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Basic 3 · Ghanaian Language · Penmanship

Writing Letters and Words Neatly

In this topic you will write letters and words neatly with correct size and spacing.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Form letters correctly
  • Write words with even spacing
  • Use margins in your book

What you already know

  • Copying sentences neatly (Basic 2)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Writing
Sub-strand
Penmanship
Indicator
B3.3.1.1.1-2 – Write letters and words

Introduction

A teacher can only mark what she can read. Neat writing shows care for your work.

1. Forming Letters

  • Start each letter at the right place.
  • Keep tall letters tall and short letters short.
  • Make tails go below the line.

2. Spacing and Margins

Neat page rules
RuleWhy
leave a finger space between wordswords are easy to read
keep letters in a word closethe word stays together
start each line at the marginthe page looks tidy
write on the linewriting is straight
A page of neat handwriting with margin, finger spaces and letter sizes labelled
Figure 1: A neat page Copy one sentence neatly using these rules.Illustration: Sirbus

Tip: Practise letters in your Ghanaian language, including special letters like ɛ and ɔ.

New words

margin
The space at the edge of a page.
form
To shape a letter correctly.
spacing
The gaps between letters and words.
neat
Tidy and clear.

Summary

  • Form letters correctly with the right size.
  • Leave finger spaces between words.
  • Start writing at the margin and write on the line.

Class activity: Handwriting Practice

  1. Trace letters in the sand tray.
  2. Copy the handwriting sample card in your lined book.
  3. Check your margins and spacing.

You need: Locally made handwriting sample cards, Lined exercise books, Pencils, Shallow tray of clean sand

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. The space at the edge of a page is the…

    • A. Margin
    • B. Title
    • C. Line
    • D. Full stop
    Show answer
    Answer: MarginThat is the margin.

  2. 2. What goes between words?

    • A. A finger space
    • B. A comma always
    • C. Nothing
    • D. A picture
    Show answer
    Answer: A finger spaceSpaces separate words.

  3. 3. Tail letters go below the line.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: Trueg, j, p, q, y have tails.

  4. 4. We should write all over the margin.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseStart at the margin line.

  5. 5. Tidy and clear writing is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: neatThat is neat.

  6. 6. Write two rules for a neat page.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: finger spaces, start at margin, write on the line, correct letter sizes.These make neat work.

Homework

  1. Write five sentences neatly using margins and spaces.