Handwriting Formation Practice for Year 1
Building Strong Writing Foundations Fun Activities for Letter Formation 30-minute Interactive Session
WALT: We Are Learning To...
Form letters correctly using proper starting points Hold our pencil with the correct grip Write letters that sit on the baseline Make our letters the right size
Success Criteria - I Can...
Start each letter from the correct position Keep my letters sitting on the line Make round letters round and straight letters straight Leave proper spaces between letters
Warm-Up: Finger Gym
Finger wiggles and stretches Making shapes in the air Pinching and squeezing exercises Drawing circles and lines
Pencil Grip Check
Thumb and finger pinch the pencil Middle finger supports underneath Pencil rests in the web space Wrist stays straight and relaxed
Letter Formation Practice: Round Letters
Start at the top Go around like a clock Practice: a, c, d, g, o, q Use the magic words: 'around and up'
Letter Formation Practice: Straight Letters
Start at the top line Go straight down Practice: i, l, t, f, h, b Use the magic words: 'down and across'
Differentiation Strategies
{"left":"Beginner: Large lined paper and thick pencils\nDeveloping: Standard lined paper with guidelines\nAdvanced: Smaller lines and focus on spacing","right":"Extra Support: Pencil grips and hand-over-hand guidance\nSensory: Sand trays and finger painting letters\nExtension: Cursive letter introduction"}
Quick Check: Which Letter Am I?
I'll draw a letter in the air Watch carefully and guess which letter Remember to start from the top! Who can show us how to write it?
Extension Activities for Advanced Learners
Write letters in different sizes Create patterns with repeated letters Try writing simple words Practice letter families together Explore cursive letter connections