Basic 3 · English Language

Songs, Spelling Sounds, Copying Paragraphs and Initials

In this topic you will talk about the benefits of songs, link spelling to sounds, copy a paragraph, use capitals for initials and abbreviations, and summarise a story.

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

Talk about the benefits of songs
Link letter patterns to the sounds they make
Copy a short paragraph clearly
Write initials and abbreviations with capitals
Summarise a short story

What you already know

English Basic 2

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: Songs
Indicator: B3.1.1.1.1 – Talk about the benefits of songs

Introduction

Songs are sung at church, school, funerals and festivals. They do much more than entertain us.

Benefits of Songs

Why songs are good for us

Benefit	Example
teach lessons	songs about honesty or obeying parents
help us learn words	alphabet and number songs
bring people together	national anthem, church songs
make work easier	work songs on farms
comfort us	songs at funerals

People singing at school, church and a festival — Figure 1: Songs at different occasions Draw a place where people sing.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

benefit: Something good that comes from something.
occasion: A special event.
comfort: To make someone feel better.

Summary

Songs teach lessons, words and values.
Songs bring people together and comfort them.

Exercises

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

1. Which song brings all Ghanaians together?
- A. The national anthem
- B. A lullaby only
- C. A jingle
- D. A birthday song
Show answer
Answer: The national anthemAll Ghanaians sing it.
2. Songs can help us learn new words.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueAlphabet songs are an example.
3. A special event is an ______.
Show answer
Answer: occasionThat is an occasion.
4. Write two benefits of songs.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: teach lessons, help learning, bring people together, make work easier, comfort.Songs are useful.

Lesson 2

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Phonics
Indicator: B3.2.2.1.1 – Understand the relationship between spelling of words and sounds of speech

Introduction

In English, the same sound can be spelt in different ways.

Sounds and Spellings

One sound, different spellings

Sound	Spellings	Examples
long "a"	a-e, ai, ay	cake, rain, play
long "e"	ee, ea	tree, sea
long "o"	o-e, oa, ow	home, boat, snow
"f"	f, ph	fish, phone

Tip: Say the word slowly, then think of the spelling pattern.

New words

spelling: The letters in a word in the right order.
sound: What we hear.
pattern: Letters that often go together.

Summary

One sound can be spelt in different ways.
Learn common spelling patterns.

Exercises

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

1. Which word has the "ai" pattern?
- A. rain
- B. cake
- C. play
- D. snow
Show answer
Answer: rainr-ai-n.
2. "ph" can make the "f" sound.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueAs in "phone".
3. b___t (a thing that floats; long "o" with oa)
Show answer
Answer: boatb-oa-t.
4. Write two words with the long "e" sound.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. tree, sea.ee and ea make long "e".

Lesson 3

Strand: Writing
Sub-strand: Penmanship
Indicator: B3.4.3.1.1 – Copy short paragraph clearly

Introduction

Copying a paragraph helps us practise neat writing and correct spelling.

Copying a Paragraph

Copy this paragraph neatly:

"Our school is in Kintampo. It has six classrooms and a library. We have a big field where we play football. I love my school."

Remember

indent the first line or start at the margin
leave spaces between words
copy capitals and full stops exactly

New words

paragraph: A group of sentences about one idea.
indent: To start a line a little further in.
copy: To write the same as a model.

Summary

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.
Copy carefully with spaces, capitals and full stops.

Exercises

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

1. A group of sentences about one idea is a…
- A. Paragraph
- B. Word
- C. Letter
- D. Line
Show answer
Answer: ParagraphThat is a paragraph.
2. We should copy capital letters exactly.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueCopying must be exact.
3. To start a line a little further in is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: indentThat is indenting.
4. Copy the first sentence of the paragraph.
Show answer
Answer: Our school is in Kintampo.Copied exactly.

Lesson 4

Strand: Grammar Usage
Sub-strand: Using Capitalization
Indicator: B3.5.1.1.1 – Use capital letters to write initials and abbreviations

Introduction

Some names and words are shortened. We use capital letters for initials and many abbreviations.

Initials and Abbreviations

Examples

Full form	Short form
Kwame Nkrumah	K. Nkrumah (initial)
Ama Serwaa Boateng	A. S. Boateng
Ghana Education Service	GES
Mister	Mr
Doctor	Dr

Name tags with initials and abbreviations — Figure 2: Initials and abbreviations Write your name using your initials.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

initial: The first letter of a name.
abbreviation: A short form of a word or phrase.
capital letter: A big letter.

Summary

Initials are the first letters of names, written as capitals.
Many abbreviations use capital letters.

Exercises

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

1. What is the initial of "Esi"?
- A. E
- B. e
- C. S
- D. I
Show answer
Answer: EInitials are capitals.
2. GES stands for Ghana Education Service.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is an abbreviation.
3. The short form of Doctor is ______.
Show answer
Answer: DrDr is the abbreviation.
4. Write your name using initials for your first name.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. K. Mensah.Use a capital initial.

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

When we summarise, we tell the main points of a story in a few words.

Reading and Summarising

"Esi wanted to buy a book. She saved five pesewas every day in a tin. After two months, she counted her money. She had enough! She went to the bookshop and bought a storybook about animals. She read it every night."

Summary: Esi saved money every day and bought a storybook.

A girl dropping coins into a tin and later holding a new storybook — Figure 3: Esi saves for a book Draw something you would save to buy.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

summarise: To give the main points in a few words.
save: To keep money for later.
main point: The most important idea.

Summary

A summary gives only the main points.
Esi saved money and bought a book.

Exercises

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

1. What did Esi buy?
- A. A storybook
- B. A dress
- C. A ball
- D. Food
Show answer
Answer: A storybookThe story says so.
2. Esi saved money in a tin.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThe story says so.
3. To give the main points in a few words is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: summariseThat is summarising.
4. Write a one-sentence summary of the story.
Show answer
Answer: Esi saved money and bought a storybook.Keep it short.

Homework

Write your full name with initials, and summarise a story you read in one sentence.