Hi, everybody, my name is Ms. Gardner, and welcome to your new handwriting units.

In today's lesson, we're going to be practising writing words, which include silent letters, so letters which you write when you're spelling the words, but that you don't pronounce when you're saying the words.

I'm really looking forward to today's lesson, and I hope you enjoy it.

So let's get started.

Your learning outcome for today's lesson is to correctly form words with silent letters, using cursive handwriting.

Let's start by looking at the keywords.

We'll do my turn, your turn.

Silent letter.

A silent letter is a letter in a word that is not pronounced when the word is spoken.

Join.

This is how the letters are connected together.

Letter string.

This is a group of letters that are written together in a word.

Lead in.

The stroke or line that guides us into starting a letter.

Lead out.

The stroke or line that guides us smoothly to finish a letter.

There are three sections of our lesson today.

In the first we'll be doing a handwriting warm-up.

Then, we'll be writing words with the silent letters, kn and gn.

And then we'll be writing words with silent letters, wr and mb.

So let's start with our handwriting warm-up.

Before we start, what are these pictures reminding you to do when it comes to handwriting? Pause the video now and have a little think.

Okay, so the first picture of the boy sitting on the desk, is reminding us to sit on a chair, at a table, or a desk.

You don't want to just have your book on your lap, or your paper on your lap.

To have your feet flat on the floor and your back against the chair.

Then the second picture is reminding you to angle your paper correctly.

If you're right-handed, tilt your paper slightly to the left.

If you're left-handed, tilt your paper slightly to the right, and then your non-writing hand supports it, it holds the paper down so that it doesn't move around.

And then the third picture is to remember to hold your pencil in a tripod grip.

Before starting to write, it's really important to warm up your hands and your wrist muscles.

A bit like before a PE lesson or a match, you warm up your muscles beforehand.

Your hands and your wrist get stronger the more you exercise them.

And warming up your hands before writing, will actually help us to improve our handwriting.

So let's do our handwriting warm-up.

Let's warm up our hands using the piano-playing technique.

This is one of my favourite warm-ups to do, because you get to use your imagination to imagine in your head a really lovely tune.

So, you're going to pretend that you've got a piano underneath your hands, and you're gonna stretch out your hands and your fingers, ready to play your tune.

Then, you're gonna start pushing down on the keys and playing a melody in your head.

Maybe you might stretch your fingers, and you've gotta reach a note that's a bit further away.

Maybe you're gonna push down on one finger for a bit on one note for a bit longer.

There's no right or wrong with this, you're just imagining a nice song and the tune might change, the melody, the speed might change, which means that you need to move your fingers in different ways.

Okay, it's your turn, get your fingers ready.

Imagine you've got a keyboard or a piano underneath you.

And then in your head, imagine a song that you're playing on the piano with your fingers.

This is a really good way to not only warm up your fingers but also stretch them, 'cause you might need to stretch to play a different piano.

Have you got a fun song that you're imagining in your head? I'm sure you're all doing great.

Well done and I hope your fingers feel really warmed up now for handwriting.

Now, we're going to do the clapping position for our warm-up.

So you're going to put your hands together as if you are going to clap.

I'm gonna have a go first, and then you'll be able to have a go.

So make sure your fingers are lined up, precisely touching, and then you're gonna push your hands against each other.

It feels really nice, and it kind of warms up your arms, your wrists, and your hands.

Okay, your turn.

Get your two hands, put them together as if you're about to clap, and then put some pressure on each hand so they're kind of pushing into each other.

It should feel quite nice.

Okay, well done.

We can also practise writing patterns as this helps us to prepare for writing and joining letters.

You can see here there are three writing patterns on the screen, and practising these is really good, because they actually require a lot of the same movements in our hands as cursive handwriting.

So I'm going to do the handwriting pattern in the air with my finger first, and then you're going to have a go.

So here, this one you can see we've got a bit of a loop, don't we? It looks almost a bit like the letter, e, as if we were joining the letter, e, to each other.

So starting at the bottom, and then I'm gonna go up and loop down, and back up and loop back down, back up and loop back down, and back up and loop back down.

Your turn, get your finger ready.

We're all gonna do this together.

So starting at the bottom, let's go up and loop back down, up and loop back down, up and loop back down, up and loop back down.

Really trying to keep a smooth flowing movement.

Great job.

It's time for Task A.

You need to copy and continue these patterns using your tripod grip.

Remember, don't lift your pencil when forming the pattern from the page.

You want to try and keep the pencil glued onto the page for the whole pattern.

Really focus on keeping the movement smooth and flowing.

Pause the video now, off you go and enjoy.

Great job, everybody, I hope you enjoyed that.

Did you use your tripod grip? Did you keep your pencil stuck on the page? And was your movement smooth? I'm sure you all did a brilliant job, well done.

It's time for the second part of our lesson.

Now, we're going to be writing words with silent letters.

And the silent letters in these words are: kn, or, n, and gn, again, n.

So, there are several ways that the n sound can be represented.

Let's have a look at these words.

We'll do my turn, your turn.

Noun.

interest.

runner.

knead.

knock.

gnome.

gnaw.

Let's have a look at these in a bit more detail.

So, in the words, interest and noun, the n sound can be represented by the letter n.

Then, in the words, dinner and runner, the n sound is represented by the letters nn, double n.

And then here, in the third column we have the word knead, so you knead dough to make bread, so it's almost like rolling the dough.

You knead dough.

And knock; knock on the door, the n sound at the beginning of the word, knead and knock are represented by the letters, k and n.

And then, in the final column we have the word gnome; little garden gnome, and gnaw; you gnaw on some meat with your jaws.

The n sound at the beginning of the word is represented by the letters, g and n.

So, a representation of the n sound does include, kn and gn, and you just pronounce them as n.

The kn and the gn spelling can be known as having a silent letter, because you cannot hear the k or the g.

It can help our handwriting and our spelling to practise letter strings using silent letters, because they do come up quite a lot in our writing.

Can you remember the four joins in cursive handwriting? We've learned four joins.

I wonder if you can remember them all.

Here's some examples to remind you.

Pause the video now and have a think, or discuss with your partner, your class, whoever you're with about what happens in each of the four joins.

Pause the video now.

Okay, so our first join, you can see here in the example, a is joined to w from the baseline to the x-height line.

Then, our second join, c to h, is joined from the baseline up towards the ascender line.

Then, our third join, o to m, is joined from the x-height line to the x-height line, which is a little bit down below.

And then the fourth join, w to l, goes from the x-height line up towards the ascender line.

So let's have a look at the letter strings, kn and gn, in cursive handwriting.

What do you notice about the letter formation? Pause the video now and take a closer look.

Okay, so kn, so the n sound, you can see it starts with a lead in to form the letter k.

K is an ascender letter, and then the join finishes on the baseline with a lead out from the letter n.

Gn, again, we start with a lead in to form the letter g.

Then we have a looped descender with the letter g, and then we finish with a lead out on the letter n.

So let's just look a little bit more closely.

The first letter has a lead in from the baseline.

The last letter has a lead out at the baseline.

The letter, k, joins to the letter, n using the first join, because it joins from the baseline to the x-height line.

The letter, g, joins to the letter, n, also using the first join, because it joins from the baseline to the x-height line.

The letter, g, has a looped descender as the lead out.

Remember, that you don't lift your pencil when you're forming this join.

So, I'm going to form the letter strings, kn and gn, in cursive, in the air with my finger first, because it's a really useful thing to do before you use your pencil or pen and write it on paper.

So starting with kn, I'm going to start on the baseline at a starting point.

Then I'm forming my lead in up towards the ascender line to form the letter, k.

Then, back to the baseline where I'm going to draw a k to n baseline to x-height line, form the letter, n, and finish with a lead out at the baseline.

Now I'm going to join g and n.

So again, starting on the baseline, got my starting point, and starting with my lead in to form the letter, g, I'm going to go down to the ascender line to form a looped descender, then join g to n baseline to x-height line with a lead out on the baseline.

Okay, it's your turn.

You're now going to form the letter strings, kn and gn, in cursive using your finger.

So, let's all do this together.

Everyone got your finger ready? Let's start on the baseline, find a starting point and then let's go.

Lead in forming the letter, k, up to the ascender line.

Then back down to the baseline to join k to n baseline to x-height line, finishing with a lead out on the baseline.

Great job.

Make sure you're really trying to keep your movement really smooth and flowing.

Now, let's do the letter, g.

So, finger on the baseline on a starting point, let's start with our lead in.

Lead in forming the letter, g down to the descender line, a looped descender, back up to the x-height line to join g to n, then back down to the baseline with a lead out.

Great job, I hope you enjoyed that.

Now, these words are written in cursive handwriting, and have a silent letter.

So our first word is knee.

Our silent letter here is the letter, k, we can't hear it, we just hear the n sound at the beginning, but we're forming the n sound with the letters, k and n.

Then, our next word is sign.

There is a sign which directs you to the exit.

Here the silent letter is g, we cannot hear the letter g.

It's a silent g, but g and n form the n sound at the end.

So, look closely, what do you notice about their formations.

Look at the letter formation and the joins.

Pause the video now.

Okay, so, in knee, it starts with a lead in on the letter k, we have an ascender letter, and then we have a lead out on the letter, e, at the end.

In the word, sign we start with a lead in from the baseline, we have a lead out loop on the looped ascender in the letter g, and the letter n finishes with a lead out from the baseline.

What do you need to think about when you're writing letter strings with a silent letter? So, the first letter has a lead in, and the last letter has a lead out.

There will be a range of cursive letter joins used within the letter string, depending on which letters are in the word.

The silent letter strings, kn and gn, use the first join from the baseline to the x-height line.

You don't lift your pencil until you have completed the letter string, so you won't dot the letter, i, in sign, until after you finished writing the word.

Remember, it has to be, and there is, appropriate spacing between the letters in the letter string.

You don't want them to be too close together they're squashed, but also not too big a space between each letter.

So, checking for understanding: Which line would start the lead in for the word, know? A, the x-height line, B, the baseline, or C, the ascender line.

Where would you start the lead in from? Pause the video now.

That's right, it is the baseline.

In cursive handwriting, the lead in starts on the baseline for all lowercase letters, so any letter which is not a capital letter.

Well done.

Let's practise writing words with the silent letter strings, kn and gn.

We're going to write the words, knee and sign.

So, I make sure I'm sitting comfortably, and I've got my pen in the tripod grip.

I'm going to start my lead in of the first word from the baseline, and I'm at my starting point, I'm ready to go, so I'm going to say to myself, ready, line, go.

Starting my lead in from the baseline to form the letter k.

And then I'm joining k to n baseline to x-height line, n to e baseline to x-height line, and e to e, baseline to x-height line, finishing with a lead out.

I really tried to make sure that I was keeping my pen on the page for the whole time.

Now we're going to write the word, sign, starting on the baseline, forming my lead in.

From the baseline, ready, line, go.

Forming the letter s, joining s to i on the baseline, up to the x-height line, i to g baseline down to the descender line, the lead out loop from the g into the n, joining g to n, finishing with a lead out on the baseline.

And then I'll go back and dot my i.

Checking for understanding: Select the correct join.

Pause the video now.

That's right, it is B.

It couldn't be A, because the letter, n, is not formed correctly, and it couldn't be C, because the k does not go up to the ascender line.

Well done.

Now, checking for understanding: Select the correct join here for the letter string, gn.

Pause the video now.

So that's right, it is C.

It couldn't be A, because g is a descender letter, it needs to go below the baseline.

And it couldn't be B, because n is not a descender letter, it should not go below the baseline.

Great job.

It's time for Task A.

You need to practise writing the silent letter strings, kn and gn.

Practise the spellings, kn and gn, using the starting point on the baseline.

Then, practise writing the following words on your lines in cursive.

You have: know, knock, gnome, and sign.

I suggest you try to write each word at least three times.

Pause the video now, off you go.

Great job, everybody, I hope you enjoyed that.

Did you use the correct joins within the letter strings? Use the examples on the screen now, and compare them to your writing to check that you were doing the joins correctly.

Did you keep your pencil on the page until the end of the letter string? If you need to, you can pause the video now, and have a go at making any edits to any of the joins that you've done in Task B.

Pause the video now.

Well done, everybody, here's the fun parts.

Look at all the joins you've written in Task B.

Circle your best join, the one you're most proud of and celebrate.

Great job.

It's time for the third part of our lesson where we are writing words with the silent letters, wr and mb.

There are several ways the r sound can be represented.

So, here in the word, rage and brown, it is represented by just the letter, r.

In the words, carry and arrive, the r sound is represented by a double r, two r's in a row.

And then here, in the final column: wrist, so the wrist at the end of your arm, and write, like I need to write a letter.

The r sound is represented by the letters wr.

So a representation of the r sound does include wr.

The wr spelling can be known as having a silent letter, because can you hear the the letter W? Can you hear the w sound in the words wrist and write? No, you can't, you hear the r sound at the beginning, don't you? So, this is a silent letter.

There are also several ways the m sound can be represented.

In the words map and swim, it's represented by the letter, m.

In summer and swimming, m is represented by two m's, a double m.

And then, in the words, climb and thumb, the m sound is represented by the letters, mb.

So a representation of the m sound includes mb.

The mb spelling can be known as having a silent letter, because you cannot hear the b at the end of the word.

Look at the letter strings, wr and mb, in cursive handwriting.

What do you notice about the letter formation? Pause the video now and take a closer look.

Okay, so let's start by looking at wr.

W starts with a lead in from the baseline, and r finishes with a lead out from the x-height line.

And you'll notice that both of these letters are x-height letters.

Then, in mb, again we start in with a lead in from the baseline.

Then we have our ascender letter, the letter b, and letter b finishes with a lead out on the baseline.

Let's take a look at that even more closely.

The first letter has a lead in from the baseline.

The last letter has a lead out at the baseline.

The letter, w, joins to the letter, r, using the third join from the x-height line to the x-height line, which is a dip down below.

The letter, m, joins to the letter, b, using the second join from the baseline to the ascender line.

And remember, you don't lift your pencil when you're forming the join.

I'm going to form the letter strings, wr and mb, in cursive in the air with my finger first, then you're going to have a go.

So let's start with wr.

I'm gonna start on the baseline, find myself a starting point, and then starting with my lead in up to the ascender line.

And then I'm going to form the letter, w.

And then I'm joining w to r with the third join, just below the x-height line forming the letter, r, and then a lead out at the x-height line.

Then, mb, again starting on the baseline, I'm gonna start with my lead in up to the x-height line for my letter, m, join m to b baseline, up to the ascender line, and then finishing with a lead out at the baseline.

Okay, it's your turn.

Have you got your finger ready? Let's all do this together.

We're gonna start with joining w and r.

So find yourself a starting point on the baseline, and then we'll start with our lead in.

Lead in up to the x-height line, form the letter, w, and then join w to r just below the x-height line, finishing with the lead out.

Now let's join m and b, starting at the baseline, find a starting point.

Lead in up to the x-height line, form the letter, m, join m to b baseline to ascender line, and then finishing with a lead out on the baseline.

Great job, well done, I hope you enjoyed that.

So these words are written in cursive handwriting, and they have a silent letter.

The first word is write; I need to write my letter.

Then the second word is lamb; a baby sheep is a lamb.

Look closely.

What do you notice about their formation? Pause the video now.

Okay, so in the word, write, like I need to write a letter, not right, left or right.

You can see our silent letter, w, starts with a lead in from the baseline.

We have an ascender letter, t, but it doesn't go all the way to the ascender line, it just goes towards the ascender line, and then a lead out on the letter, the final letter, e, from the baseline.

Lamb starts with a lead in from the baseline, we have ascender letters, l and b, and then the letter b finishes with a lead out on the baseline.

So what do you need to think about when writing letter strings with a silent letter? The first letter has a lead in, and the last letter has a lead out.

There will be a range of cursive letter joins used within the letter string, depending on which letters are in the word.

The silent letter string, wr, uses the third join.

The silent letter string, mb, uses the second join.

You don't lift your finger until you have completed the letter string, so you won't dot your i or cross your t until you've finished the letter string.

And there is an appropriate amount of spacing between the letters in the letter string.

You don't want them to be squashed too close together or spaced too far apart.

So, check from understanding: Which join is used to connect the letter m to the letter b? Pause the video now.

You will use B, second join.

You'll join the letter, m, from the baseline, up to the ascender line.

Well done.

Let's practise writing words with the silent letter strings, wr and mb.

We're going to write the words, write, like let's write the word, and lamb.

Let's start with writing the word, write.

We're gonna start on the baseline where I'll start forming my lead in to form the letter, w.

I've made sure I'm sitting comfortably, and my pen is in the tripod grip, so I'm ready to go.

Ready, line, go.

Lead in to form the letter, w, joining w to r, just below the x-height line, r to i, just below the x-height line, i to t, up towards the ascender line, but not all the way.

Back down to the baseline, forming the letter, e, finishing with a lead out.

Then I'll go and dot my i and cross my t.

Now, I'm going to write the word, lamb, so I'm starting on the baseline again.

I'm ready to go, so, ready, line, go.

Lead in up to the ascender line to form the letter, a, joining l to a, baseline to x-height line.

A to m, baseline to x-height line, forming the letter, m.

Then joining m to b, baseline up to the ascender line, back down, and then finishing with a lead out from the baseline.

Checking for understanding: Select the correct join.

Pause the video now.

The correct join is, A.

Well done.

B is not correct, because you haven't joined w and r correctly.

We need to dip down below the x-height line, and it can't be C, because your lead out goes the other way from the x-height line on the letter, r.

Well done.

Now select the correct join for m and b.

Pause the video now.

The correct join is, B.

Well done.

It can't be A, because there is no lead in for the letter, m, and it can't be C, because b needs to go up to the ascender line.

Well done.

It's time for Task C.

You need to practise writing the silent letter strings, wr and mb.

First, practise the spellings wr and mb, using the starting point on the baseline.

Then, practise writing the following words on your lines: Wrap, like wrap presents.

Wrong, climb, and lamb.

Just like last time, I suggest you write each word at least three times.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Well done, everybody, I hope you enjoyed that.

Have a look at the examples on the screen now.

How do they compare to yours? Did you use the correct joins within the letter strings? Did you keep your pencil on the page until the end of the letter string? If you need to, you can pause the video, and make any edits to any of your words.

Otherwise, look back through all the words and joins you've written in Task C.

Circle your best one and celebrate, because you should be really proud of yourself.

Well done.

Here's a summary of everything we've learned today.

Silent letters are letters that are not pronounced when the word is spoken.

Kn, gn, wr, and mb, are example letter strings with silent letters.

Practising writing words with silent letters in cursive can improve your handwriting.

The letter strings start with a lead in and finish with a lead out.

There are four cursive letter joins, which is used depends on which letter is joining to which letter within a letter string.

You do not lift your pencil when forming the joins.

There is adequate spacing between the letters in a letter string to ensure the writing is legible.

Great job, everybody, today.

Really, well done.