Ways to Embed Cursive Writing Throughout Various Curriculum Areas
Opportunities to integrate cursive writing in other subject areas in order to support continued student success.
Language:
Letter Writing - use cursive writing to write letters to a school community member, a municipal/provincial/federal government official about a social issue, a family member, Santa Claus, etc.
Lists - Hand Write lists on topics of the students’ choosing and interest
Journal writing - Hand write journal entries
Invite students to experiment with different fonts
Provide a practice page inside a plastic sleeve to practice handwriting with a dry erase marker
Provide examples of cursive writing texts for students to read
Penpal project - handwrite letters to a class in another school
Writing
Use cursive writing during the writing process (e.g., during brainstorming)
Use elements of effective presentation through cursive writing by exploring different fonts, sizes, colours
Board Writing:
Teacher writes on board in cursive and students read
Vocabulary words in cursive writing
Students write date on the board in cursive
Digital Shared Readings: change font to have students read in cursive
Social Studies:
Grade 3 - Compare and describe how handwriting was used in other communities (Simulate a day in the life of students in communities in Canada from 1750-1850 - e.g. cursive writing on slates)
Grade 4 Early Societies - Examine ways that different societies used to communicate (i.e., calligraphy, hieroglyphics, etc.)
Grade 5 Role of Government and Citizenship - Handwrite a classroom bill of rights
History:
Examine a primary source (historical document) that includes a handwritten component (i.e. - write a letter from the perspective of a historical figure)
Geography:
Write a handwritten letter to a government official concerning an environmental or social issue (i.e., global warming, foreign aid, potable water, etc.)
Visual Arts:
Artist sign their paintings/drawings in cursive. Do what artists do. Have students sign their artwork in cursive.
Grade 3 - Create a two or three-dimensional work of art of student’s name in cursive writing, using elements of design (line, shape and form, space, colour, texture) t
Grade 3 - Explore how the element of line is used in different cursive fonts.
Mathematics:
Exploring Symmetry - Students can create mirror image of their handwritten names
Exploring Area - Students can handwrite their names on a large piece of paper, then count how many blocks to cover their handwritten name
Articles to review:
Article on the value of cursive writing in Psychology Today: “Why Writing by Hand Could Make You Smarter” -