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New
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Year 5

Making choices between pen or pencil

I can consider the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen or pencil for a task.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 5

Making choices between pen or pencil

I can consider the advantages and disadvantages of using a pen or pencil for a task.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Pen and pencil are the most common tools used to write or draw with.
  2. Making a choice between pen and pencil depends on the task and the desired outcome.
  3. Using a pencil allows for mistakes to be corrected easily with an eraser, which is ideal for sketching and drafting.
  4. Using a pen is ideal for final drafts as pen is permanent and looks neat and professional.
  5. Over time you will develop a personal preference for using pen or pencil.

Keywords

  • Pen - 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

Common misconception

Children may conclude that they can't make any mistakes with pens.

Emphasise to the children that pencils are used if there are going to be a lot of mistakes or changes like a sketch or a calculation. Explain that it's OK to make some mistakes with a pen and that these will need to be crossed out neatly.

Throughout other lessons, encourage children to think back to this lesson. What do they need to consider for the given task? Should they use pen or pencil?
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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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these will increase the speed of your handwriting?
Correct answer: regular practice
leg exercises
Correct answer: hand and wrist exercises
practising once a month
Q2.
You are less likely to make mistakes when you write faster.
True
Correct answer: False
Q3.
Match the join with its correct description.
Correct Answer:first join,from the baseline to the x-height line
tick

from the baseline to the x-height line

Correct Answer:second join,from the baseline to the ascender line
tick

from the baseline to the ascender line

Correct Answer:third join,from the x-height line to the x-height line
tick

from the x-height line to the x-height line

Correct Answer:fourth join,from the x-height line to the ascender line
tick

from the x-height line to the ascender line

Q4.
Which cursive letter joins are being used in this letter string?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: first join - from the baseline to the x-height line
second join - from the baseline to the ascender line
Correct answer: third join - from the x-height line to the x-height line
fourth join - from the x-height line to the ascender line
Q5.
Which cursive letter joins are being used in this letter string?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: first join - from the baseline to the x-height line
Correct answer: second join - from the baseline to the ascender line
third join - from the x-height line to the x-height line
fourth join - from the x-height line to the ascender line
Q6.
Which cursive letter joins are being used in this letter string?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: first join
Correct answer: second join
Correct answer: third join
fourth join