Grades 2–5
Sideways and Down Letters: G, H, P and Q
G and H point to the side. P and Q tip down. Name each handshape.
ASL worksheet · Look-alike letters
Two-Finger Letters: U, V, R and K
Four letters use two fingers up. Read what makes each one different, then 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:
- Look at the two fingers
- U: the pointer and middle fingers stand up, pressed together.
- V: the pointer and middle fingers stand up and spread apart, like a peace sign.
- R: the pointer and middle fingers cross.
- K: the pointer and middle fingers spread apart and the thumb touches the middle finger between them.
- Write the letter for each handshape.
Teacher tip
Say “together, apart, crossed, thumb” as kids make U, V, R and K. The four words are the four differences, and the rhythm helps them stick.
How to use it
- Teach one look-alike group at a time and name the one difference that matters, like where the thumb goes.
- Have kids make each pair side by side, one hand each, and compare.
- Make every handshape with your own hand as kids work. Your hand is the best model in the room.
Watch for
Thumbs in the wrong spot. For A the thumb is at the side, for S it is across the front.
Talk about it
- What is the one thing that changes between M and N?
- How is your hand different from the picture? What would you change?
Take it further
Make a class poster of each look-alike group with kids’ own clue words.
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
Letters That Move: J and Z
J and Z are the only letters that move. Trace the path each one draws in the air.
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.
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