New
New
Year 1
Practice of letters with descenders
I can form the letters with descenders correctly.
New
New
Year 1
Practice of letters with descenders
I can form the letters with descenders correctly.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The part of the letter that goes below the baseline is called the descender
- Letters with descenders reach down towards the descender line
- The letters g, j, p, q and y all start on the x-height line
- The letters with descenders are: g, j, p, q, f and y
Keywords
Descender - the part of a letter that descends below the level of the bottom of an "x"
Baseline - this is the line that most letters sit on
Descender line - the line below the baseline that descenders go down to
X-height line - this is the line that x-height letters go up to
Starting point - starting point is the place where we begin to write a letter or shape, usually at the top or left side.
Common misconception
That g, y, p and q are x-height letters.
Model through the lesson that although part of the letter is x-height, they are not x-height letters as they have descenders.
Use movement with your body to exaggerate that descenders reach down to the descender line. Reach down with your arms as a visual reminder.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Starter quiz
Download starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.
Select the x-height letters.




Q2.
Select the correct formation of the letter p.



Q3.
Select the correct formation of the letter g.



Q4.
Select the correct formation of the letter q.



Q5.
Select the correct formation of the letter j.



Q6.
Select the correct formation of the letter y.



Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Select the letters which have descenders.




Q2.
Select the letters which have descenders.





Q3.
A letter which reaches below the baseline is called a...
x-height letter.
ascender letter.
Q4.
Letters with descenders reach down to the...

x-height line.
ascender line.
baseline.
Q5.
All descender letters start on the...

descender line.
ascender line.
baseline.
Q6.
Match the letter category with the correct letters.
y, g, j, p and q
a, c, o, e, i, m, n, r, s, u, v, w, x and z
Additional material
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