Fading Letter Boxes
Read the word. Write it three times: in the bold boxes, in the light boxes, then on the line all by yourself. Your letters stay the same size even when the boxes go away!
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This is sheet #126124601.
How to do it
- Read the word in its boxes.
- Write it in bold boxes, then light boxes.
- Write it on the plain line on your own.
Teaching tip
Compare the last word to the first. Are the letters the same size?

About this worksheet
Each word is written three times as the boxes fade away, ending on a plain line.
What kids practice
Letter boxes, sometimes called shape boxes, give every letter its own box shaped like the letter. Small letters get a short box, tall letters and capitals a tall box, and tail letters a box that hangs below the line. In third grade they help kids who still mix up letter sizes in print, alongside learning cursive.
Watch for
- Making tall letters short. Tall letters and capitals touch the top of the box.
- Letting tails sit on the line. Tails hang down into the bottom of the box.
- Writing two letters in one box, or skipping the space between words.
It's free to print, with Fewer, Standard or More on the page. See the full letter boxes guide for 3rd grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. Letter Boxes ChartSmall, tall and tail letters, each with its box shape, and the word "garden" in its boxes.
2. Copy Words in Bold BoxesLonger words like careful, rainbow and breakfast to copy into letter boxes, with shaded boxes in a strong blue, the easiest to see.
3. Copy Words in Light BoxesLonger words like careful, rainbow and breakfast to copy into letter boxes, with pale shaded boxes, for kids who need less help.
4. Copy Words in Bold OutlinesLonger words like careful, rainbow and breakfast to copy into letter boxes, with boxes drawn with a dark outline.
5. Copy Words in Light OutlinesLonger words like careful, rainbow and breakfast to copy into letter boxes, with faint outlines, the last step before plain lines.
6. Copy Sentences in Bold BoxesSentences like "Our class planted a garden." to copy one letter per box, with shaded boxes in a strong blue, the easiest to see.
7. Copy Sentences in Light BoxesSentences like "Our class planted a garden." to copy one letter per box, with pale shaded boxes, for kids who need less help.
8. Copy Sentences in Bold OutlinesSentences like "Our class planted a garden." to copy one letter per box, with boxes drawn with a dark outline.
9. Copy Sentences in Light OutlinesSentences like "Our class planted a garden." to copy one letter per box, with faint outlines, the last step before plain lines.