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Year 2

Pre-cursive formation of v, w, x and z

I can form the pre-cursive letters v, w, x and z.

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New
New
Year 2

Pre-cursive formation of v, w, x and z

I can form the pre-cursive letters v, w, x and z.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The pre-cursive letters v, w, x and z are all x-height letters
  2. The pre-cursive letters v and w have a lead out on the x-height line
  3. The pre-cursive letters x and z don't have a lead out
  4. Break letters are letters that don't join other letters
  5. The pre-cursive letters x and z are break letters

Keywords

  • X-height letters - letters that sit between the baseline and the x-height line

  • Lead in - the stroke or line that guides us into starting a letter

  • Lead out - the stroke or line that guides us to smoothly finish a letter

  • Break letter - a letter that starts or ends with a pencil lift and doesn't join to another letter

Common misconception

Children may assume all pre-cursive letters have a lead out.

When modelling the break letters, ensure to emphasise 'break' to remind the children not to add a lead out.


To help you plan your year 2 english lesson on: Pre-cursive formation of v, w, x and z, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Using the visual of the letters not holding hands can support children to remember that certain letters do not join.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter e in print.
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
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Q2.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter s in print.
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter f in print.
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q4.
Select the correct formation of the pre-cursive letter m.
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q5.
Select the correct formation of the pre-cursive letter h.
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q6.
Select the correct formation of the pre-cursive letter q.
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q4 image 1 incorrect pre-cursive letter m Q4 image 3 Correct pre-cursive letter m Q5 image 1 Correct pre-cursive h Q5 image 2 incorrect pre-cursive h Q6 image 1 Correct pre-cursive letter q Q6 image 2 incorrect pre-cursive letter q

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