Lesson video

Hi, everybody.

It's Ms. Gardner and welcome to today's handwriting lesson.

Today's a bit of a different lesson because instead of practising our cursive handwriting, we're going to be considering when is an appropriate time to use a pen and when's an appropriate time to be using a pencil.

So I really hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

So let's get started.

Your learning outcome for today's lesson is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen or a pencil for a task.

So let's start with the keywords.

We'll do my turn, your turn.

Pen.

A pen is a writing tool used to apply ink to a surface.

Pencil, a writing or drawing tool typically consisting of a thin cylindrical stick of graphite.

Mistake, an error in accuracy or correctness.

Presentation, the structured way to communicate information.

So there are two sections of our lesson today, and the first, we'll be comparing a pen and a pencil.

And then we'll be making a decision about when you should use a pen and when you should use.

In the first, we'll be looking at the advantages and disadvantages of a pen and pencil.

And then in the second part, we'll be making a decision about when you should use a pen, when you should use a pencil.

So let's start with the first section.

Have a think about this question.

Would you use a pen or pencil for the following tasks? Writing a formal letter, writing an invitation, drawing a house, sketching a flower, or completing mathematical calculations.

Have a think by yourself or discuss this with your partner, your class, or whoever you're with.

Pause the video now.

So choosing between a pen and a pencil for tasks is important because each tool has distinct properties suited to different needs.

So you all might have said slightly different answers to this question, and that's fine.

We're going to look today at whether a pen or pencil is more appropriate for certain tasks.

So let's have a look closely at both tools.

First, we have our pencil.

A pencil is erasable.

That means you can rub it out with a rubber or an eraser.

This is ideal for sketching, drawing, drafting, so writing your first draught, drawing your first draught of something, and initial writing, so the first time you write something down, It can be sharpened to maintain a really fine point.

So if your pencils are getting a bit blunt, you can sharpen them.

A pen is permanent.

That means you can't rub it out.

It's suitable for final draughts and for really formal documents, so formal writing.

And it comes in various types, like a ballpoint, a gel, and fountain pens.

Presentation and mistakes are two key points to consider when you're choosing between whether using a pen or a pencil.

So when you think about the presentation, what it's going to look like.

Pen written documents often look more formal and professional, whereas pencil work can look rough and unfinished, but it's not a bad thing.

This means that it's ideal for first draughts or for brainstorming ideas.

Then thinking about mistakes.

Pencils allow for mistakes to be corrected easily with an eraser or rubber, whereas pens require more caution because mistakes are permanent and less corrected with a correction tape or pen or crossed out really neatly.

Checking for understanding.

Complete the statement.

I would use a pencil when A, I know I'm likely to make a lot of mistakes, B, I'm writing the final version of my essay, or C, I'm writing my formal party invitations.

Pause the video now.

That's right.

A pencil's a really good thing to use when you know you're going to be writing a lot mistakes.

The final version of your essay, you want it to look really polished and professional, you'd use a pen, same with formal party invitations.

So different tasks will require different tools, pen or pencil, depending on the context.

So for schoolwork and homework, you would use pencils in subjects that require calculations and diagrams as they can be erased.

So if you were doing maths or drawing a diagram in science or geography, a pencil would be much better.

Pens should be used for note-taking or the final versions of written assignments.

Here's some examples of when a pen or a pencil could be used.

You can see the pencil in the first picture, drawing a diagram for a science experiment, and then a pen in the bottom picture for a more formal final outcome.

In art, in creative lessons, pencils should be used for sketching and for those initial drawings, whereas pens could be used for inking and adding details to drawings.

Again, you can see an example here.

The pencil is being used for the sketch of that fish.

Just checking for understanding.

Would you suggest Jun uses a pencil or a pen for his task? Explain your answer.

I'm writing a party invitation to my classmates.

I've practised what I'm going to write, and I want it to look really professional.

So should Jun use a pencil or a pen? Discuss this with your partner.

Off you go.

Okay, so if Jun wants the presentation to be really professional, then he should use a pen.

Well done.

It's time for task A.

You need to this table in pencil or pen to outline the positives, so the good things and the negatives, the not so good things, of using a pencil or a pen.

Think about the different context of when it's a good time to use a pen or when it's a good time to use a pencil, when it's less good time to use a pen, when it's less good time to use a pencil.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Okay, well done, everybody.

Great job.

Let's have a look at some possible responses.

So the positives of a pen are that it's permanent.

It's more likely to last a long time.

It's suitable for final draughts.

So the final outcome and formal documents.

So formal writing, so maybe if you're writing a letter or an essay or an information text.

There are different types of pens.

Some people prefer a ballpoint, other people prefer prefer a fountain pen.

It's up to you.

And things that are written in pen look really neat and professional.

And then the negatives of a pen.

Pens require more caution.

You have to be a lot more careful when you're using a pen because mistakes are permanent, unless you correct them with a correction tape or a pen, which does work, but might make the work look a bit messier.

Or if it's crossed out neatly, which, again, of course is fine, but it's just less neat.

Then the pencil.

What are the positives of a pencil? Pencils allow for mistakes to be corrected easily with a eraser or rubber.

Pencils are ideal in art for sketching and also for drafting your, initial writings.

The first time you write something down, and you know you're going to write it again more neatly later, you could write it in pencil the first time.

And it can be sharpened to maintain that really fine point to help keep your handwriting really neat.

The negatives is that pencil work can look rough and unfinished, especially if you've used the rubber on it lot.

There's rub markings from the rubber.

It can then look a bit less neat.

I wonder if you all had any other ideas to add to this table.

Really well done on task A.

In the second part of this lesson, we're going to be thinking about making a decision between a pen or a pencil.

So these questions can be really useful to ask yourself when you're deciding if you should use a pen or pencil for the task.

What am I working on? Is it a first draught, so the first time I write something, or is it the final version? Maybe this is the one that will get put on display, or you'll be publishing it, or it will be the one that you're going to be bringing home.

Do I need to be able to erase mistakes? Is this a piece of work where I need to be able to rub something out? Because I know it's quite likely that I'll make mistakes.

I know that if I'm doing some maths work, I can often make some quite careless mistakes, which is totally fine, we all do it, but it's useful to be able to have rubber to rub things out, rather than having to cross things.

How important is the presentation? How important is it that this piece of work looks really neat? If it doesn't matter, which is often the case, if it's just you're just brainstorming some ideas, if you're just taking a few notes, the presentation is the most important thing.

But if it is important, maybe it's going on display or it's going in your book, then you need to be thinking about that more carefully.

How important is the presentation? Making a choice depends on the task and the desired outcome.

What do you want to do with the work at the end of it? So let's look at some scenarios.

Andeep wants to write a lesson to the prime minister.

It's his final version, so he's written a first draught, maybe a second draught too, and he wants it to look really formal.

Should Andeep use a pen or a pencil? Discuss this with your partner.

Pause video now.

Okay, so what do you think? Well, this task would be best completed with a pen.

It's his final draught, so there shouldn't be any mistakes.

He should have made the mistakes already in the first two draughts and correct them, learned from them.

And it then will look more formal and professional if it's in a pen, if he's used a pen.

Now let's look at this scenario.

Jacob wants to complete a challenging maths equation he's just been given by his teacher.

Should Jacob use a pen or a pencil? Pause the video now and discuss this with your partner.

Okay, so this is a maths challenge.

It's quite easy to make mistakes in maths, isn't it? So this task will be best completed with a pencil.

It's likely Jacob will make some mistakes or he might need to change his calculation, therefore he should use a pencil as it can be erased or rubbed out.

Checking for understanding.

Which task would be best completed with a pen, A, drawing a diagram, B, a letter to the local council, C, the final version of a short story, or D, a sketch of an apple.

Pause the video now.

That's right.

It's B, the letter to the council should be written in a pen because this is a really formal letter.

You want it to look professional so that they read it and take it seriously.

So a pen is more appropriate.

Another task that you could compete with a pen.

The final version of a short story.

It's the final version, so you've probably written it once or twice.

You've made your mistakes.

You've learned from the mistakes.

This is the final version, which is maybe going to go on display or you're going to publish it, so you can write it in a pen.

Well done.

It's important to look after the tools used for writing.

Pencils need to be sharpened regularly so that they are ready to be used when needed so you don't waste time in lesson or in an activity sharpening your pencils.

Some pens have caps or lids which need to be replaced after use to avoid them drying out.

You leave the lid off the pen, then it can often dry out, and then you can't use any, and that's a bit of a waste.

So it's really important we're taking care of the tools that we use so that they're always in the best condition possible.

It's time for task B.

You need to complete the two tasks below, first in pencil and then in pen.

So, part A, copy the sentence.

I went to the seaside with my best friend, and we enjoyed playing in the sand.

So you're going to write that first in pencil, and then in pen.

Then part B, sketch a drawing of this house that you can see on the screen.

First you'll sketch it in pencil, and then you'll sketch it in pen, and then we're going to come back together and discuss which tool was better for each task.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Okay, well done, everybody.

I hope you've enjoyed the task.

So have a think or discuss this with your class or your partner.

Did you prefer writing the sentence in pencil or pen? Did you make any mistakes? And if you did make a mistake, which is totally okay, was it easier to correct the mistakes with the pencil or the pen? It might be really easy to correct the mistakes in a pen if you have a pen corrector or tape, but you might not have access to that, so then you would have to cross out the mistake, wouldn't you? Which is also fine, but maybe you wanted to completely hide the mistake in which case the pencil is better.

There isn't really a right or wrong answer for this task.

You may have a personal preference between using a pen or a pencil for different tasks.

Did you have a preference? Did you prefer one or the other? Pause the video now and discuss this with your partner, or your class, or whoever you're with.

Okay.

I really hope you enjoyed today's lesson and I hope that you can now understand the importance of making a decision between using a pen or a pencil depending on the task, and the context, and the outcome.

So make sure from now on that when it comes to a writing task, or a drawing task, or a diagram, really think about should I be using a pencil or a pen? If it's likely I'm going to make a lot of mistakes, probably I should use a pencil.

If this is my final outcome, I've written my draught, first or second draught, this is the final, final one, and I want the presentation to be brilliant.

I'm going to use a pen.

So you may have those conversations with yourself the next time you're completing a written task or a drawing task.

Great job today, everybody.

Really well done.

Here's the summary of everything we've learned.

Pen and pencil are the most common tools used to write or draw with.

Making a choice depends on the task and the desired outcome.

Using pencil allows for mistakes to be corrected easily with an eraser.

Therefore, they are ideal for sketching and drafting.

The use of pen is ideal for the final draughts as pen is permanent and looks neat.

Therefore, the presentation is professional.

At times, pencil work can look rough and unfinished.

Pens require more caution because mistakes are permanent and less corrected with a correction tape or pen or crossed out neatly.

Over time, you'll develop a personal preference for using pen or pencil.

Great job today, everybody.

Really well done.