Kindergarten Fall — Print Concepts, Letter Formation, and Oral Language for Writing
Lesson 10 30 min eng.gK.f.lesson_10.curve_capitals_COS

Curve capitals: C, O, and S

Skills targeted
Objectives
  • Students can form C, O, and S with correct stroke origin and curve shape.
  • Students can identify the shared 'magic-c' starting curve in C, O, and S.
Vocabulary
curvemagic-cstarttopbottom

Lesson plan

Warm-up

4 min

Air-write all the frog-jumps reviewed so far (F, E, D, P, B, R, N, M, H, K, L, U, V, W, X, Y, Z).

Teacher moves
  • Pace: one letter every 5 seconds, verbal cue chanted
  • Encourage whole-arm movement

Direct instruction

10 min

Today we meet CURVE capitals. C, O, and S all start the same way: with a MAGIC-C curve. Watch: pencil up to the TOP, curve DOWN and to the LEFT and around to the bottom — that's the magic-c shape. C stops there. O keeps going UP to close the circle. S starts the same but goes a DIFFERENT way — it curves up to make the top of the S, then comes back down for the bottom of the S.

Key examples
  • Same start, three different endings.
    model A C-shape; if you close it, it's an O; if you twist it the other way at the end, it's an S.
    prompt Make a magic-c with play-dough.
  • It's one continuous motion — no lifting.
    model Magic-c, then keep going to close the loop.
    prompt Air-write O.
Checks for understanding
  • Which letters start with magic-c? (C, O, S, A, D, G, Q)
  • What's the difference between C and O? (O closes, C doesn't)
  • Air-write S.
Media
M-K-F-GR-10-A Animation Physical / non-image

20-second animation. C, O, S appear in sequence on three-line paper. For each: the magic-c starting curve is drawn in purple (highlighted), then the remainder of the letter is drawn in pencil-gray. Final freeze frame shows all three letters with the purple shared starting curve clearly visible.

Guided practice

10 min
Tasks
  • Form C three times. Trace, then independent.
    scaffold Green dot at top, red dot at end of curve.
  • Form O three times. Watch the closure point.
    scaffold Same.
  • Form S three times. The hardest of the three.
    scaffold Verbal cue chanted: 'Magic-c, swing up, swing down.'
Media
M-K-F-GR-10-B Chart
Reference chart for desk. Top row: C, O, S, A, D, G, Q (all magic-c family) each in 4-inch letters. Bottom row: arrow po

Reference chart for desk. Top row: C, O, S, A, D, G, Q (all magic-c family) each in 4-inch letters. Bottom row: arrow pointing from purple starting-curve in each letter to a master purple curve at the bottom labeled 'Magic-c.' Caption: 'These letters all start the same way!'

Formative assessment

2 min
Exit ticket
  • Form one C, one O, and one S in a row.
  • Self-check: 'Did I start each with magic-c?' (yes/no)
scoring 3/3 correct = mastery; 2/3 = practicing; 0-1 = reteach.

Closure

Moves
  • Chant: 'C-O-S, magic-c rest.'
  • Preview: tomorrow we add G, Q, A.

Homework

5 min
Tasks
  • Find one C, one O, and one S in your kitchen — bring drawings or tell us about them tomorrow.

Exercises in this lesson

eng.gK.f.ex_18
Trace C three times on three-line paper.
 trace · diff 1
eng.gK.f.ex_19
Form S from memory.
 form independent · diff 4

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • Tactile sandpaper letters
  • Hand-over-hand
  • Pre-traced
  • Sand tray for finger-writing
Extensions
  • Form S backwards intentionally — discuss the mirror image
  • Form C, O, S in three sizes (small, medium, large) on the paper
English Learners
  • Posted home-language equivalents for any C/O/S words known
  • Picture associations: C-cat, O-octopus, S-snake
Ieps 504s
  • Skip S if motor planning is overwhelming — return to it next week
  • Use only sand tray, no paper, for severe motor delay

Teacher notes

S is the hardest curve capital — most kindergartners need 2-3 sessions to form it consistently. Some will form it as two separate arcs rather than one continuous stroke; redirect with 'one motion, don't pick up your pencil.'