Tracing and Writing a – I (Uppercase) for Pre-School Level 3

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Third Term
Week: 2
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Handwriting
Curriculum Theme: Handwriting
Previous Lesson: Pre-writing strokes and patterns, and letter recognition (A-E)
Topic: TRACING AND WRITING A – I (UPPERCASE)
Subject Matter: Tracing and writing uppercase letters A-I, and tracing basic numbers.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify uppercase letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.
• Recognise basic numbers (e.g., 1-5).
• Say the names of the uppercase letters A-I.

Affective Domain

• Show interest in tracing and writing activities.
• Participate actively in classroom tracing exercises.

Psychomotor Domain

• Trace uppercase letters A-I correctly using a pencil.
• Trace basic numbers correctly using a pencil.
• Copy uppercase letters A-I and basic numbers onto paper with guidance.

Social Domain

• Share tracing materials with classmates.
• Take turns during guided tracing activities.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources
• Suitable early-years handwriting workbooks/textbooks

Instructional Materials

• Handwriting workbook
• Tracing book/sheets with uppercase letters A-I and numbers 1-5
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Whiteboard and markers
• Flashcards of uppercase letters A-I
• Flashcards of numbers 1-5

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is crucial for 4-year-olds as it develops their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and pre-writing readiness. Learning to trace and form uppercase letters A-I and basic numbers provides a foundational step for future literacy and numeracy, enabling them to recognise and eventually write essential symbols used in daily life.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can hold a pencil, make basic pre-writing strokes (e.g., vertical lines, horizontal lines, circles), and recognise some familiar letters or shapes.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

TRACING AND WRITING A – I (UPPERCASE)

Today, we are learning to trace and write our big letters, from A to I, and also some numbers!

Uppercase Letters A-I

• A: Start at the top, slant down left, slant down right, then a line across the middle.
• B: Start at the top, straight line down, then two curves on the right side.
• C: Start at the top, make a big curve going around to the left.
• D: Start at the top, straight line down, then a big curve from top to bottom on the right.
• E: Start at the top, straight line down, then three short lines across (top, middle, bottom).
• F: Start at the top, straight line down, then two short lines across (top, middle).
• G: Start at the top, make a curve like C, then a small line going in.
• H: Two straight lines down, then a line across the middle.
• I: One straight line down, then a short line at the top and a short line at the bottom.

Numbers (1-5)

• 1: A straight line down.
• 2: Start at the top, curve around, then a straight line across.
• 3: Two small curves, one on top of the other.
• 4: Down and across, then a longer line down.
• 5: Down, curve around, then a line across the top.

Tracing Rhyme

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Lyrics:

Up and down, and round and round,
Letters on the page are found.
A, B, C, we trace with care,
Making shapes in the air.
Numbers too, we make them clear,
Good handwriting is right here!

Actions: Pupils use their fingers to trace shapes in the air, then pretend to write on their palms.

Watch and Practise Tracing

Key Words

• Trace – to draw over a line or shape.
• Write – to make letters or numbers on paper.
• Uppercase – the big letters of the alphabet (e.g., A, B, C).
• Letters – symbols we use to read and write words.
• Numbers – symbols we use for counting.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

• Demonstration
• Guided Practice
• Songs and Rhymes
• Picture Talk
• Question and Answer
• Manipulation of Objects (pencils, tracing books)
• Repetition
• Practical Activity

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engagement/Review

Teacher’s Activity: Greet pupils. Briefly review pre-writing strokes (e.g., drawing straight lines, curves) by asking them to draw in the air. Introduce the day’s topic: “Today, we will learn to trace and write our big letters A to I, and also some numbers!”

Pupils’ Activity: Greet the teacher. Participate in air-drawing activities. Listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and ready for the lesson.

Step 2: Letter Recognition (A-I Uppercase)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Oral Practice

Teacher’s Activity: Show flashcards of uppercase letters A-I one by one. Say each letter’s name clearly and ask pupils to repeat after you. Ask pupils to point to specific letters as you call them out.

Pupils’ Activity: Look at the flashcards. Repeat the names of the letters. Point to identified letters.

Learning Point: Pupils can recognise and say the names of uppercase letters A-I.

Step 3: Number Recognition (1-5)

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Oral Practice

Teacher’s Activity: Show flashcards of numbers 1-5. Say each number name clearly and ask pupils to repeat. Ask pupils to count objects (e.g., fingers, pencils) up to 5.

Pupils’ Activity: Look at the flashcards. Repeat the names of the numbers. Count objects.

Learning Point: Pupils can recognise and say the names of numbers 1-5.

Step 4: Demonstration of Tracing

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Modelling

Teacher’s Activity: Demonstrate on the whiteboard how to trace each uppercase letter (A-I) and numbers (1-5), emphasizing the correct starting point and stroke direction. Use different colours to show each stroke if possible. Play the tracing video to reinforce the demonstration.

Pupils’ Activity: Watch the teacher’s demonstration carefully. Observe the video. Listen to the instructions.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the correct way to form letters and numbers through tracing.

Step 5: Guided Tracing (Air/Finger)

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Kinesthetic Learning

Teacher’s Activity: Guide pupils to trace the letters A-I and numbers 1-5 in the air with their fingers. Encourage them to trace on their palms or on a sand tray if available. Sing the “Tracing Rhyme” together while performing the actions.

Pupils’ Activity: Trace letters and numbers in the air, on their palms, or in sand. Sing along with the rhyme and perform actions.

Learning Point: Pupils practise motor skills for letter and number formation.

Step 6: Guided Tracing (Workbook/Paper)

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Practical Application/Individual Support

Teacher’s Activity: Distribute handwriting workbooks or tracing sheets with uppercase letters A-I and numbers 1-5. Guide pupils to trace the letters and numbers using their pencils. Move around the classroom, providing individual assistance, correcting pencil grip, and offering hand-over-hand guidance where needed. Encourage them to say the letter/number as they trace.

Pupils’ Activity: Hold their pencils correctly. Trace uppercase letters A-I and numbers 1-5 in their workbooks/sheets. Say the letters/numbers as they trace.

Learning Point: Pupils apply tracing skills to paper, developing fine motor control.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4–5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. “Point to letter ‘C’ on your sheet.”
2. “Show me how you trace number ‘4’.”
3. “What letter is this?” (Show flashcard for ‘F’).
4. “Can you trace letter ‘A’ in the air for me?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summary/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: Praise pupils for their effort and participation. Briefly recap that they learned to trace and write uppercase letters A-I and some numbers. Encourage them to continue practising at home. Collect workbooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Listen to the teacher. Put away their materials.

Learning Point: Pupils feel accomplished and are encouraged to continue practising.

Lesson Keywords

• Trace – to draw over a line or shape.
• Write – to make letters or numbers on paper.
• Uppercase – the big letters of the alphabet.
• Letters – symbols we use to read and write words.
• Numbers – symbols we use for counting.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils struggling with pencil grip, provide larger pencils or triangular grips. Offer more hand-over-hand guidance during tracing. Focus on fewer letters/numbers at a time, allowing them to master one before moving to the next. Use larger tracing templates.
• Extension: For pupils who quickly master tracing, encourage them to try copying the letters and numbers independently in a blank space next to the traced ones. Ask them to identify objects in the classroom that start with letters A-I. Challenge them to trace numbers beyond 5 if they are ready.