Recognise and classify
Name the seven new letters, identify their main sounds, and classify the four connection breakers.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this lesson
You already know seven letters. Today you double that total to fourteen and learn a connection rule that will matter in every future reading and writing lesson.
Explain the clues
Use shape, dot and sound evidence to distinguish every new letter and explain the connection rule.
Work from memory
Write letters 1–14 in order and classify the learned sun and moon letters without a chart.
Deepen formal accuracy
Compare familiar recitation knowledge with precise MSA names, articulation and connection language.
Route overview
This Lesson’s Journey
Secure F1-L01
Recall line direction, alif and the two first shape families before adding anything new.
Go to retrieval →Seven new letters
Learn accurate names, sounds, dot positions and the difference between connector types.
Go to Parts 1–2 →Sun or moon?
Listen for whether the lām in ال is heard or absorbed.
Go to Part 3 →Sort, form and explain
Apply the family, connection and sound rules in games and a final check.
Go to Part 4 →Retrieve before adding
F1-L01 readiness check مُرَاجَعَةٌ سَرِيعَةٌ
Use the feedback to repair any gap before you start the new letter group.
Four-question retrieval
Answer once, read the repair cue, then retry if needed.
1. Which is alif?
2. Which letter has three dots above?
3. Which bowl-family letter has no dot?
4. Where does an Arabic line begin?
Part 1 · Connection breakers
Two paired families د · ذ · ر · ز
Each pair shares a base shape. A dot creates the second family member. All four share the same connection behaviour.
The dāl pair
د
دَال
No dot · /d/
ذ
ذَال
One dot above · /ð/
Accuracy point: the dot of ذ is above, never below.
The rāʾ/zāy pair
ر
رَاء
No dot · /r/
ز
زَاي
One dot above · /z/
Both pairs are shown in isolated form. Positional-form mastery comes later in F1-L05.
The connection rule — say the side clearly
Arabic is read from right to left. The four letters د، ذ، ر، ز may connect to a preceding letter on their right, but they do not connect to the following letter on their left. They create a visible break before the next letter.
Following letter
on the left
on the left
✕ BREAK
د ذ ر ز
non-connector
non-connector
Precision matters: “does not connect to the following
letter on its left” is clearer than saying “never joins right/left,” which can reverse the rule
accidentally.
Pronunciation focus
د
/d/ — a clear voiced d, close to the
beginning of English “door”.
ذ
/ð/ — tongue tip lightly at or between the teeth, as
in English “this”; do not turn it into /z/ or /d/.
ر
/r/ — a light tap or short trill near the front of
the mouth, not the English approximant r.
ز
/z/ — a voiced buzzing sound, as in English “zoo”.
Game · Connection Gate
Classify each new letter. The rule refers to connection behaviour, not reading direction.
؟Press start
Part 2 · Connector families
Teeth, dots and an emphatic sound س · ش · ص
These three letters can connect on both sides when their neighbours also permit connection.
The tooth family
س
سِين
No dots · /s/
ش
شِين
Three dots above · /ʃ/
Count the three tooth-like rises in the shared body before you inspect the dots.
The first emphatic letter
ص
صَاد
No dot · emphatic /sˤ/
There is no exact English equivalent. Begin with /s/, then raise the back of the tongue and give the sound a darker, fuller quality.
Family preview only: the dotted partner ض is letter 15 and belongs to F1-L03. It is not
assessed here.
Pronunciation contrast
س
/s/ — a plain voiceless hiss, like the s in
“sun”.
ش
/ʃ/ — the sound at the beginning of English “ship”.
ص
/sˤ/ — an emphatic, darker s; keep it
distinct from plain س.
Game · Letter Detective
Use shape, dots and sound together. Guessing from only one clue is less reliable.
Press start
Part 3 · Listen and notice
Sun letters and moon letters الحُرُوفُ الشَّمْسِيَّةُ وَالقَمَرِيَّةُ
This is an oral awareness rule for now. You are learning what to listen for, not memorising every letter in the full classification.
Listening practice · sun and moon letters
🎧 Recorded audio.
Listen for the definite article. Write sun when the lām is absorbed and moon when it is heard.
Type sun or moon for each of the six items before checking.
Write sun or moon with a mouse, finger or pen. Handwriting is not recognised or scored automatically.
Complete this task on paper, then return here to check or record your result.
Listening script
الشَّمْسُ. السَّمَكُ. الدَّرْسُ. القَمَرُ.
الكِتَابُ. الوَرْدُ.
Check answers
Sun: الشَّمْسُ، السَّمَكُ، الدَّرْسُ. Moon: القَمَرُ، الكِتَابُ، الوَرْدُ.
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al-→ash-shams
The lām sound in ال is not heard. It assimilates into the following sun-letter sound, which is pronounced strongly or doubled.
al-→al-qamar
The lām sound in ال is heard clearly before a moon letter.
Important language point: the spelling of the definite
article remains ال in both cases. The pronunciation
changes. The shadda visible in الشَّمْسُ is taught
formally later.
Sun letters learned so far
تثدذرزسشص
Nine of the first fourteen letters are sun letters.
Moon letters learned so far
ابجحخ
Five of the first fourteen letters are moon letters.
Game · Sunlight or Moonlight?
Sort all fourteen learned letters. Read each explanation even when your answer is correct.
؟Press start
Part 4 · Apply and form
Recognition, formation and speaking practice تَدَرَّبْ ثُمَّ أَظْهِرْ تَعَلُّمَكَ
Use the demonstrated formation sequence or a trusted formation sheet. The final printed glyph alone does not show stroke order.
Formation tracker · isolated forms only
Study the demonstrated sequence for each isolated letter, air-write it, then form it four times on lined paper. Tick only after checking body shape and dot placement.
Type, write or draw the seven new isolated letters after studying a verified model.
Write with a mouse, finger or pen. Handwriting is not recognised or scored automatically.
Complete this task on paper, then return here to check or record your result.
د
ذ
ر
ز
س
ش
ص
Partner flash
- Partner A shows one of the fourteen learned letters.
- Partner B says its name and main sound.
- For today's letters, add “break” or “connect”.
- Swap after seven cards.
Sound corners
Label seven spaces with the new letters. A partner produces a consonant sound; point or move to the matching space, then explain the clue.
Listening + movementSun/moon response
Show a sun card when lām would assimilate and a moon card when lām would be heard. Justify one response aloud or in writing.
Speaking + reasoningHeritage Reader extension: write الشَّمْسُ and الْقَمَرُ,
underline ال, circle the first root letter, and explain
orally why the pronunciation differs. Then supply one accurate additional example of each type.
Demonstrate
Final mastery check التَّحَقُّقُ النِّهَائِيُّ
The questions sample the stated lesson objectives: recognition, sound, dot placement, connection behaviour and introductory sun/moon awareness.
Eight-item final check
Choose carefully. Feedback names the rule, not just the answer.
1. Which letter has the shape of د plus one dot above?
2. Which is the dotted partner of ر?
3. Which tooth-family letter has three dots above?
4. Which letter has the emphatic /sˤ/ sound?
5. A non-connector creates a break before the following letter on which side?
6. Which set contains only today's connection breakers?
7. Which learned letter is a sun letter?
8. Which learned letter is a moon letter?
Reflection
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Homework: write letters 1–14 in standard alphabet order
from memory. Beside each, write S for sun or M for moon using the lesson chart to check. Circle د، ذ، ر، ز as today's non-connectors.
Can-do exit ticket
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