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Year 2 - English

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

Pre-cursive lower case letters revision

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn the pre-cursive formation for all 26 letters of the alphabet. They learn the specifc movements required to form each letter and how to start and finish a letter with a lead in and a lead out.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to form the pre-cursive letters v, w, x and z.

Key Notes

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

Vocabulary To Learn

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 Mistakes To Avoid

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

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The pre-cursive letters v, w, x and z are all x-height letters. The pre-cursive letters v and w have a lead out on the x-height line.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'x-height letters'

letters that sit between the baseline and the x-height line.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Children may assume all pre-cursive letters have a lead out. Correction: When modelling the break letters, ensure to emphasise 'break' to remind the children not to add a lead out.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 English guide library.