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Year 3 - English

The third join: oe, we, os, rs

Further study of the four joins

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils strengthen cursive skills by practising the four joins with attention to letter size and orientation. They write sentences in cursive, applying each join type, using capital letters and focusing on when to lift the pencil, as well as when to use lead-ins and lead-outs.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to correctly form the fourth join.

Key Notes

  • The letters all have a lead in and a lead out.
  • The third join starts at the x-height line and dips below the x-height line and back up to join the next letter.
  • When connecting the letter e, with the third join, the dip down starts the formation of the letter e.
  • The pencil does not lift when forming the join.
  • When using the third join you leave enough space to ensure the letters are not touching without leaving a big gap.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • join: connecting together
  • 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
  • dip down: dropping under something

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The dip down for the third join can be challenging at first, especially when joining to the letter e.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The letters all have a lead in and a lead out. The third join starts at the x-height line and dips below the x-height line and back up to join the next letter.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'join'

connecting together.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The dip down for the third join can be challenging at first, especially when joining to the letter e. Correction: Model with emphasis the dip down so that children can see its importance and purpose. Give them time to really look at the join to the letter e. Allow them to realise themselves that the dip down begins the formation of the letter e.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 English guide library.