Guided Reading

Panda-monium

Read along as you listen. Answer the following questions:

• What does 'ursine' mean?
• Why does the author use the term 'snide snoops'?
• Why do the animals perform a 'subtle bowing of the head' when they pass Chu Li's dwelling?

Bothering the Council

Here's a link to the contact details of the local council department we are going to get in touch with regarding the change at the crossing.

Contact us: road safety improvements

1. Draft your letter or email. 
2. Review it with a partner. 
3. Email or post your letter to the good folks at the council.

Citizens of the World

This is a poem translated into English from French. In French, it sounds brilliant; it rhymes and flows with rhythmn. In English, it's not so good - as you can see. Your task is to rewrite it: chop it, change it, add stuff, take stuff away, etcetera, etcetera.

Citizens of the World

We spend our holidays in Spain,


Our trainers are made in South Korea

Our orange juice comes from Israel,

We calculate in Arabic figures.



We eat Italian spaghetti

We use a Latin alphabet,

Our video games come from Japan,

Our shirts come from Portugal,

Our jeans come from United States.



Our favourite singer comes from North Africa,

Our book was printed in Hong Kong,

We watch American films,

Our socks come from China.



Our favourite footballer comes from South America

And we can surf anywhere in the world.

The world is our home.

I am a citizen of planet Earth.

What makes a good discussion or argument text?

What makes a good discussion or argument text?

States Review Cell Phone Bans

Arguments and Discussion: Edge Lane Development

Edge Lane fly past

Should Edge Lane be redeveloped: Yes

Should Edge Lane be redeveloped: No

Homes Demolition Plan Challenged

Yo Liverpool Message board: Edge Lane

Arguments

Click on the appropriate link for your task. What does it tell you about argument or discussion texts?

Kids views on Newsround

Newsround article

Parents' views at The Mirror

Explanation Texts

What do we need to be able to do to make our podcasts effective?

How Stuff Works


Generic text structure


The structure of an explanation text is often (but not always):

• a general statement to introduce the topic, for example, in the autumn some birds migrate

• a series of logical steps explaining how or why something occurs, for example because hours of daylight shorten…

• steps continue until the final state is produced or the explanation is complete


Language features
The language features of an explanation text are often (but not always):

• written in simple present tense, for example, many birds fly south

• use connectives that signal time, for example, then, next, several months later

• use causal connectives, for example because, so, this causes


Knowledge for the writer

• decide whether diagrams, charts, illustrations or a flow chart would help to explain

• use a title that shows what you are writing about

• using how or why in the title helps. Try to make the title intrigue the reader, for example, Why do sloths hang about?

• use the first paragraph to introduce your subject to the reader

• organise the writing and illustrations to explain: what you need, how it works, why it works (cause and effect), when and where it works, and what it is used for

• add in extra, interesting information

• try to end by relating the subject to the reader

• if you use specialised terminology, a glossary may be needed

• interest the reader with exclamation, for example Beware – whirlwinds can kill! Or use questions: Did you know that...?

• draw the reader in, for example strange as it may seem...; not many people know that...,etc

• re-read your explanation, pretending to know nothing about the subject – is it clear?

• recognise that explanation texts can be adapted or combined with other text types depending on the audience and purpose

Digging

Listen to the poem, then discuss these questions:

• What is 'snug as a gun' an example of?
• How many members of his family does the poet talk about?
• What does the poet use to 'dig'? How?

Digging

Guided Read: Glastonbury

Read the article and answer the questions:

Mud for Sale

A Perfectly Persuasive Post

Use the links to give examples of the language features of persuasive texts:

Zhu Zhu Pets

Daily Mirror: Coco Snack Trap

Davy Liver Cabs

World Book Day

Play the games, James:

http://www.worldbookday.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=82

Silent consonants

Shoot down the words with silent letters before they take over Earth.

Hollywood for Haiti

Read the script for the news recount.

Script

List the features and then make a writing frame.

Here is the podcast in case you need it:

Podcast

More Haiti Stories

Use the links for our Big Write activities:

Children pulled from Haiti rubble

Emergency Appeal for Haiti

Beyonce and Madonna added to 'Hope For Haiti' benefit shows

Haiti Disaster

Walt: compare the effectiveness of different news media.

Compare these sites, video and podcasts about the Haiti disaster. Which do you think is most effective? Why?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8460000/newsid_8464800/8464887.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/wnc/

Confusing Words

Do the crosswords to show you can spell and use confusing words:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/confusingwords/game.shtml

Whomp!

Very, very very addictive! I should have definitely done some work instead of playing on this for the last half an hour!

http://www.fekids.com/kln/games/whomp/whomp.html

Our Favourite Authors

The links below willl take you to some super pages about books by your favourite authors:

Horrid Henry: http://www.horridhenry.co.uk/

Roald Dahl: http://www.roalddahl.com/

The Tiara Club: http://www.tiaraclub.co.uk/

Animal Ark: http://www.animalark.co.uk/

Here you will find Big Toe Books, where you can listen to your favourite stories being read out loud.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigtoe/books/

I would recommend Flat Stanley to you all. Give it a try!

I didn't know,/ That you wrote poetry.

Use the linky-poops to explore poems on your chosen theme:

http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/home.do

Take the Tour 1

Let Liam take you on a tour of Heygreen Primary School:

http://www.box.net/shared/ezv75jney3