OT Word Family Handwriting Workbook
Free printable Foundation handwriting resource
The ot word family workbook includes cot, dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot and rot. Two glossary pages clarify concrete and less easily pictured meanings before two Foundation handwriting sheets practise the o-t ending.
Preview what is inside
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Use the arrows or dots to see the front cover, one glossary page and one handwriting sheet. The two inside-page previews are watermarked; download the PDF for clean printable pages.
Compare the ot ending with the groups on CVC Word Families Poster. For the individual letter movements used in cot and rot, select the relevant examples from Alphabet Letter Formation Worksheets A-Z.
About this ot word family
Cot, dot and pot provide concrete anchors, while got and not depend strongly on a sentence. Hot describes temperature, and rot describes decay. The glossary is particularly helpful for these words because recognising a spelling does not automatically establish its meaning.
The small rounded o is followed by a taller crossed t. Initial g and p descend, d and h rise, and n uses an arch. Children can practise the same ending while attending to several different starting shapes.
What is included?
- 8 words: cot, dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot, rot.
- 2 picture-glossary pages with meanings and example sentences.
- 2 handwriting sheets using grey models, dotted letters and independent copying space.
- 8 PDF pages in total: front cover, instructions, glossary, handwriting sheets and two terms pages.
How to use this ot word family
Read pot and dot, identifying the first sound in each before comparing their shared ending. Discuss their meanings and then demonstrate a single handwriting group. Keep o closed and add the t crossbar after the stem.
Move from grey tracing to dotted letters and finally independent copying. Ask pupils to reread each completed word and check both its spelling and its finishing stroke. Pause if t becomes indistinguishable from l.
Explain not through a simple contrast such as something being present or absent. Read got in its glossary sentence. Discuss hot through pictures or safe verbal examples, and rot through old fruit; no touching hot or decaying materials is needed.
Meanings in the ot word family glossary
cot
Meaning: A small bed with high sides for a baby.
Example: The baby sleeps in a cot.
dot
Meaning: A small round mark.
Example: Put a dot on the page.
got
Meaning: Received or fetched something in the past.
Example: I got a new pen.
hot
Meaning: Having a high temperature.
Example: The pan is hot.
lot
Meaning: A large amount or number.
Example: There is a lot of mud.
not
Meaning: A word that makes a statement negative.
Example: The cat is not wet.
pot
Meaning: A deep container used for cooking or growing plants.
Example: The plant is in a pot.
rot
Meaning: To decay or go bad.
Example: Old fruit can rot.
Teaching and follow-up ideas
- Count or draw a dot and label it on separate paper.
- Compare pot and cot with word cards and explain the changed first sound.
- Make an oral positive/negative contrast using not.
- Check the crossbar on every copied t before choosing a best example.
Support and challenge
Start with cot, dot and pot if got, lot or not need language support. Keep the model visible for t formation. Challenge pupils to explain why rot is an action or process rather than the name of a particular fruit.
Where this fits in learning
The ot word family combines short-o decoding with vocabulary that ranges from objects to grammatical words. Select entries that suit the learner's oral language and known sounds. Later, contrast pot with pod or pop to make the final consonant decisive.
For further teacher reference when modelling the letter movements in cot and rot, NSW Education collects handwriting sequences and advice on formation, posture and pencil grasp. These are background teaching resources, not a claim that this booklet follows a particular syllabus: NSW handwriting teaching resources.
Resource licence
Free for personal, homeschool or single-classroom use under the terms included in the PDF. Resale, redistribution and uploading the file to another website are not permitted.
Questions about this workbook
How should hot be introduced safely?
Use the glossary sentence, a picture or an oral example. The handwriting activity does not require children to handle anything hot.
Which ot word family spellings are practised?
cot, dot, got, hot, lot, not, pot, rot. The glossary gives a meaning and sentence for every entry.
What is in the downloadable PDF?
There are 8 pages altogether: a front cover, one instruction page, 2 glossary page(s), 2 handwriting sheet(s) and two terms pages.
What handwriting style does this edition use?
Foundation letterforms, with grey models and dotted tracing followed by copying into ruled space.
Can I use cot on its own?
Yes. Choose the word group that matches your lesson and leave the others for another session. Read its glossary meaning and example first.
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