Practice of letters with descenders
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can form the letters with descenders correctly.
Key learning points
- The part of the letter that goes below the baseline is called the descender
- Letters with descenders reach down towards the descender line
- The letters g, j, p, q and y all start on the x-height line
- The letters with descenders are: g, j, p, q, f and y
Keywords
Descender - the part of a letter that descends below the level of the bottom of an "x"
Baseline - this is the line that most letters sit on
Descender line - the line below the baseline that descenders go down to
X-height line - this is the line that x-height letters go up to
Starting point - starting point is the place where we begin to write a letter or shape, usually at the top or left side.
Common misconception
That g, y, p and q are x-height letters.
Model through the lesson that although part of the letter is x-height, they are not x-height letters as they have descenders.
Teacher tip
Use movement with your body to exaggerate that descenders reach down to the descender line. Reach down with your arms as a visual reminder.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Select the x-height letters.
Q2.Select the correct formation of the letter p.
Q3.Select the correct formation of the letter g.
Q4.Select the correct formation of the letter q.
Q5.Select the correct formation of the letter j.
Q6.Select the correct formation of the letter y.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Select the letters which have descenders.
Q2.Select the letters which have descenders.
Q3.A letter which reaches below the baseline is called a...
Q4.Letters with descenders reach down to the...
Q5.All descender letters start on the...
Q6.Match the letter category with the correct letters.
y, g, j, p and q
a, c, o, e, i, m, n, r, s, u, v, w, x and z
To help you plan your 1 English lesson on: Practice of letters with descenders, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 English lesson on: Practice of letters with descenders, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 English lessons from the Writing lower case letters in print unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.