Procedure

First, have the students use the clay from their upper case alphabets to make new rolls. (If they cannot part with their upper case alphabets yet, you will need more clay. From the rolls, they can create a “Lower Case Alphabet Factory”. Have the students first look for patterns as follows: How many letters have a circle the same size as the letter o? How many letters have a line the same size as the letter l? How many letters have a line the same size as the letter i? How many letters have a diagonal line the same size as the v? etc.

Required Parts:

Small circles:  9 (for a, b, c, d, e, g, o, p, and q)

Small vertical lines: 9 (should be same height as o) (6 for a, i, m, n, r and u; the e and z require horizontal lines of approximately the same size, bringing the total count to 9; if they wish to include cross pieces for “f” and “t”, they will need 11)

Tall vertical lines: 8 (should be right height for letter b) (for b, d, h, k, l, p, q, and t)

Small diagonal lines: 10 (for v(2), w(4), x(2), y, z)

Half loops: 3 + 2 (for h, n and u -- the loops for m are a little shorter, but can also be cut now)

Long hooks: 2 (for j and f – g requires a slightly longer hook)

Other letters require their own specialized parts.  These include small horizontal lines for f and t (if not already cut), the hook for g, dots for i and j, diagonal lines for k, loops for m, part-loop for r, long diagonal line for y and a very long piece for s.

Lower case assembly instructions:

• “z”: Take two horizontal pieces and set them up beside an “o”  to determine how tall the z should     be. Place the diagonal piece where it belongs.

• “y”: Notice together that the top part of the y is the same as the v. Set up the small diagonal piece and attach a long diagonal part that should be as tall as the letter “l” pieces.

• “w” and “v”: Make three v’s; turn two into a w and trim as necessary.

• “u”: Use pre-cut pieces.

• “t, s, r, q, p, o, n, m, l”: Use pre-cut pieces or add needed pieces as you go along.

• “k”: Make sure that the diagonal part of the k is no higher than the m.

• “j, i, h, g, f, d, b, a : Use pre-cut pieces or add needed pieces.

• “e and c”: take circles and cut out what is not needed; add piece to e.

• Alternate sequence: o, i, l, a, b, d, p, q, c, e, h, n, u, m, r, f, j, g, k, s, t, v, w, x, y, z

As above, monitor for problem letters, check orientation (focus point) as needed, and have students check their letters for accuracy.

Repeat above steps for Letter Formation and Sequence for the lower case alphabet.