UB Word Family Handwriting Workbook
Free printable Foundation handwriting resource
Read cub, hub, rub, sub and tub in this ub word family workbook. A glossary introduces animal, object and action meanings before one Foundation handwriting sheet practises the shared short-u 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 ub ending with the groups on CVC Word Families Poster. For the individual letter movements used in cub and tub, select the relevant examples from Alphabet Letter Formation Worksheets A-Z.
About this ub word family
Cub and tub offer concrete starting points, while hub and sub may need a picture and a short explanation. Rub describes an action. Use each glossary definition as the starting meaning rather than introducing every possible use of these short words.
The final b is tall, while u stays within the smaller-letter band. Initial h also rises above the middle guide, whereas c, r and s begin with different low movements. Checking u remains open at the top helps distinguish it from o.
What is included?
- 5 words: cub, hub, rub, sub, tub.
- 1 picture-glossary page with meanings and example sentences.
- 1 handwriting sheet using grey models, dotted letters and independent copying space.
- 6 PDF pages in total: front cover, instructions, glossary, handwriting sheets and two terms pages.
How to use this ub word family
Introduce cub as a young animal and read c-u-b. Compare tub, identifying the different first letter and meaning. Model the u-b ending with a short u and a taller b, then follow the grey, dotted and independent strips.
Read hub and sub with their examples before expecting independent recognition. For rub, use a simple hand-rubbing demonstration away from the writing task. Ask the child to explain the action and then locate the word in print.
During review, check that b faces the correct way and that u has not closed into a loop. Reread each completed word without the glossary picture to see whether its letters remain clear.
Meanings in the ub word family glossary
cub
Meaning: A young bear, lion, fox or similar animal.
Example: The bear cub stays near its mother.
hub
Meaning: The centre part of a wheel.
Example: The spokes meet at the hub.
rub
Meaning: To move against something with pressure.
Example: Rub your hands together.
sub
Meaning: A short word for a submarine.
Example: The sub moves under water.
tub
Meaning: A wide open container.
Example: Fill the tub with water.
Teaching and follow-up ideas
- Compare cub and tub by changing one initial letter card.
- Identify a hub in an appropriate wheel picture.
- Describe rubbing hands together and find rub among the word cards.
- Check the open top of u in an independently written example.
Support and challenge
Start with cub, tub and rub if hub or sub are unfamiliar. Rehearse u separately when it resembles o. Challenge pupils to explain how a cub differs from an adult animal while identifying the printed word cub.
Where this fits in learning
The ub word family can consolidate short u and final-b formation. Vocabulary understanding should be checked individually, especially for hub and sub. Later, contrast tub and tug so the final consonant cannot be predicted from the start.
For further teacher reference when modelling the letter movements in cub and tub, 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
What letter-height contrast should children notice?
The u stays in the smaller-letter band while the final b has a taller stem. The models show those different heights within every target word.
Which ub word family spellings are practised?
cub, hub, rub, sub, tub. The glossary gives a meaning and sentence for every entry.
What is in the downloadable PDF?
There are 6 pages altogether: a front cover, one instruction page, 1 glossary page(s), 1 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 cub 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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