Grades 2–5
Letters That Move: J and Z
J and Z are the only letters that move. Trace the path each one draws in the air.
ASL worksheet · Look-alike letters
Sideways and Down Letters: G, H, P and Q
G and H point to the side. P and Q tip down. Name each handshape.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Topic
- Look-alike letters
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Telling apart A, S, T, M, N and E, Telling apart U, V, R and K, Reading the direction G, H, P and Q point, Making the motion for J and Z
What kids do
Printed on the sheet:
- Which way do the fingers point?
- G: the pointer finger and thumb point to the side. H: the pointer and middle fingers point to the side, together.
- Q: like G, but the fingers point down. P: like K, but the hand tips over so the middle finger points down.
- Write the letter for each handshape.
Teacher tip
Pair the letters: G and Q are the same shape pointing different ways, and so are K and P. Teach the sideways or up one first, then just turn the hand down.
How to use it
- Read the clue box aloud before kids name the handshapes.
- Teach one look-alike group at a time and name the one difference that matters, like where the thumb goes.
- Make every handshape with your own hand as kids work. Your hand is the best model in the room.
Watch for
Mixing up U and V. U fingers touch; V fingers spread.
Talk about it
- How is P like K? How is Q like G?
- Why do you think ASL is its own language and not English on the hands?
Take it further
Sign a look-alike letter and have kids show thumbs up if it is the one you named.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More look-alike letters worksheets
Grades 2–5
Fist Letters: A, S, T, M, N and E
These six letters all start with a closed hand. Read where the thumb goes, then name each handshape.
Grades 2–5
Two-Finger Letters: U, V, R and K
Four letters use two fingers up. Read what makes each one different, then name each handshape.
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