo from Luca
• Uppy Puppy (Word Party)

Names that begin with U (for photos of family members)

• Uncle _____
• Ulysses
• Uri
• Ursula

Other possible U words for show and tell

Check your toy box or closets for these items:

• Umbrella
• Ukulele
• Uniform
• Unicorn
• Umpire outfit
• Up movie
• Utensil
• Uno card game
• UFO toy
• Unicycle
• University shirt or memorabilia from parents
• Utility belt
• Underwear (clean of course – and only if your child is ok with it!)
• USB cable
• U-lock
• Team Umizoomi toy or book
• Check out our full list of toys that start with U here!

Get a head start on next week! See our full list of Show and Tell Ideas from A to Z here!

How to Help Your Child Prepare to Share Their Show and Tell Item

A little preparation can go a long way in helping your child feel comfortable and excited about show and tell. Start by letting your child choose their item whenever possible. When kids feel connected to what they’re sharing, they’re often more eager to talk about it.

Once the item is chosen, have a simple conversation about it at home. Ask easy questions like what it is, where it came from, or why they like it. Practicing a short explanation together helps children organize their thoughts and builds confidence before standing in front of the class.

If the item is too big, fragile, or not allowed at school, a photo or drawing works just as well. Many teachers actually prefer this option. Most importantly, remind your child that show and tell doesn’t have to be perfect. Sharing something special is what matters most.

Why Is Show and Tell Important for Early Literacy Learning?

Show and tell supports early literacy in ways that feel fun and natural for young children. When kids talk about an object, they practice using descriptive language, building vocabulary, and forming complete sentences.

Letter-based show and tell also strengthens letter recognition and beginning sounds. Connecting a specific letter to real-world objects helps children remember and understand phonics more easily.

Listening to classmates share builds comprehension and attention skills, while taking turns speaking helps children gain confidence communicating in a group. Over time, these small experiences lay an important foundation for reading, writing, and classroom participation.