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The third join: on, om, ow with lead in

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can correctly form the third join with a lead in and a lead out.

Key learning points

  1. The letters all have a lead in and a lead out.
  2. The pencil does not lift when forming the join.
  3. The third join starts at the x-height line and dips below the x-height line and back up to join the next letter.
  4. When joining from a "w" or an "o", remember the small 'dip down' to aid joining.
  5. When using the third join you leave enough space to ensure the letters are not touching without leaving a big gap.

Keywords

  • Cursive - style of handwriting where the letters are joined together in a flowing and connected manner

  • 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

  • X-height line - this is the line that x-height letters reach

  • Dips below - dropping under something

Common misconception

Children can struggle to get the gap size between the letters correct with this join.

Model this join lots emphasising 'we dip down and across and then form the next letter so they can still hold hands, we don't want them to be far away from each other'.

Teacher tip

Give the children a visual of the letters being joined together by holding hands. If you lift your pencil, then you are breaking the connection and they can't hold hands.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Order the tramlines from the bottom to the top.

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1 - descender line
2 - baseline
3 - x-height line
4 - ascender line

Q2.
Which two lines do x-height letters sit between?

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ascender line
Correct answer: x-height line
descender line
Correct answer: baseline

Q3.
Which line do letters with descenders reach down towards?

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ascender line
baseline
x-height line
Correct answer: descender line

Q4.
Which line do letters with ascenders reach up to?

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Correct answer: ascender line
x-height line
descender line
baseline

Q5.
Select the correct formation of the second join ch.

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Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Q6.
Select the correct formation of the second join ck.

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An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

To help you plan your 2 English lesson on: The third join: on, om, ow with lead in, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...