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Basic 3 · English Language

Drama, Consonant Blends, Opinion Sentences and the Present Continuous

In this topic you will dramatise stories, build words with consonant blends, write opinion sentences and use the present continuous tense.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Dramatise and role-play stories
  • Build words with consonant blends
  • Write sentences giving opinions
  • Identify the present continuous tense

What you already know

  • Diphthongs and opinions

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
Dramatization
Indicator
B3.1.5.1.1 – Dramatize and role-play stories heard and read

Introduction

Role-play helps us understand characters by becoming them.

Dramatising a Story

Story: "The Lion and the Mouse". Characters: lion, mouse, hunters.

Scenes

  1. The lion catches the mouse but lets it go.
  2. Hunters trap the lion in a net.
  3. The mouse chews the net and frees the lion.

New words

dramatise
To act out a story.
role-play
To act as a character.
scene
One part of a play.

Summary

  • We dramatise stories by acting out scenes.
  • Each actor plays a role.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Who frees the lion?

    • A. The mouse
    • B. The hunters
    • C. A bird
    • D. The lion's friend
    Show answer
    Answer: The mouseIt chews the net.

  2. 2. A play is divided into scenes.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueScenes are parts of a play.

  3. 3. To act as a character is to ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: role-playThat is role-play.

  4. 4. Which character would you like to play and why?

    Show answer
    Answer: Answers will differ.Give a reason.

Lesson 2

Strand
Reading
Sub-strand
Blends
Indicator
B3.2.5.1.1 – Use consonant blends to build words

Introduction

Consonant blends are two or three consonants whose sounds we can still hear.

Consonant Blends

Blends
BlendWords
blblack, blue
crcrab, cry
ststone, star
trtree, train
sprspring, spray
Picture cards for crab, star, tree and train with the blends highlighted
Figure 1: Consonant blends Write and draw three blend words.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

consonant
A letter that is not a vowel.
blend
Consonants whose sounds you can still hear together.
build
To make.

Summary

  • In a blend, each consonant sound is heard.
  • bl, cr, st and tr are blends.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which word starts with "st"?

    • A. star
    • B. car
    • C. tar
    • D. bar
    Show answer
    Answer: stars-t-ar.

  2. 2. "cr" is a consonant blend.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueWe hear c and r.

  3. 3. tr + ee = ______

    Show answer
    Answer: treeBlend tr and ee.

  4. 4. Write two words that start with "bl".

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. black, blue.They start with bl.

Lesson 3

Strand
Writing
Sub-strand
Writing Simple Words
Indicator
B3.4.5.1.1 – Write simple sentences to express personal opinions about favorite characters in texts

Introduction

We write opinion sentences to say what we think about things.

Opinion Sentences

  • I think jollof is the best food because it is tasty.
  • In my opinion, football is fun.
  • I feel that reading is important because it teaches us.

New words

opinion
What you think.
I think
A phrase that starts an opinion.
in my opinion
A phrase that shows you are giving a view.

Summary

  • Opinion sentences start with "I think" or "In my opinion".
  • Give a reason with "because".

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which starts an opinion?

    • A. I think
    • B. Yesterday
    • C. The goat
    • D. Three
    Show answer
    Answer: I thinkIt shows an opinion.

  2. 2. "In my opinion, reading is fun." is an opinion.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt shows what someone thinks.

  3. 3. In my ______, football is fun.

    Show answer
    Answer: opinionThat shows a view.

  4. 4. Write an opinion about your school with a reason.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. I think my school is great because the teachers are kind.Use because.

Lesson 4

Strand
Grammar Usage
Sub-strand
Using Action Words
Indicator
B3.5.4.1.1 – Identify the present continuous form of action words in spoken and written communication

Introduction

The present continuous tense shows actions happening now.

Present Continuous Tense

Present continuous
Subjectam / is / are-ing verb
Iamreading
Kofiisplaying
Theyaresinging

New words

present continuous
A tense for actions happening now.
am / is / are
Helping verbs used with -ing.
action
Something done.

Summary

  • The present continuous uses am, is or are + -ing.
  • It shows actions happening now.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. She ___ cooking now.

    • A. is
    • B. are
    • C. am
    • D. be
    Show answer
    Answer: isShe takes is.

  2. 2. "They are dancing." is present continuous.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: Trueare + dancing.

  3. 3. I ______ writing a letter. (am / is)

    Show answer
    Answer: amI takes am.

  4. 4. Write a present continuous sentence about your teacher.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. My teacher is teaching.is + -ing.

Lesson 5

Strand
Extensive Reading
Sub-strand
Reading
Indicator
B3.6.1.1.1 – Read a variety of age and level- appropriate books and summarize them

Introduction

Today we read and summarise a story about a market day.

Reading and Summarising

"Every Saturday, Auntie Dede sells tomatoes at Makola Market. She wakes up at four o'clock and travels by trotro. She arranges the tomatoes neatly on her table. By evening, she has sold everything. She buys bread for her children and goes home tired but happy."

Summary: Auntie Dede works hard selling tomatoes at Makola Market every Saturday.

A market woman selling tomatoes at a busy market stall
Figure 2: Auntie Dede's market day Draw a market stall.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

trotro
A minibus used for public transport in Ghana.
arrange
To put things in order.
tired
Needing rest.

Summary

  • Auntie Dede sells tomatoes at Makola Market.
  • She works hard from early morning to evening.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. What does Auntie Dede sell?

    • A. Tomatoes
    • B. Fish
    • C. Cloth
    • D. Shoes
    Show answer
    Answer: TomatoesThe story says tomatoes.

  2. 2. She travels by trotro.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThe story says so.

  3. 3. She wakes up at ______ o'clock.

    Show answer
    Answer: fourThe story says four.

  4. 4. Write a one-sentence summary.

    Show answer
    Answer: Auntie Dede works hard selling tomatoes at Makola Market on Saturdays.Main points only.

Homework

  1. Write three present continuous sentences about what your family is doing now.