Year 1 English Letters, Sounds and the Alphabet: worked examples and questions with answers

Key words. After is the next letter. Before is the letter just before.

Method. Find k in the alphabet. The letter after it is the answer.

1. Find k in the alphabet. The alphabet always goes in the same order.
   … j k l …
2. Say the letter after it. Letters go forwards one at a time.
   k → l
3. Write the answer.
   l

Check. Say the alphabet from a to l. The letter before l is k. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the letter you started with. Move one letter, not two.

Key words. After is the next letter. Before is the letter just before.

Method. Find p in the alphabet. The letter before it is the answer.

1. Find p in the alphabet. The alphabet always goes in the same order.
   … o p q …
2. Say the letter before it. Letters go backwards one at a time.
   p → o
3. Write the answer.
   o

Check. Say the alphabet from a to p. The letter before p is o. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the letter you started with. Move one letter, not two.

Method. Look at the letters on each side of the gap. The missing letter comes between them.

1. Read the letters in order. The alphabet goes a, b, c and so on, one letter at a time.
   a b c __ e f __ h
2. Find the letter for each gap. The missing letter is the one between its neighbours.
   Gap 4: between c and e is d
   Gap 7: between f and h is g
3. Write the missing letters.
   d, g

Check. Read the whole line again: every letter comes after the one before it. ✓

Watch out. Say the alphabet in order to find the missing letter.

Key words. Between means in the middle of two letters.

Method. The letter between p and r comes after p and before r.

1. Find p and r in the alphabet. Put your finger on each letter.
   … p ? r …
2. Say the letter after the first one. The letter in the middle is one after the first letter.
   p → q
3. Write the answer.
   q

Check. q comes after p and before r. ✓

Watch out. The letter between is not one of the two letters you started with.

Method. The last letter of the alphabet is the one that comes at the very end.

1. Say the alphabet to the end. Keep going until there is no more.
   a, b, c … x, y, z
2. Find the last letter. The letter at the end is the last one.
   z is the 26th letter
3. Write the answer.
   z

Check. Count the letters: a to m is 13 letters, and n to z is 13 more. That makes 26. ✓

Watch out. The last letter is z, not y.

Method. Put the letters in the order of the alphabet, from a to z.

1. Say the alphabet in your head. The alphabet is always in the same order.
   a, b, c, d, e …
2. Find each letter in order. Put the letter that comes first in the alphabet at the front.
   q, c, m, a → a, c, m, q
3. Write the letters in order.
   a, c, m, q

Check. There are 4 letters in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check each letter is in the right place. Look at the first letter of each pair.

Method. Look at the shape of each letter. Find the one that is different from the others.

1. Look at each letter. Some letters are small and one is big.
   a, b, C, d
2. Find the odd one out. The others are small letters. This one is a capital letter.
   C is big, the rest are small
3. Write the answer.
   C

Check. Take the big letter away. The others are all small, so they match. ✓

Watch out. Look at the size of the letter, not the sound it makes.

Method. Count how many letters there are from a to z.

1. Count the letters from a to m. Count one letter at a time.
   a to m = 13 letters
2. Count the letters from n to z. These letters come after m.
   n to z = 13 letters
3. Add the two numbers. Add the first part and the second part.
   13 + 13 = 26
4. Write the answer.
   26

Check. The alphabet has 26 letters, from a to z. ✓

Watch out. The alphabet has more than 20 letters. Count them all.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word sun, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a sun.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter s makes the sound at the start of sun.
   The start sound of sun is made by s.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   s

Check. The other letters in sun make the other sounds. s is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Write the letter for the sound, not its name, which is ess.

Method. Find the picture that starts with the letter m.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   pig, mug, tent
2. Find the name with the sound at the start. Only mug starts with the sound m.
   mug has the sound at the start
3. Write the answer.
   mug

Check. Only mug has that sound at the start. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. Find the picture that starts with the letter d.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   dice, pig, sun
2. Find the name with the sound at the start. Only dice starts with the sound d.
   dice has the sound at the start
3. Write the answer.
   dice

Check. Only dice has that sound at the start. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word igloo, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a igloo.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter i makes the short i sound at the start of igloo.
   The start sound of igloo is made by i.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   i

Check. The other letters in igloo make the other sounds. i is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Igloo starts with i, not e.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word net, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a net.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter n makes the sound at the start of net.
   The start sound of net is made by n.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   n

Check. The other letters in net make the other sounds. n is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Net ends with t. We want the start, which is n.

Method. Find the picture that starts with the letter t.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   ant, sun, tent
2. Find the name with the sound at the start. Only tent starts with the sound t.
   tent has the sound at the start
3. Write the answer.
   tent

Check. Only tent has that sound at the start. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. Check what m says about pig, then compare it with the spelling.

1. Look at the word pig. Read the whole word.
   pig
2. Find the letters at the start. We check what the word starts with.
   The start of pig is p
3. Compare with what was said. m is not the same as p.
   m ≠ p
4. Write the answer.
   No. Pig starts with p.

Check. Point to the start of pig and say what you see: p. ✓

Watch out. Pig starts with p, not b or d.

Method. Find the first sound of each word, then compare them.

1. Look at the start of ant. The first letter tells us the first sound.
   ant starts with a
2. Look at the start of tent. Now do the same for the second word.
   tent starts with t
3. Compare the two. The sounds are the same only if the letters match.
   a ≠ t
4. Write the answer.
   No. ant starts with a and tent starts with t.

Check. Say the first letter of each word: a and t. ✓

Watch out. Two words can have the same first letter, or two different letters. Look at both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word tent, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a tent.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter t makes the sound at the start of tent.
   The start sound of tent is made by t.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   t

Check. The other letters in tent make the other sounds. t is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Tent ends with t too, but we want the start.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word duck, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a duck.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ck make one sound at the end of duck.
   The end sound of duck is made by ck.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ck

Check. The other letters in duck make the other sounds. ck is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters, c and k, together. Do not write only c or only k.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word egg, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a egg.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter e makes the short e sound at the start of egg.
   The start sound of egg is made by e.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   e

Check. The other letters in egg make the other sounds. e is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Egg starts with e and ends with g.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word umbrella, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a umbrella.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter u makes the short u sound at the start of umbrella.
   The start sound of umbrella is made by u.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   u

Check. The other letters in umbrella make the other sounds. u is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Umbrella starts with u. The other letters come later.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word rocket, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a rocket.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter r makes the sound at the start of rocket.
   The start sound of rocket is made by r.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   r

Check. The other letters in rocket make the other sounds. r is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Rocket starts with r, and it ends with t.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word hat, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a hat.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter h makes the sound at the start of hat.
   The start sound of hat is made by h.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   h

Check. The other letters in hat make the other sounds. h is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Hat starts with h. It ends with t.

Method. Find the picture that ends with the letters ck.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   duck, hat, ball
2. Find the name with the sound at the end. Only duck ends with the sound made by ck.
   duck has the sound at the end
3. Write the answer.
   duck

Check. Only duck has that sound at the end. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. Find the picture that starts with the letter e.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   octopus, egg, rocket
2. Find the name with the sound at the start. Only egg starts with the sound e.
   egg has the sound at the start
3. Write the answer.
   egg

Check. Only egg has that sound at the start. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. Check what c says about duck, then compare it with the spelling.

1. Look at the word duck. Read the whole word.
   duck
2. Find the letters at the end. We check what the word ends with.
   The end of duck is ck
3. Compare with what was said. c is not the same as ck.
   c ≠ ck
4. Write the answer.
   No. Duck ends with ck.

Check. Point to the end of duck and say what you see: ck. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters, c and k, together. Do not write only c or only k.

Method. Find the first sound of each word, then compare them.

1. Look at the start of ball. The first letter tells us the first sound.
   ball starts with b
2. Look at the start of hat. Now do the same for the second word.
   hat starts with h
3. Compare the two. The sounds are the same only if the letters match.
   b ≠ h
4. Write the answer.
   No. ball starts with b and hat starts with h.

Check. Say the first letter of each word: b and h. ✓

Watch out. Two words can have the same first letter, or two different letters. Look at both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word gift, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a gift.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter g makes the sound at the start of gift.
   The start sound of gift is made by g.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   g

Check. The other letters in gift make the other sounds. g is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Gift starts with g. The f and t come later in the word.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word puff, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a puff.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ff make one f sound at the end of puff.
   The end sound of puff is made by ff.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ff

Check. The other letters in puff make the other sounds. ff is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Two f letters make one sound, so write both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word bell, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a bell.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ll make one l sound at the end of bell.
   The end sound of bell is made by ll.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ll

Check. The other letters in bell make the other sounds. ll is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Two l letters make one sound, so write both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word grass, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a grass.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ss make one s sound at the end of grass.
   The end sound of grass is made by ss.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ss

Check. The other letters in grass make the other sounds. ss is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Two s letters make one sound, so write both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word buzz, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a buzz.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters zz make one z sound at the end of buzz.
   The end sound of buzz is made by zz.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   zz

Check. The other letters in buzz make the other sounds. zz is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Two z letters make one sound, so write both.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word box, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a box.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letter x is at the end of box and makes two sounds, k and s.
   The end sound of box is made by x.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   x

Check. The other letters in box make the other sounds. x is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. The letter x is one letter, even though it makes two sounds.

Method. Find the picture that ends with the double letters ll.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   puff, bell, box
2. Find the name with the sound at the end. Only bell ends with the sound made by ll.
   bell has the sound at the end
3. Write the answer.
   bell

Check. Only bell has that sound at the end. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. Find the picture that starts with the sound j.

1. Read each picture name. Each name has its own sound at the start or the end.
   jug, van, web
2. Find the name with the sound at the start. Only jug starts with the sound j.
   jug has the sound at the start
3. Write the answer.
   jug

Check. Only jug has that sound at the start. The other names do not. ✓

Watch out. Do not choose a picture because it looks like the answer. Check the spelling of its name.

Method. The letter x is one letter, but it makes two sounds at the end of box.

1. Look at the end of box. The letter x is at the end.
   box ends with x
2. Count the sounds the letter x makes. In the word box, x says k and s.
   x = k + s
3. Write the answer.
   Not quite. The letter x makes two sounds, k and s, at the end of box.

Check. Box has three letters, b, o and x, and x makes two sounds. ✓

Watch out. One letter can make two sounds, and two letters can make one sound.

Method. Count the letters, then count the sounds. Two letters can make one sound.

1. Count the letters in puff. Write each letter, then count it.
   p - u - f - f = 4 letters
2. Count the sounds. The two f letters make one f sound.
   p, u, ff = 3 sounds
3. Write the answer.
   4 letters, 3 sounds

Check. The sounds are p, u and f. The letters are p, u, f and f. ✓

Watch out. A letter and a sound are not the same. ff has two letters but only one sound.

Key words. A letter family is a group of letters that are made in a similar way.

Method. Find a in the list of letter families.

1. Look for a in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   a is in the list
2. Read the family name. The family name tells you how the letter is made.
   a is in the curly caterpillar family
3. Write the answer.
   curly caterpillar

Check. The curly caterpillar family has: c, a, d, g, o, q. ✓

Watch out. Letters in one family are grouped by how they are made, not by their sound.

Key words. A letter family is a group of letters that are made in a similar way.

Method. Find r in the list of letter families.

1. Look for r in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   r is in the list
2. Read the family name. The family name tells you how the letter is made.
   r is in the one-armed robot family
3. Write the answer.
   one-armed robot

Check. The one-armed robot family has: r, b, n, h, m, k, p. ✓

Watch out. Letters in one family are grouped by how they are made, not by their sound.

Method. Pick any letter from the one-armed robot family list.

1. Look at the one-armed robot family. The family list has the letters that are made in a similar way.
   r, b, n, h, m, k, p
2. Choose one letter from the list. Any one of them is right.
   r is in the family
3. Write the answer. Check it is on the list.
   r, b, n, h, m, k or p

Check. The letter you chose is one of: r, b, n, h, m, k, p. ✓

Watch out. Each letter belongs to only one family.

Method. Look at the curly caterpillar family list. Find the letter that is not in it.

1. Read the letters you can choose from. Each one needs a check.
   c, a, d, l
2. Check each letter against the curly caterpillar family list. Only one letter gives the right answer.
   c in the list, a in the list, d in the list, l not in the list
3. Write the answer.
   l

Check. The curly caterpillar family has: c, a, d, g, o, q. ✓

Watch out. Check the family list, not the sound of the letter.

Method. Count the letters in the long ladder family.

1. Write down the letters in the long ladder family. Write each letter once.
   l, i, t, u, j, y
2. Count them one at a time. Touch each letter once.
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
3. Write the answer.
   6

Check. Count again from the other end. You still get 6. ✓

Watch out. Do not count a letter from another family.

Method. Count the letters in the one-armed robot family.

1. Write down the letters in the one-armed robot family. Write each letter once.
   r, b, n, h, m, k, p
2. Count them one at a time. Touch each letter once.
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Count again from the other end. You still get 7. ✓

Watch out. Do not count a letter from another family.

Method. Look at the zig-zag family list. Find the letter that is in it.

1. Read the letters you can choose from. Each one needs a check.
   x, t, g
2. Check each letter against the zig-zag family list. Only one letter gives the right answer.
   x in the list, t not in the list, g not in the list
3. Write the answer.
   x

Check. The zig-zag family has: z, v, w, x. ✓

Watch out. Check the family list, not the sound of the letter.

Key words. A letter family is a group of letters that are made in a similar way.

Method. Find l in the list of letter families.

1. Look for l in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   l is in the list
2. Read the family name. The family name tells you how the letter is made.
   l is in the long ladder family
3. Write the answer.
   long ladder

Check. The long ladder family has: l, i, t, u, j, y. ✓

Watch out. Letters in one family are grouped by how they are made, not by their sound.

Method. Find the family for each letter, then check the claim.

1. Look up the letters in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   h, n
2. Find the family of each letter. Check each letter against the list.
   h is in one-armed robot, n is in one-armed robot
3. Compare with the claim. The claim is that they are in the curly caterpillar family.
   curly caterpillar ≠ one-armed robot
4. Write the answer.
   No. h and n are in the one-armed robot family.

Check. The one-armed robot family has: r, b, n, h, m, k, p. ✓

Watch out. Check the list of families. Do not guess from the shape of the letters.

Method. Think about how the letters are made, then say why they are grouped.

1. Look at a family. Letters in one family start in a similar way.
   curly caterpillar: c, a, d, g, o, q
2. Think about how they are made. Similar letters are easier to learn together.
   they start with a similar stroke
3. Write the answer.
   Letters in one family are made in a similar way, so they are easier to learn.

Check. Two letters from one family are made in a similar way. ✓

Watch out. The family does not change the sound of a letter.

Method. Find the digit that matches the number word.

1. Read the word. Read the whole word.
   “seven”
2. Find the digit. Each number word has one digit.
   seven = 7
3. Write the digit.
   7

Check. Count 7 things and say the number word for the last one. ✓

Watch out. Zero is written as 0. It is a digit, not the letter O.

Method. Find the digit that matches the number word.

1. Read the word. Read the whole word.
   “zero”
2. Find the digit. Each number word has one digit.
   zero = 0
3. Write the digit.
   0

Check. Count 0 things and say the number word for the last one. ✓

Watch out. Zero is written as 0. It is a digit, not the letter O.

Key words. After means the next digit. Before means the digit just before.

Method. Find 4 in the digits and move one place up the list.

1. Find the digit 4. The digits go in order from 0 to 9.
   … 3 4 5 …
2. Move one digit up. Each digit is one more or one less than the one before.
   4 + 1 = 5
3. Write the answer.
   5

Check. Count on from 4 to 5 to check. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the digit you started with.

Key words. After means the next digit. Before means the digit just before.

Method. Find 9 in the digits and move one place down the list.

1. Find the digit 9. The digits go in order from 0 to 9.
   … 8 9 …
2. Move one digit down. Each digit is one more or one less than the one before.
   9 − 1 = 8
3. Write the answer.
   8

Check. Count back from 9 to 8 to check. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the digit you started with.

Method. A digit is 0 to 9. A letter is a shape from the alphabet.

1. Look at each one. Digits are numbers. Letters are not.
   g, 4, h
2. Find the digit. The digit is between 0 and 9.
   4 is a digit
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. The other two are letters from the alphabet. ✓

Watch out. The digit 0 is not the letter O.

Method. Count the digits from 0 to 9.

1. Say the digits in order. Start at 0.
   0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
2. Count how many there are. Each digit is counted once.
   There are 10 digits
3. Write the answer.
   10

Check. Zero is one of the digits, so the list has 10 digits, not 9. ✓

Watch out. Do not forget zero. It is a digit too.

Method. Choose the digit that is the biggest of the three.

1. Look at each digit. Compare the numbers.
   3, 9, 0
2. Find the biggest. The biggest digit is the one with the largest value.
   9 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   9

Check. Compare 9 with each of the others. ✓

Watch out. Compare the digits, not the size of their writing.

Method. Look at the letter and the digit. Then check what each one is.

1. Look at the letter O. O is a letter in the alphabet.
   O is a letter
2. Look at the digit 0. Zero is a digit, used for numbers.
   0 is a digit
3. Write the answer. They look alike, but they are different characters.
   No. O is a letter and 0 is a digit.

Check. The letter O is in the alphabet, and the digit 0 is not. ✓

Watch out. A digit is used in numbers, and a letter is used in words.

Key words. After means the next digit. Before means the digit just before.

Method. Find 2 in the digits and move one place up the list.

1. Find the digit 2. The digits go in order from 0 to 9.
   … 1 2 3 …
2. Move one digit up. Each digit is one more or one less than the one before.
   2 + 1 = 3
3. Write the answer.
   3

Check. Count on from 2 to 3 to check. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the digit you started with.

Key words. Every letter has a name, like ay for a. The name is how we say the letter, not the sound it makes.

Method. Look at the letter, then say its name. The name is not the sound the letter makes.

1. Look at the letter h. Each letter has a name, like bee for b.
   The letter is h
2. Say its name. Use the name from the alphabet chart.
   h = aitch
3. Write the name.
   aitch

Check. Say the names in order from a to h. ✓

Watch out. The name of a letter is not the same as its sound. The name of a is ay, but a has a short sound too.

Key words. After is the next letter. Before is the letter just before.

Method. Find r in the alphabet. The letter after it is the answer.

1. Find r in the alphabet. The alphabet always goes in the same order.
   … q r s …
2. Say the letter after it. Letters go forwards one at a time.
   r → s
3. Write the answer.
   s

Check. Say the alphabet from a to s. The letter before s is r. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the letter you started with. Move one letter, not two.

Key words. A capital letter is a big letter, like A. A lower-case letter is a small letter, like a.

Method. Capital letters are the big shapes. Each small letter has a big partner.

1. Look at the small letter q. It is a lower-case letter.
   lower-case q
2. Find its big partner. The capital letter has the same name, but it is bigger.
   q goes with Q
3. Write the capital letter.
   Q

Check. Say both names: cue for Q and q. They match. ✓

Watch out. Make the capital letter tall. A capital is not always just a bigger letter, so check the shape.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word lamp, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a lamp.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter l makes the sound at the start of lamp.
   The start sound of lamp is made by l.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   l

Check. The other letters in lamp make the other sounds. l is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Lamp starts with l and ends with p.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word duck, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a duck.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ck make one sound at the end of duck.
   The end sound of duck is made by ck.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ck

Check. The other letters in duck make the other sounds. ck is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters, c and k, together. Do not write only c or only k.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word queen, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a queen.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letters qu make two sounds, k and w, at the start of queen.
   The start sound of queen is made by qu.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   qu

Check. The other letters in queen make the other sounds. qu is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Write both letters, q and u, together.

Key words. A letter family is a group of letters that are made in a similar way.

Method. Find b in the list of letter families.

1. Look for b in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   b is in the list
2. Read the family name. The family name tells you how the letter is made.
   b is in the one-armed robot family
3. Write the answer.
   one-armed robot

Check. The one-armed robot family has: r, b, n, h, m, k, p. ✓

Watch out. Letters in one family are grouped by how they are made, not by their sound.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word van, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a van.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter v makes the sound at the start of van.
   The start sound of van is made by v.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   v

Check. The other letters in van make the other sounds. v is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Van starts with v and ends with n.

Key words. After means the next digit. Before means the digit just before.

Method. Find 3 in the digits and move one place up the list.

1. Find the digit 3. The digits go in order from 0 to 9.
   … 2 3 4 …
2. Move one digit up. Each digit is one more or one less than the one before.
   3 + 1 = 4
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Count on from 3 to 4 to check. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the digit you started with.

Method. Put the letters in the order of the alphabet, from a to z.

1. Say the alphabet in your head. The alphabet is always in the same order.
   a, b, c, d, e …
2. Find each letter in order. Put the letter that comes first in the alphabet at the front.
   y, b, t, e → b, e, t, y
3. Write the letters in order.
   b, e, t, y

Check. There are 4 letters in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check each letter is in the right place. Look at the first letter of each pair.

Key words. After is the next letter. Before is the letter just before.

Method. Find f in the alphabet. The letter after it is the answer.

1. Find f in the alphabet. The alphabet always goes in the same order.
   … e f g …
2. Say the letter after it. Letters go forwards one at a time.
   f → g
3. Write the answer.
   g

Check. Say the alphabet from a to g. The letter before g is f. ✓

Watch out. Do not write the letter you started with. Move one letter, not two.

Method. Find the small letter that goes with the capital letter.

1. Look at the capital T. Capital letters are big.
   capital T
2. Find its small partner. The small letter has the same name.
   T goes with t
3. Write the small letter.
   t

Check. Both letters are called tee. ✓

Watch out. Make sure the small letter is small, not a capital.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the start of the word kite, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a kite.
2. Find the sound at the start of the word. The letter k makes the k sound at the start of kite.
   The start sound of kite is made by k.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   k

Check. The other letters in kite make the other sounds. k is the one at the start. ✓

Watch out. Kite starts with k, not c.

Key words. A sound is what a letter says. A letter is the shape we write. Two letters can make one sound, like ck.

Method. Find the sound at the end of the word grass, then write the letter or letters that make it.

1. Read the name of the picture. The name tells us which word to look at.
   The picture is a grass.
2. Find the sound at the end of the word. The letters ss make one s sound at the end of grass.
   The end sound of grass is made by ss.
3. Write the answer. Write every letter that makes the sound, in order.
   ss

Check. The other letters in grass make the other sounds. ss is the one at the end. ✓

Watch out. Two s letters make one sound, so write both.

Key words. A letter family is a group of letters that are made in a similar way.

Method. Find c in the list of letter families.

1. Look for c in the families. Each letter belongs to one family.
   c is in the list
2. Read the family name. The family name tells you how the letter is made.
   c is in the curly caterpillar family
3. Write the answer.
   curly caterpillar

Check. The curly caterpillar family has: c, a, d, g, o, q. ✓

Watch out. Letters in one family are grouped by how they are made, not by their sound.

Method. Find the digit that matches the number word.

1. Read the word. Read the whole word.
   “five”
2. Find the digit. Each number word has one digit.
   five = 5
3. Write the digit.
   5

Check. Count 5 things and say the number word for the last one. ✓

Watch out. Zero is written as 0. It is a digit, not the letter O.

Method. Put the letters in the order of the alphabet, from a to z.

1. Say the alphabet in your head. The alphabet is always in the same order.
   a, b, c, d, e …
2. Find each letter in order. Put the letter that comes first in the alphabet at the front.
   m, a, s, d → a, d, m, s
3. Write the letters in order.
   a, d, m, s

Check. There are 4 letters in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓

Watch out. Check each letter is in the right place. Look at the first letter of each pair.