Basic 4 · English Language

Songs, Letter Patterns, Nouns, Joined Writing and Commas

In this topic you will sing songs with stress and rhythm, match sounds to letter patterns, use nouns, practise joined handwriting and use commas.

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

Sing songs with appropriate stress, rhythm and actions
Match sounds to their letter patterns
Identify and use nouns
Write neatly with joined letters
Use commas correctly

What you already know

English Basic 3

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: B4.1.1.1.1 – Sing songs with appropriate stress rhythm and actions

Introduction

When we sing, some words are said more strongly than others. This is called stress. Stress and rhythm make songs lively.

Singing with Stress and Rhythm

Example: "WE are the CHILDren of GHAna, PROUD and STRONG and FREE."

Tips

clap on the stressed (strong) syllables
keep a steady rhythm
add actions that match the words

Children singing with actions and clapping on stressed beats — Figure 1: Singing with rhythm and actions Draw yourself singing with an action.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

stress: Saying a syllable more strongly.
rhythm: The pattern of strong and weak beats.
syllable: A part of a word with one vowel sound.

Summary

Stress means saying some syllables more strongly.
Rhythm and actions make songs lively.

Exercises

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

1. Saying a syllable more strongly is…
- A. Stress
- B. Rhythm
- C. Rhyme
- D. Pause
Show answer
Answer: StressThat is stress.
2. Actions can make songs lively.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey add meaning and fun.
3. The pattern of strong and weak beats is ______.
Show answer
Answer: rhythmThat is rhythm.
4. Clap the stressed syllables in "Ghana, my happy home".
Show answer
Answer: GHA-na, my HAP-py HOMEStrong syllables are clapped.

Lesson 2

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Phonics
Indicator: B4.2.2.1.1 – Match sounds to their corresponding letter patterns

Introduction

Some sounds can be spelt with different letter patterns.

Sounds and Letter Patterns

Sounds and patterns

Sound	Patterns	Words
long "a"	a-e, ai, ay, eigh	cake, rain, day, eight
long "o"	o-e, oa, ow	bone, goat, grow
"er"	er, ir, ur	her, bird, turn
"f"	f, ph, gh	fan, phone, laugh

New words

sound: What we hear.
letter pattern: Letters that represent a sound.
vowel: a, e, i, o or u.

Summary

One sound can have several spellings.
Learning patterns helps spelling and reading.

Exercises

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

1. Which word has the "ir" pattern?
- A. bird
- B. bed
- C. bad
- D. bud
Show answer
Answer: birdb-ir-d.
2. "eigh" can make the long "a" sound.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueAs in "eight".
3. "gh" in "laugh" sounds like ______.
Show answer
Answer: fgh makes f here.
4. Write two words with the long "o" sound.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. goat, grow, bone.o-e, oa, ow.

Lesson 3

Strand: Grammar
Sub-strand: Nouns
Indicator: B4.3.1.1.1 – Identify and use nouns to identify people animals events and objects

Introduction

Nouns are naming words. Every person, place, animal and thing has a name.

Nouns

Noun: A word that names a person, animal, place, thing or event.

Types of nouns

Type	Examples
person	teacher, Esi, farmer
animal	goat, eagle
place	Kumasi, market
thing	book, chair
event	festival, wedding

New words

noun: A naming word.
event: Something that happens.
name: What something is called.

Summary

Nouns name people, animals, places, things and events.
Every sentence usually has at least one noun.

Exercises

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

1. Which is a noun?
- A. Market
- B. Run
- C. Quickly
- D. Blue
Show answer
Answer: MarketIt names a place.
2. "Festival" is a noun.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt names an event.
3. The ______ teaches us English. (teacher / teach)
Show answer
Answer: teacherTeacher is a noun.
4. Find the nouns: "The farmer sold yams at the market."
Show answer
Answer: farmer, yams, marketThey name things.

Lesson 4

Strand: Composition Writing
Sub-strand: Penmanship
Indicator: B4.4.2.1.1 – Write clearly using joined letters of consistent size

Introduction

Joined handwriting is quicker and neater once you learn it.

Joined Handwriting

Join letters with smooth strokes.
Keep all small letters the same height.
Keep tall letters and tail letters the right size.
Leave equal spaces between words.

New words

joined: Connected together.
consistent: The same each time.
stroke: A line made with a pen.

Summary

Joined writing connects letters with smooth strokes.
Keep letter sizes consistent.

Exercises

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

1. Joined handwriting connects…
- A. Letters
- B. Pages
- C. Books
- D. Desks
Show answer
Answer: LettersLetters are joined.
2. Small letters should be the same height.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is consistency.
3. The same each time means ______.
Show answer
Answer: consistentThat is consistent.
4. Write your name in joined handwriting.
Show answer
Answer: Answers will differ.Joined letters.

Lesson 5

Strand: Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand: Using Punctuation, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator: B4.5.2.1.1 – Use the "comma" appropriately in sentence

Introduction

A comma (,) tells the reader to pause. Today you will use commas and read a short passage.

Using Commas

Comma uses

Use	Example
in a list	We bought yam, fish, pepper and onions.
after introductory words	Yesterday, it rained heavily.
when addressing someone	Ama, please close the door.

Reading passage: "On Saturday, Akwasi helped his mother at the market. They sold tomatoes, pepper and garden eggs. 'Akwasi, bring the basket,' his mother called. By evening, they had sold everything."

New words

comma: A mark that shows a short pause.
list: Items named one after another.
introductory: Coming at the beginning.

Summary

Commas separate items in a list.
Commas follow introductory words and names of people addressed.

Exercises

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

1. Which sentence uses commas correctly in a list?
- A. I like rice, beans and plantain.
- B. I like rice beans, and, plantain.
- C. I, like rice beans and plantain.
- D. I like, rice beans plantain.
Show answer
Answer: I like rice, beans and plantain.Commas separate items.
2. A comma comes after "Yesterday" at the start of a sentence.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is an introductory word.
3. What did they sell? Tomatoes, pepper and ______.
Show answer
Answer: garden eggsFrom the passage.
4. Add commas: "Kofi please bring my bag pen and book."
Show answer
Answer: Kofi, please bring my bag, pen and book.Address and list.

Homework

Write five sentences using commas in different ways.