Websink Prep UKKS2 EnglishYear 3 chaptersEnglish textbooksReceptionYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 7Year 8Year 9Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Primary English · Year 3Chapter 1 · Spelling patterns
Year 3 English · Spelling patterns · Lesson 1.5

Year 3 English: The statutory word list, part 2: early to important

Part of the Year 3 English spelling patterns chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

1.5

The statutory word list, part 2: early to important

Year 3
Spell the statutory Year 3 and 4 words from early to important, Use the tricky parts to check each spelling
Story. In February, the weather is cold, but Ali is looking forward to the trip. He is going to the history museum, and it is important to get there early.

This section has the second half of the first part of the statutory list, from early to important, and two other forms: eighth and forwards.

Some words have a tricky part. The ea in early and heard does not say the ee sound, as in see.

WordTricky partWhy
earlyeaThe ea says the ur sound, as in earn.
earthearThe ear says the ur sound, as in earn.
eighteighThe eigh says the ay sound, as in play.
eightheighThe eigh says the ay sound, as in play. Eighth is eight with th added.
enoughouThe ou says the u sound, as in cup.
exercisethe whole wordLearn the whole word by its shape.
experienceieThe ie says the ee sound, as in see.
experimentthe whole wordLearn the whole word by its shape.
extremethe whole wordLearn the whole word by its shape.
famousouThe ou says the u sound, as in cup.
favouriteouThe ou is a tricky spelling: learn the whole word. UK English spells it with our.
FebruaryuaSay it in parts: Feb-roo-ar-ee. The first r is often missed, so keep it in the word.
The first 12 words of this section. Every word is practised in the exercise.

Key ideas

  • Early and heard both have ea, but the ea says a different sound in each.
  • February has the first r that is often missed, so keep it in the word.
  • Eight and eighth both have eigh, which says the ay sound.
  • Important ends in -ant, not -ent.
Worked example 1.5.1
Write the word that means: before the usual time.

Method. Match the meaning to the word, then check its spelling.

  1. Read the meaning. Think about what the clue describes.
    before the usual time
  2. Find the word that matches. Think of the one word with this meaning.
    early
  3. Check the tricky part. The ea says the ur sound, as in earn.
    Tricky part: ea
  4. Write the answer.
    early

Check. Read early and check each letter against the word. ✓

Watch out. The ea says the ur sound, as in earn.

Worked example 1.5.2
Write the missing word: My birthday is in  .

Method. Think what the sentence means, then choose the word that fits the gap and its spelling.

  1. Read the sentence with the gap. Think what the sentence means.
    My birthday is in ___.
  2. Find the word that fits the meaning. the second month of the year, after January
    February
  3. Put the word in the gap. Read the sentence again. It makes sense.
    My birthday is in February.
  4. Write the answer.
    February

Check. Read the whole sentence with February in it. ✓

Watch out. Say it in parts: Feb-roo-ar-ee. The first r is often missed, so keep it in the word.

Worked example 1.5.3
Write the missing letters: h t

Method. Say the whole word, then fill the box with the tricky letters.

  1. Say the whole word. Read every letter in order.
    height
  2. Look at the empty box. The box stands for 4 letter(s) in a row.
    4 missing letter(s)
  3. Write the missing letters. The eigh says the eye sound, as in my.
    eigh

Check. Put eigh back in the box and read height. ✓

Watch out. The eigh says the eye sound, as in my.

Watch out

Watch out: forward and forwards both appear in the list. Foward is not correct.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say February in parts: Feb-roo-ar-ee. Then ask your child to find the tricky part of each word and write it on a card. Test the card on another day.

Exercise 1E  Practice: the statutory word list, part 2

1
FWrite the word for each meaning.
(a)Write the word that means: before the usual time.
(b)Write the word that means: the planet we live on.
(c)Write the word that means: the number after seven.
(d)Write the word that means: as much as is needed.
(e)Write the word that means: physical activity to keep the body healthy.
(f)Write the word that means: something you have done that teaches you something.
2
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: We did an   to see which plant grows fastest.
(b)Write the missing word: The weather was   cold on the mountain.
(c)Write the missing word: The   footballer signed my shirt.
(d)Write the missing word: Blue is my   colour.
(e)Write the missing word: My birthday is in  .
(f)Write the missing word: Please step   and take your turn.
3
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: I had a bowl of   for my snack: an apple and a pear.
(b)Write the missing word: We learnt about verbs in our   lesson.
(c)Write the missing word: A   of children played tag in the park.
(d)Write the missing word: The   stood by the school gate.
(e)Write the missing word: The   showed us round the old castle.
4
FWrite the missing letters.
(a)Write the missing letters: h rd
(b)Write the missing letters: h rt
(c)Write the missing letters: h t
5
FWrite the missing word in each sentence.
(a)Write the missing word: We learn about the Romans in our   lessons.
(b)Write the missing word: Can you   a world with no cars?
(c)Write the missing word: It is   to brush your teeth every day.
6
PSWrite each word correctly.
(a)Ali writes Febuary. Write it correctly.
(b)Mia writes groop. Write it correctly.
(c)Sam writes histery. Write it correctly.
(d)Ben writes eigth. Write it correctly.
7
PSWrite forward correctly. Ben writes foward.
8
RMia says that heard and heart have the same spelling, ea, and the same sound. Is she right? Explain.
9
RWhich word does NOT have the ay sound: eight, early or eighth?
10
PSWrite one sentence with the word important.
11
FWrite the missing letters: h t
12
RWhich of these words have the ou that says the u sound, as in cup: enough, famous or group?
13
RWrite one sentence with forward, and one with forwards. Check each spelling.

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings