UT Word Family Handwriting Workbook
Free printable Foundation handwriting resource
This ut word family workbook practises but, cut, hut, nut and rut. The glossary explains each meaning, including the connecting word but and the less familiar rut, before Foundation tracing and independent word copying.
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 ut ending with the groups on CVC Word Families Poster. For the individual letter movements used in but and rut, select the relevant examples from Alphabet Letter Formation Worksheets A-Z.
About this ut word family
Hut and nut provide concrete anchors; cut describes an action, and rut is a groove or track in the ground. But links contrasting ideas and needs a sentence rather than a picture label. Introduce that difference explicitly so pupils understand why one entry is harder to illustrate.
The u-t ending combines an open-topped small letter with a taller crossed stem. Initial b and h rise, whereas c and r begin lower. Check both the u shape and t cross stroke as children move away from tracing support.
What is included?
- 5 words: but, cut, hut, nut, rut.
- 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 ut word family
Start with hut and nut, sounding out all three letters and discussing their meanings. Compare the initial consonants, then select one handwriting group. Model u followed by t, adding the crossbar clearly.
Let learners trace the grey strip, follow the dotted examples and copy independently. Check that t remains distinct from l and that u has not become a closed o. Read the completed word aloud before moving on.
Explain rut with a picture of a wheel track. Use but in a simple spoken contrast and read the glossary example aloud. Introduce cut through a safe picture or adult explanation; cutting is an optional extension, not an activity printed on the handwriting page.
Meanings in the ut word family glossary
but
Meaning: A word that joins contrasting ideas.
Example: I ran, but I did not win.
cut
Meaning: To divide or make an opening with a sharp tool.
Example: Cut the paper with safe scissors.
hut
Meaning: A small simple building.
Example: The hut has a wooden door.
nut
Meaning: A hard-shelled fruit with an edible seed.
Example: The squirrel found a nut.
rut
Meaning: A deep track made by a wheel.
Example: The wheel made a rut in the mud.
Teaching and follow-up ideas
- Compare hut and nut using word cards before looking at their pictures.
- Find a rut in a clear photograph of a track and discuss how it was made.
- Create an oral contrast using but and explain what changes between the two ideas.
- Check each copied t for its cross stroke and appropriate height.
Support and challenge
Begin with hut and nut if but and rut need more language support. Keep a clear t model close to the independent strip. Challenge pupils to explain the difference between a rut and a hut without relying on rhyme alone.
Where this fits in learning
The ut word family provides short-u practice with a mixture of nouns, an action and a connecting word. Teach but in context while continuing to decode its letters. Once the set is secure, mix nut with another ending so children check the final consonant.
For further teacher reference when modelling the letter movements in but and rut, 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
Why is but included without a straightforward object picture?
But connects contrasting ideas. Its glossary sentence explains that use, while the handwriting sheet practises its regular three-letter spelling.
Which ut word family spellings are practised?
but, cut, hut, nut, rut. 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 but 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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