Write the Capital Letters
Learn, Sing, and Build Muscle Memory
Written by Dr. Carla Engelbrecht — mom, education technology expert, and creator of Hippo Polka. Carla has spent 25 years designing content for Sesame Street, Netflix, and PBS Kids. She holds a doctorate in Instructional Technology from Columbia University and is on a mission to make screen time joyful, educational, and easier for families.
Welcome to the Hippo Polka Capital Letter Collection — a growing library of fun, musical handwriting videos that teach kids how to write capital letters step by step using rhythm, motion, and play!
Each video in this series features:
- Clear, classroom-style handwriting instruction aligned with how letters are taught in early learning programs.
- Catchy lyrics and repetition to help kids remember the strokes.
- Bright, joyful animations that bring each letter to life with kid-favorite themes.
- Movement and multisensory learning, helping children build muscle memory while singing, clapping, tracing, or dancing along.
✨ Every YouTube video includes the full lyrics in the description, so you can follow along, print them out, or use them during handwriting practice.
As new videos are created, they will be added to this page—so check back often or subscribe to the Hippo Polka YouTube channel to get notified when new letters are released!
Why It Works
Learning to write letters isn't just about pencil and paper. When children sing the steps, move their bodies, and see the strokes modeled, they activate more areas of the brain, helping them learn faster and retain the pattern longer.
These videos use scaffolded, research-based handwriting instruction paired with music and movement to make learning automatic and joyful.
Parent & Teacher Extension Activities
Try these simple, play-based activities after watching any capital letter video:
🔎 Letter Hunt
Turn your home, neighborhood, or classroom into a literacy adventure! Look for the featured letter on:
- Book covers
- Food packages
- Signs and labels
- Toys or clothing tags
Each time your child spots the letter, have them say the writing steps out loud or trace it in the air.
✋ Air Writing & Sky Tracing
Using big arm motions helps build gross motor strength, which supports fine motor control.
- Ask your child to "write the letter in the sky."
- Say each stroke exactly as they heard it in the song ("Start at the top…").
🧂 Sensory Writing
Practice building letters with:
- Salt trays
- Playdough letter shapes
- Blocks or craft sticks
- Finger tracing on a foggy mirror or shower door
This reinforces letter formation through touch and movement.
🎨 Build It or Draw It
Encourage creativity while reinforcing muscle memory:
- Draw the letter in sidewalk chalk
- Build it with Legos or popsicle sticks
- Use crayons, markers, or watercolor to write it in rainbow colors
🗣 Sing While You Write
As your child practices writing on paper, have them sing or speak the formation lyrics from the video. Repetition builds mastery!
About Hippo Polka
Hippo Polka is created by Dr. Carla Engelbrecht — a mom, Emmy Award–winning education technology expert, and inventor of playful learning experiences at Netflix, Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and more.
Using the power of generative AI and research-based teaching methods, Hippo Polka transforms screen time into meaningful learning time.
Let's build confident writers, one joyful letter at a time!
Want more?
Subscribe on YouTube to get all our latest Hippo Polka videos for kids.
Sign up for emails and we'll send you classroom activities, tips, and new videos you can use right away.
Share your feedback at carla@hippopolka.com. Some of our favorite videos started as teacher requests!