Subject: Cursive Handwriting Lesson Topic: Introductory Cursive Handwriting LESSON ONE

S SAKURA of AMERICA

Grade: primary, junior Lesson Duration: Date:

Age: 8 – 9 year old 45 minutes to one hour

1. Expectations: to introduce students to cursive handwriting, the tools used, a brief history and demonstration of
drills and letters for students to trace, reproduce and practice. Apply the new learning with a small project at the
end of class.

2. Materials: pencil, eraser, handouts: lined paper, drill sheets, alphabet exemplar, and project template.

Instructional Plan

Additional Assessment
Time INTRODUCTION
Instruction Opportunities
10
minutes Visual Aids: Observation notes
The Basic Principles of Good Handwriting:
correct placement of paper, pen, and posture. Name card with
Alphabet
Brief Intro to Tools: pencil first, (optional: dip exemplar for
pen & bottled ink optional), eraser, ruler, guard each student
sheet, newspaper for cushion on desk, and
handouts. Samples of good
handwriting
Brief History: Spencer is The Father of American and adv.
Handwriting. He was inspired by the beauty in Calligraphy
nature that surrounded him, in particular by the
beautiful oval shapes of the pebble stones Distribute
particular to the beaches in Geneva, Ohio. pencils, erasers,
guard sheet,
His lettering took on these graceful oval newspapers for
characteristics. Show samples ( optional ) cushion,
Palmer simplified it by making it more basic. worksheets:
Show samples ( optional) drills,
trace/copy.
Importance of Good Writing for Legibility:
even rhythm, consistency of shape, size, height,
angle Metronome or
music ( Vivaldi’s
Distribute alphabet / name card template, and Four Seasons:
Instruct students to write their names on the Autumn)
name card (to be used to measure improvement Dip pen, ink
after lessons in cursive handwriting.) Fold & (optional)
stand card on desk.

1
 Warm Up: students trace drill exercises. Additional Assessment
Time
Instruct that this exercise is used to warm up Instruction Opportunities
20 muscles, and to build muscle memory.
minutes Handout Observation notes
Demonstrate the building of each letter on the worksheets
board c a d g (and remaining lower case and /reinforcement
capital letters to follow in next lessons.) of learning

Exercise trace/copy sheets to reinforce learning. Music: Vivaldi

Seatwork: exercises, to reinforce learning Four Seasons /
Autumn
Importance of rhythm in writing is stressed for
evenness, graceful flow: use of metronome or 60
beats per minute music ie Vivaldi’s Four
Seasons

Application of new learning: Additional Assessment

Time
Instruction Opportunities
15 Bookmark: distribute pre-cut hole punched
cardstock strips of paper for students to use for Cardstock Observation notes
minutes
writing their first and last name template
Decorate using coloured
pencils/markers/crayons. Buttons, ribbon
Suggestions: decorate using letters as borders. or tassel
Insert ribbon or tassel.
OR Paste or glue
Calendar: handout template for a simple gun
calendar for children to complete and decorate.
Optional use of stamps, stickers, buttons, glitter, Markers,
gel pens to decorate. crayons, gel
OR pens
Book of Quotes: 2 sheets black 8.5 x 11
cardstock folded in half, stapled. Line pages ½ Select 1 of 3
inch apart using chalk or white pencil crayon, applications
remembering to leave a 1” border all around. and use
Use gel pens or, dip pen and white ink to letter remaining 2 as
quotes on each “page”. Glue ribbon onto back supplemental
cover and flip over onto preferred page as a sheets for those
marker. Letter & decorate cover. who finish
ahead of
everyone else.

2
 Bookmark Project

 Use bookmark template to trace, cut, paste and letter.

 Use the same template minus triangle, hearts and door, o make the following Button
Bookmark Project.

Aim: to complete fun and easy bookmarks for kids to create, decorate, and handwrite their
names.

Materials:

 Pencil, coloured pencils, markers, crayons, ruler, eraser, scissors

 Coloured cardstock with bookmark template printed on it.

Optional: use paste paper made in class, or use thin wood ‘paper’

 ribbons cut to 6” – 8” in length

 assorted buttons

Instructions:

 Instruct students to handwrite their name(s) on the cardstock. Cut out. Bookmark along
the template guidelines. Optional cursive alphabet or cursive single letter border can be
added along the sides.

 Punch hole at the top. Thread ribbons through the hole.

 Attach buttons to the ends of the ribbon using tacky glue or a glue gun. Optional:
sandwiching the ribbons ends between two buttons; stacking smaller buttons atop larger
buttons; grouping several small buttons in a pattern on the ribbon.

3
 BOOKMARK PROJECT

Glue bookmark over this area and fold

Glue large heart Glue small

or cut out to heart here
insert photo

Glue door
here

Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society 4
www.quills.ca
 DRILL EXERCISES

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|||| 0 |||| 0 |||| 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
nnnn nnnn nnnn
nnnn nnnn nnnn
0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 DRILL EXERCISES
(i,n,m,u)

iiii nnnn mmmm uuuu iiii nnnnn

inmu numi minn mnmn inmn

minimum minimum minimum

Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 Write your full name in cursive

fold here

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg
Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn
Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu
Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
fold here

Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society
www.quills.ca
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 the letter

Aa
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

a a a a aaa aaa aa
A A A A Aa Aa Aa
aaa AAA AAA aaa
Anna Aaron Aiden
Anna ate an apple
Aunt Aria and Ava
9
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

a a a a a aaa aaa aaa aaa

aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa

A A A A A Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa

Amy Ava Alan Aria Aaron Ariel Aiden

Aunt Alice ate August apples and acorns

Andrea Alabama Alberta Alaska Angela

Alan, Aria and Aaron always ask Anne

American Airlines American Apparel

10
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 the letter

Cc
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

c c c c ccc ccc c c c ccc

C C C C C Cc Cc Ccccc
cccc Cccc Cccc ccc Cccc
cuckoo catch cook cat
Cara Carl Clare Casey
Carrols cat can chase
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

c c c c c ccc ccc ccc ccc ccc

cccccc ccccc ccccc ccccc cccccc

C C C C C Cc Cc Cc Cc Cc

Carl Cathy Cara Connie Charles Chuck

Carrie’s cat clawed the couch, creating chaos

Chuck chases Cathy all the way to Cayuga

Cayuga Chicago Colorado Carly Charles

Cold coca cola cheesy chicken cacciatore

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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 the letter

Dd
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

d d d d ddd ddd dd
D D D D Dd Dd Dd
dddd Ddd Ddd Ddd
dove deep dog Dad do
Dan’s dog dove deep
Diane’s dog drank
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

d d d d dddd dddd dddd

ddddd ddddd ddddd ddddd

D D D D Dd Dd Dd Dd Dd

David Dan Deirdre Dora Denny Dana

Dan’s dog dove deep in Dundas dam

Daddy drank dirty water while diving

Dunkin Donuts Danielle David Deanna

Davids dog dug deep in the dirt

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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 the letter

Gg
Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca

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 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

g g g g g ggg ggg ggg gg

G G G G Gg Gg Gggg
ggg GGGG GGGG gggg
great Greg gaggle Gary
Gary’s giraffe is giant
Greta got the goodies
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
 PRACTICE SHEET
Using the model as a guide, write each letter or word that appears beneath each row.

g g g g ggg ggg ggg ggg

ggggg ggggg ggggg ggggg

G G G G Gg Gg Gg Gg

George Gavin Gina Gloria Georgia

Gary’s giraffe gobbled gooseberries greedily

Gloria gets good at grabbing the goodies

age gage cage Gloria Gavin Gaymor

great goose going gone giant game

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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
Name: Date:
aaaaaaaa
cccccccc
dddddddd
gggggggg

cady cady

AA CC DD GG

Aunt Alice always ate apples and acorns

Carrie’s cat clawed the couch creating chaos
Dan’s dog drank dirty water while diving
Gary’s giraffe was gobbling gooseberries

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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca
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Phyllis Macaluso, Certified Cursive Coach: The Handwriting Council of Canada and Quills Locke Street Lettering Society www.quills.ca