Basic 1 · English Language
Stories, the Alphabet and Copying
In this topic you will listen to stories and name the characters, learn the alphabet in order, copy letters and use capital letters.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name characters in a story and their roles
- Say the alphabet in order
- Copy letters clearly
- Use a capital letter for "I"
What you already know
- Rhymes and copying letters
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Oral Language
- Sub-strand
- Story Telling
- Indicator
- B1.1.3.1.1 – Listen to stories and be able to identify characters with their roles
Introduction
Stories have characters. A character can be a person or an animal.
Characters in a Story
Story: "The tortoise and the hare had a race. The hare ran fast and then slept. The tortoise walked slowly and did not stop. The tortoise won."
| Character | What it did |
|---|---|
| hare | ran fast, then slept |
| tortoise | walked slowly without stopping, and won |
Lesson: Slow and steady wins the race.
New words
- character
- A person or animal in a story.
- role
- What a character does in the story.
- race
- A contest to see who is fastest.
Summary
- Characters are the people or animals in a story.
- The tortoise won because it did not stop.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who won the race?
- A. The tortoise
- B. The hare
- C. The lion
- D. Nobody
Show answer
Answer: The tortoiseIt kept going.2. The hare slept during the race.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThe story says so.3. A person or animal in a story is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: characterThat is a character.4. What lesson does the story teach?
Show answer
Answer: Slow and steady wins the race.Keep going and do not give up.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Reading
- Sub-strand
- Phonics
- Indicator
- B1.2.2.1.1 – Identify the alphabet in order
Introduction
The alphabet has 26 letters. We say them in order from A to Z.
The Alphabet in Order
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Sing the alphabet song to remember the order.
| Letters | Next |
|---|---|
| A B C | D |
| K L M | N |
| W X Y | Z |
New words
- alphabet
- The 26 letters in order.
- order
- One after another the right way.
- next
- Coming straight after.
Summary
- The alphabet has 26 letters from A to Z.
- We say the letters in order.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which letter comes after C?
- A. D
- B. B
- C. E
- D. A
Show answer
Answer: DA, B, C, D.2. The alphabet has 26 letters.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueA to Z is 26 letters.3. The last letter of the alphabet is ______.
Show answer
Answer: ZZ is the last letter.4. Write the letters from P to T.
Show answer
Answer: P Q R S TThese follow in order.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Writing
- Sub-strand
- Penmanship
- Indicator
- B1.4.2.1.1 – Copy letters of the alphabet clearly
Introduction
Neat writing is easy to read. We copy letters carefully.
Copying h to n
Copy these letters on your lines: h i j k l m n
Remember
- h, k and l are tall letters.
- j has a tail and a dot.
- i has a dot.
New words
- tall letter
- A letter that reaches the top line.
- dot
- A small round mark.
- line
- A straight mark to write on.
Summary
- Copy letters slowly on the lines.
- i and j have dots; h, k and l are tall.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which letter has a dot?
- A. i
- B. h
- C. m
- D. n
Show answer
Answer: ii has a dot.2. l is a tall letter.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt reaches the top line.3. The letter j has a tail and a ______.
Show answer
Answer: dotj has a dot.4. Copy the letters h, i and j.
Show answer
Answer: h i jLearners copy neatly.
Lesson 4
- Strand
- Writing Conventions & Grammar Usage
- Sub-strand
- Using Capitalization
- Indicator
- B1.5.1.1.3 – Write capital letters correctly
Introduction
When we write about ourselves, we use "I". It is always a capital letter.
The Word "I"
"I" means me. It is always written as a capital letter.
Examples
- I am six years old.
- Kofi and I play football.
- I like rice.
Common mistake: "i like rice" is wrong. Write "I like rice."
New words
- I
- A word for yourself; always a capital.
- me
- Another word for yourself.
- sentence
- A group of words that makes sense.
Summary
- "I" is always a capital letter.
- Sentences start with a capital letter.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is correct?
- A. I am happy.
- B. i am happy.
- C. i Am happy.
- D. I am Happy
Show answer
Answer: I am happy."I" is always a capital.2. "I" is always written as a capital letter.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is the rule.3. ______ like to read. (Write the word for yourself.)
Show answer
Answer: I"I" is always a capital.4. Write a sentence starting with "I".
Show answer
Answer: E.g. I like mangoes."I" is a capital letter.
Lesson 5
- Strand
- Extensive Reading
- Sub-strand
- Building the Love and Culture of Reading
- Indicator
- B1.6.1.1.1 – Read a variety of age – appropriate books and texts from print
Introduction
Reading every day helps us learn new words. Today we read a short story.
Reading Time
"Yaw has a dog. The dog is brown. It runs fast. Yaw loves his dog."
Questions
- Who has a dog? (Yaw)
- What colour is the dog? (brown)
New words
- dog
- A pet animal that barks.
- brown
- A colour like soil.
- loves
- Likes very much.
Summary
- We read a story about Yaw and his dog.
- We answer questions about the story.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. What colour is Yaw's dog?
- A. Brown
- B. White
- C. Black
- D. Green
Show answer
Answer: BrownThe story says it is brown.2. Yaw loves his dog.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThe story says so.3. The dog runs ______.
Show answer
Answer: fastThe story says it runs fast.4. Who has a dog in the story?
Show answer
Answer: YawYaw is the owner.
Homework
- Say the alphabet to someone at home.