UM Word Family Handwriting Workbook
Free printable Foundation handwriting resource
Practise gum, hum, mum, sum and yum with this um word family workbook. Glossary definitions connect everyday vocabulary, a musical action and a maths word before a single Foundation handwriting sheet.
Preview what is inside
1 of 3
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 um ending with the groups on CVC Word Families Poster. For the individual letter movements used in gum and yum, select the relevant examples from Alphabet Letter Formation Worksheets A-Z.
About this um word family
Hum means making a tune with closed lips, sum is the result of adding, and yum is an expression used when food tastes good. Mum is a familiar family word for many children, while gum should be introduced through the specific glossary meaning.
The u-m ending stays mostly within the smaller-letter band. Mum repeats m at both ends, making it useful for checking the arches. Initial g and y have descending parts, while h has a taller stem.
What is included?
- 5 words: gum, hum, mum, sum, yum.
- 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 um word family
Begin by humming a short tune and identifying hum. Read its three letters aloud, then compare mum by changing the first sound. Discuss the vocabulary in a way that respects different family circumstances; use a fictional sentence when appropriate.
Trace the grey models, follow the dots and copy independently. Check that u remains open at the top and m has the intended arches. In mum, compare both m letters rather than treating the word as a single memorised shape.
Introduce sum with two small groups of counters and a spoken addition example. Explain yum as something a speaker says rather than an object. Return to the glossary sentences before writing these entries.
Meanings in the um word family glossary
gum
Meaning: The firm pink tissue around your teeth.
Example: Brush gently along the gum.
hum
Meaning: To make a tune with your lips closed.
Example: I can hum a song.
mum
Meaning: Another word for mother.
Example: My mum reads to me.
sum
Meaning: The answer when numbers are added.
Example: The sum of two and one is three.
yum
Meaning: Something you say when food tastes good.
Example: Yum, this jam tastes good!
Teaching and follow-up ideas
- Hum a tune and point to the written word hum.
- Add two groups of counters and discuss their sum orally.
- Compare the first and last m in mum for consistent arches.
- Say yum in a food sentence and explain what the speaker means.
Support and challenge
Rehearse u and m separately if they merge into extra arches. Read the sum definition aloud for learners unfamiliar with maths vocabulary. Challenge children to distinguish the action hum from the spoken expression yum.
Where this fits in learning
The um word family is useful after short u and its initial consonants are known. It links handwriting with oral language across music, family vocabulary and simple maths. Later, contrast sum and sun so the final letter must be identified precisely.
For further teacher reference when modelling the letter movements in gum and yum, 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
Is sum being used as a maths word?
Yes. It means the answer when numbers are added, with an example in the glossary. The sheet practises writing the word rather than completing arithmetic exercises.
Which um word family spellings are practised?
gum, hum, mum, sum, yum. 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 gum 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.
Leave a Reply