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Spelling Rules Exploration Worksheet

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Spelling Rules Exploration Worksheet

Talia, Charlotte and Hugo are preparing a newsletter for the library makerspace. Help them spot spelling patterns, correct errors and explain the rules. Use New Zealand spelling.

The i-before-e puzzle

A useful guide is “i before e, except after c”, as in believe and receive. It is not a rule without exceptions: words such as weird do not follow it. The “when it sounds like ay” part applies to words such as weigh and eight.

1.Which word follows “i before e” and means to trust or have confidence in something?

believe
receive
weigh
weird

2.Sort these words into the three pattern groups: believe, receive, ceiling, friend, weird, weigh, eight, science. Write each word under the best heading: i before e; e before i after c; ay sound or exception.

3.Charlotte writes, “The new weighing scales can recieve parcels.” Correct the misspelt word and name the pattern that helps you.

Silent letters in the workshop

A silent letter is written but not pronounced. Read each word aloud quietly, then look for the letter that is not heard.

4.Match each word to its silent letter: knight, wreath, lamb, autumn, castle.

knight
wreath
lamb
autumn
castle

5.Hugo says the silent letter in lamb is m. Is he correct? Explain which letter is silent and how you can check.

6.Add a silent letter to complete each makerspace word: _rench (a tool for turning nuts) and desi_n (a plan for a project).

Proofreading challenge

Talia drafted this newsletter sentence: “We recieved a science kit and built a wierd knight-shaped robot.” Find and correct both spelling errors.

7.Rewrite the sentence with both errors corrected. Then explain why “weird” is tricky for the i-before-e guide.

8.Choose the correctly spelt word to finish the newsletter: “Please ___ your finished model at the desk.”

leave
leive
leeve
lieve

9.Write one additional English word with a silent letter, underline the silent letter, and use the word in a sentence about a makerspace project.

10.Which spelling strategy would help you most with a tricky word: looking for a familiar pattern, saying the word slowly, or checking a dictionary? Give one example of when you would use it.