New
New
Year 2

Looped descenders and break letters

I can correctly form letters with looped descenders and know which letters are break letters.

New
New
Year 2

Looped descenders and break letters

I can correctly form letters with looped descenders and know which letters are break letters.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In cursive handwriting, letters with descenders use a lead out loop to join with the next letter in the letter string.
  2. The descenders for y, g, j and f have a loop to aid joining.
  3. The letter f has a lead in and a lead out loop to aid joining.
  4. Break letters are letters in the alphabet that do not join to the next letter in the letter string.
  5. The letters x and z are break letters.

Common misconception

Some children might think the break letters don't join to any letters at all.

Model and frequently re-visit the concept that break letters do join to the letters before them but don't join to the letters after them. Over exaggerate when modelling that you lift your pencil after the break letter.

Keywords

  • Descender - the part of a letter that descends below the level of the baseline

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

  • Loop - a rounded shape made in certain letters

  • Letter string - a group of letters that are written together in a word

  • Break letter - a letter which doesn't join to the letter after it in a letter string

In this lesson we introduce the letters z and x as the break letters. Some schools also include b, p, s and q as break letters. Adapt the lesson based on your setting.
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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter y in print.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q2.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter g in print.
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter j 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 lower case letter f in print.
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q5.
Select the correct formation of the lower case letter x in print.
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 lower case letter z in print.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

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