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Straight-Line Letters

Trace the dotted letters.

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Notes for adults

Age 4 · 15 min · Easy

Practice tracing the uppercase letters E, F, H, L, and T, with two rows for each letter.

Learning objectives

  • Recognize and name some of the letters E, F, H, L, and T.
  • Follow the dotted letter shapes with a pencil.
  • Notice that the letters on the page are made of straight lines.

What you need

  • Printed worksheet
  • Pencil or thick crayon

Safety notes

Use nontoxic, age-appropriate drawing materials.

How to do it

  1. Print the worksheet and place a pencil within the child's reach.
  2. Show the letters and say their names.
  3. Point to the E model and follow its lines with your finger.
  4. Show how to follow the dotted lines of one letter with a pencil.
  5. Invite the child to trace the letters one at a time.
  6. Look at the pictures and name them together.
  7. When finished, ask the child to choose a letter to show you.

Teaching suggestions

  • Say, “Let's go slowly and follow each straight line.”
  • If using a pencil is tricky, invite the child to follow the dots with a finger first.
  • Take a break between letters or come back to the worksheet later.
  • Look together for one of the letters in the child's name or in a book.
  • In a group, show one letter at a time and give each child time to try.

Variations

  • Make it easier: Choose just one or two letters and follow the dots with a finger before using a pencil.
  • Make it harder: Invite the child to write one of the letters on a separate sheet while looking at the model.
  • Try more: Make a letter with large strips of paper and compare its lines with the letter on the worksheet.

Talk about it

  • What do you notice about the lines in these letters?
  • Which letter would you like to show me? What is it called?
  • Where have you seen one of these letters before?
  • Which letter did you like tracing? Why?

What to look for

  • Notice whether the child recognizes or names any of the letters.
  • Watch whether the child follows some of the dotted lines with a pencil.
  • Notice whether the child identifies straight lines in the letters.