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Basic 3 · English Language

Clarifying Questions, Retelling, Describing Places and Prepositions of Direction

In this topic you will ask questions to clarify, retell texts with illustrations, describe places in paragraphs and use prepositions of direction and means.

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

  • Ask and answer questions for clarification
  • Retell a text in your own words and illustrate it
  • Describe a place in a coherent paragraph
  • Use prepositions for direction and means

What you already know

  • Information texts and story details

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
Asking and Answering Questions
Indicator
B3.1.8.1.1 – Ask and answer questions for clarifications about given topics

Introduction

When you do not understand something, ask a question to make it clear.

Asking for Clarification

Clarifying questions
WhenAsk
you missed a wordCould you say that again, please?
you do not understandWhat do you mean by…?
you need more detailCan you explain more?

New words

clarify
To make clear.
explain
To make something easy to understand.
detail
More information.

Summary

  • We ask questions to clarify what we do not understand.
  • Polite clarifying questions help learning.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Which is a clarifying question?

    • A. What do you mean by that?
    • B. Go away!
    • C. I know everything.
    • D. Be quiet.
    Show answer
    Answer: What do you mean by that?It asks for clarity.

  2. 2. Asking questions helps us understand.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueClarity helps learning.

  3. 3. To make clear is to ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: clarifyThat is clarifying.

  4. 4. Write a polite question to ask your teacher to repeat something.

    Show answer
    Answer: Could you say that again, please?It is polite.

Lesson 2

Strand
Reading
Sub-strand
Comprehension
Indicator
B3.2.7.1.3 – Retell level-appropriate text in own explain and illustrate

Introduction

Retelling in your own words and drawing pictures shows you understand.

Retell and Illustrate

Text: "Bees collect nectar from flowers. They carry it to their hive and turn it into honey. Bees also help plants by carrying pollen from flower to flower."

My retelling: "Bees make honey from flower nectar and help plants grow by carrying pollen."

Bees flying between flowers and a hive
Figure 1: How bees help Illustrate the text about bees.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

nectar
Sweet juice in flowers.
hive
A home for bees.
pollen
Fine powder from flowers.

Summary

  • Retelling uses your own words.
  • Illustrations show understanding.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. What do bees make?

    • A. Honey
    • B. Milk
    • C. Bread
    • D. Oil
    Show answer
    Answer: HoneyBees make honey.

  2. 2. Bees carry pollen.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThey help plants.

  3. 3. A home for bees is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: hiveThat is a hive.

  4. 4. Retell the bee text in one sentence.

    Show answer
    Answer: Bees make honey from nectar and carry pollen between flowers.Your own words.

Lesson 3

Strand
Writing
Sub-strand
Descriptive Writing
Indicator
B3.4.12.1.1 – Describe places in a coherent paragraph

Introduction

A good description helps the reader see a place in their mind.

Describing a Place

Example paragraph: "Kakum National Park is a beautiful forest in the Central Region. Tall trees reach up to the sky. A canopy walkway hangs high above the ground. You can hear birds singing and monkeys calling. It is cool and peaceful there."

Tips

  • start with what and where
  • use adjectives (tall, cool, beautiful)
  • use senses: see, hear, feel

New words

describe
To say what something is like.
coherent
Clear and well joined.
senses
Sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.

Summary

  • A coherent paragraph is clear and joined.
  • Use adjectives and the senses to describe places.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Where is Kakum National Park?

    • A. Central Region
    • B. Upper East
    • C. Volta
    • D. Ashanti
    Show answer
    Answer: Central RegionThe paragraph says so.

  2. 2. Using the senses makes descriptions better.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueReaders can imagine the place.

  3. 3. Clear and well joined means ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: coherentThat is coherent.

  4. 4. Write two sentences describing your classroom.

    Show answer
    Answer: Answers will differ.Use adjectives.

Lesson 4

Strand
Grammar Usage
Sub-strand
Using Simple Prepositions
Indicator
B3.5.7.1.1 – Identify prepositions in sentences to indicate directions and means

Introduction

Prepositions can show direction and the means of travel.

Prepositions of Direction and Means

Prepositions
TypePrepositionExample
directiontoWe went to Kumasi.
directionfromShe came from Ho.
directiontowardsThe goat ran towards the farm.
directionacrossWe walked across the bridge.
meansbyWe travelled by bus.
A map showing travel from Ho to Kumasi by bus and walking across a bridge
Figure 2: Prepositions of direction Draw a journey and label two prepositions.Base map: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New words

direction
The way something goes.
means
The way of doing something, like by bus.
across
From one side to the other.

Summary

  • To, from, towards and across show direction.
  • By shows the means of travel.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. We travelled ___ train.

    • A. by
    • B. to
    • C. from
    • D. across
    Show answer
    Answer: byBy shows means.

  2. 2. "Across" means from one side to the other.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueThat is its meaning.

  3. 3. She came ______ Ho. (from / by)

    Show answer
    Answer: fromFrom shows starting place.

  4. 4. Write a sentence using "towards".

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. The children ran towards the gate.It shows direction.

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 journey.

Reading and Summarising

"During the holidays, Ama travelled from Accra to Tamale by bus with her mother. The journey took about twelve hours. She saw farms, forests and the wide Volta Lake from the bridge. In Tamale, her uncle met them and took them home on his motorbike."

Summary: Ama travelled by bus from Accra to Tamale to visit her uncle.

New words

journey
A trip from one place to another.
holiday
Time away from school.
motorbike
A two-wheeled motor vehicle.

Summary

  • Ama travelled by bus from Accra to Tamale.
  • Her uncle met them in Tamale.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. How did Ama travel?

    • A. By bus
    • B. By plane
    • C. On foot
    • D. By boat
    Show answer
    Answer: By busThe story says bus.

  2. 2. The journey took about twelve hours.

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

  3. 3. A trip from one place to another is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: journeyThat is a journey.

  4. 4. Write a one-sentence summary.

    Show answer
    Answer: Ama travelled by bus from Accra to Tamale to visit her uncle.Main points.

Homework

  1. Write a paragraph describing a place you love. Use the senses.