diff --git a/.planning/STATE.md b/.planning/STATE.md
index 427494a..1344c7d 100644
--- a/.planning/STATE.md
+++ b/.planning/STATE.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ See: .planning/PROJECT.md (updated 2026-03-29)
Phase: 04
Plan: Not started
Status: Phase complete — ready for verification
-Last activity: 2026-03-29
+Last activity: 2026-03-29 - Completed quick task 260329-ten: Leertaste-Symbol in Entdecken-Phase erklären
Progress: [░░░░░░░░░░] 0%
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ None yet.
None yet.
+### Quick Tasks Completed
+
+| # | Description | Date | Commit | Directory |
+|---|-------------|------|--------|-----------|
+| 260329-ten | Leertaste-Symbol in Entdecken-Phase erklären | 2026-03-29 | a7afe06 | [260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl](./quick/260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl/) |
+
## Session Continuity
Last session: 2026-03-29T16:23:36.950Z
diff --git a/.planning/quick/260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl/260329-ten-PLAN.md b/.planning/quick/260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl/260329-ten-PLAN.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e15d482
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.planning/quick/260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl/260329-ten-PLAN.md
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+---
+phase: quick
+plan: 260329-ten
+type: execute
+wave: 1
+depends_on: []
+files_modified:
+ - src/ui/screens.ts
+autonomous: true
+must_haves:
+ truths:
+ - "Space bar is explained in the discover phase of level 1 before practice begins"
+ - "The ␣ symbol is shown and named so the child knows what it means in practice"
+ - "The child must press the space bar once during discover to confirm understanding"
+ artifacts:
+ - path: "src/ui/screens.ts"
+ provides: "Space bar discover step in runDiscoverPhase"
+ contains: "Leertaste"
+ key_links:
+ - from: "src/ui/screens.ts runDiscoverPhase"
+ to: "src/ui/screens.ts runLetterExercise"
+ via: "space symbol ␣ introduced in discover, then used in practice"
+ pattern: "\\u2423"
+---
+
+
+Show and explain the space bar (Leertaste) and its symbol ␣ during the discover phase of level 1, so the child understands what the symbol means before encountering it in practice.
+
+Purpose: Currently `runDiscoverPhase()` skips space entirely (`if (key === " ") continue`). During practice, space appears as the ␣ symbol (U+2423), but the child has never seen this symbol explained. This is confusing for a 7-year-old.
+
+Output: Modified discover phase that includes a special step for the space bar.
+
+
+
+@.planning/quick/260329-ten-leertaste-symbol-in-entdecken-phase-erkl/260329-ten-PLAN.md
+
+
+
+@src/ui/screens.ts (main file to modify — discover phase at ~line 356-422)
+@src/companion/fallbacks.ts (has existing space fallback text at line 98-101)
+@src/companion/companion.ts (getLetterIntro function — generates intro text via AI or fallback)
+@src/game/keyboard.ts (space key rendering — line 93, 101)
+
+
+
+
+
+ Task 1: Add space bar discover step in runDiscoverPhase
+ src/ui/screens.ts
+
+In `runDiscoverPhase()` (around line 361-417), replace the space-skipping logic with a dedicated space discover step.
+
+Current code (line 363):
+```
+if (key === " ") continue; // Skip space in discover
+```
+
+Replace with a special branch for space that:
+
+1. Instead of `continue`, check `if (key === " ")` and handle it specially (do NOT skip it).
+
+2. For the companion text: call `getLetterIntro(characterType, "LEERTASTE", fingerDescriptions[" "]!, db)` — but note the AI prompt uses the letter parameter as the key name. Since the existing fallback and AI both work with letter=" ", pass " " as the letter. However, the fallback text (line 98-101 in fallbacks.ts) already has a good explanation: "Die grosse Leertaste ganz unten drueckst du mit dem Daumen. Einfach druecken!"
+
+ Actually, to keep it simple and avoid the AI generating something that doesn't mention the ␣ symbol, use a hardcoded intro text instead of calling getLetterIntro. Set:
+ ```typescript
+ companionText.textContent = "Siehst du die grosse Taste ganz unten? Das ist die Leertaste! Wenn du dieses Zeichen siehst: ␣ — dann drueckst du mit dem Daumen die Leertaste. Probier es aus!";
+ ```
+
+3. For the letter display area, show the ␣ symbol large (same as other letters use the `falling-letter` class), and add a small label underneath:
+ ```typescript
+ letterArea.innerHTML = "";
+ const letterEl = document.createElement("div");
+ letterEl.className = "falling-letter";
+ letterEl.textContent = "\u2423"; // ␣ symbol
+ letterArea.appendChild(letterEl);
+ const labelEl = document.createElement("div");
+ labelEl.style.cssText = "text-align: center; font-size: 1.2rem; color: var(--text-secondary, #666); margin-top: 0.5rem; font-family: 'Quicksand', sans-serif;";
+ labelEl.textContent = "Leertaste";
+ letterArea.appendChild(labelEl);
+ ```
+
+4. Highlight and pulse the space key on the keyboard (same as other keys):
+ ```typescript
+ highlightKey(" ");
+ const keyEl = document.querySelector('[data-key=" "]') as HTMLElement | null;
+ if (keyEl) {
+ keyEl.classList.add("keyboard__key--discover-pulse");
+ }
+ ```
+
+5. Wait for the child to press the space bar (same pattern as other keys):
+ ```typescript
+ await new Promise((resolve) => {
+ function onKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent): void {
+ if (e.key !== " ") return;
+ e.preventDefault();
+ pressKey(e.key);
+ document.removeEventListener("keydown", onKeyDown);
+ activeKeyDown = null;
+ if (keyEl) {
+ keyEl.classList.remove("keyboard__key--discover-pulse");
+ }
+ resolve();
+ }
+ if (activeKeyDown) {
+ document.removeEventListener("keydown", activeKeyDown);
+ }
+ activeKeyDown = onKeyDown;
+ document.addEventListener("keydown", onKeyDown);
+ });
+ ```
+
+6. After the await, do NOT clear letterArea/companionText here — let the normal loop cleanup at end of function handle it (or the next iteration). Actually, the normal flow after the for-loop clears these on lines 420-421, so this is fine.
+
+Important: Keep the space handling INSIDE the for-loop, as a special branch. The structure should be:
+```typescript
+for (const key of levelDef.newKeys) {
+ if (cancelled) return;
+
+ if (key === " ") {
+ // Special space bar discover step (code from above)
+ // ... show companion text, show ␣ symbol, highlight key, wait for press
+ continue;
+ }
+
+ // Existing letter discover code stays unchanged
+ const fingerDesc = fingerDescriptions[key] || "ein Finger";
+ // ... rest of existing code
+}
+```
+
+This way the space is processed BEFORE the continue, shown to the child, and then the loop continues to clean up naturally.
+
+
+ cd /home/dev/workspace/zauberwald && npx vitest run --reporter=verbose 2>&1 | tail -20
+
+
+ - Level 1 discover phase no longer skips space
+ - Space bar step shows the ␣ symbol with "Leertaste" label underneath
+ - Companion explains what the symbol means in child-friendly German
+ - Space key pulses on keyboard during the discover step
+ - Child must press space bar to continue
+ - All existing tests still pass
+
+
+
+
+
+
+1. Run existing tests: `npx vitest run` — all pass
+2. Manual: Start level 1 lesson. In the discover phase, after F and J are introduced, the space bar step should appear showing ␣ with explanation text. Pressing space advances past it.
+3. In the following practice phase, when ␣ appears as a target, the child already knows what it means.
+
+
+
+- The ␣ symbol and "Leertaste" concept are introduced in the discover phase before they appear in practice
+- The discover step follows the same UX pattern as letter discover steps (companion text + visual + keyboard highlight + press to confirm)
+- No regressions in existing tests
+
+
+