Tricky lowercase: s, f, v, w, x, z

Air-write the lowercase alphabet so far (everything except today's letters).

• Quick pace; chant

Today the LAST lowercase letters! s curls; f starts with a curl that descends; v and w have pointed bottoms (not curved); x is two diagonals crossing; z is three connected strokes.

• Tiny s — same as capital S but small.

  model Magic-c start, curl back the other way.

  prompt Form s.
• f is tall AND tricky — start with the curl.

  model Curl down from sky-line, through grass-line, descend to dirt-line; then horizontal crossbar at grass-line.

  prompt Form f.
• Point at the bottom — not curved.

  model Two diagonals meeting at the dirt-line POINT.

  prompt Form v.
• Points at the bottom; not curved.

  model Four diagonals — like two v's joined.

  prompt Form w.
• Two strokes that cross.

  model Diagonal left-to-right, then diagonal right-to-left, crossing in the middle.

  prompt Form x.
• Three connected strokes.

  model Top horizontal, diagonal down-left, bottom horizontal.

  prompt Form z.

• Where does v come to a point? (dirt-line)
• Air-write w.
• How many strokes in z? (3)

• Form s, f, v, w, x, z each three times.

  scaffold Reference card available.
• Write the words 'fox' and 'sax' (s+a+x).

  scaffold Letter-by-letter.
• Celebrate the complete alphabet! Form all 26 lowercase letters from memory.

  scaffold Allow reference card if needed.

• Form s, f, v, w, x, z in a row.
• Celebration: how many lowercase letters do you know now? (26!)

• Celebration: 'You know all 26 lowercase letters!'
• Display the complete-alphabet wall.

M-K-S-GR-10-B Chart

Wall chart 'We Know the Lowercase Alphabet!' All 26 lowercase letters displayed in alphabetical order in 3-inch height. Each letter has a checkmark sticker. Title at top in 48-pt cheerful font. Used as the alphabet-mastery celebration anchor.

• Find each of today's 6 letters somewhere in your house.