the part of a letter that descends below the level of the baseline

the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter and join to the next

a group of letters that are written together in a word

a letter which doesn't join to the letter after it in a letter string

Looped descenders and break letters

English

The first join: id, ig, ed, eg with no lead in

The first join: en, ud and ir with no lead in

The first join: ag, ac, na and to with no lead in

The second join: ck, ch, nk, lk  with no lead in

The second join: il, it, ik, ul with no lead in

The second join: el, mb, at and tt with no lead in

The third join: oo, og, wa and wo with no lead in

The third join: on, om, ow, oi with no lead in

The third join: os, rm, wi with no lead in

The fourth join: wl, oh and ot with no lead in

The fourth join: ol, ok and of with no lead in

The fourth join: rl, rk and rt with no lead in

Review of the four joins with no lead ins

In this unit, pupils learn the four joins and break letters with no lead ins. In 'Year 2: Handwriting: capital letters and numerals', pupils practise formation and size of capital letters and numerals.

In 'Year 2: Handwriting: lower case letters revision', pupils learnt the letter formation for all 26 lower case letters. In this unit, pupils build on this knowledge, learning the four joins and break letters.

In this unit, pupils learn to form each of the four joins without lead ins. They practise using diagonal and horizontal strokes to connect letters and identify 'break letters' that do not join. Pupils also learn how to form looped descenders and how to end a join with a lead out.

The four joins

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Risk assessment required - physical activity

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter y in print.

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter g in print.

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter j in print.

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter f in print.

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter x in print.

Select the correct formation of the lower case letter z in print.

Looped descenders and break letters

Lesson outcome

Content guidance