Basic 4 · English Language

Visual Presentations, Recognition Strategies, Modals, Letters and Invented Spelling

In this topic you will support presentations with visuals, use reading strategies, use modals, write friendly letters and use invented spelling for fluent writing.

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

Support ideas with visual resources
Use strategies to confirm understanding when reading
Use modals to express meaning
Write a friendly letter about personal experiences

What you already know

Sentences and informative writing

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: Presentation
Indicator: B4.1.10.2.1 – Support ideas and points with visual resources to convey meaning appropriate to purpose and context

Introduction

Pictures, charts and real objects make presentations clearer.

Using Visuals in Presentations

Visual resources

Visual	Use
pictures	show what you describe
charts	show numbers and facts
real objects	let the audience see and touch
maps	show places

A pupil presenting with a chart and a map — Figure 1: Presenting with visuals Draw a visual you would use in a presentation.Base map: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New words

visual: Something you can see.
chart: A diagram of information.
presentation: A talk to an audience.

Summary

Visuals make presentations clearer.
Choose visuals that fit your purpose.

Exercises

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

1. Which visual shows places?
- A. Map
- B. Song
- C. Poem
- D. Letter
Show answer
Answer: MapMaps show places.
2. Visuals help audiences understand.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey show information.
3. A diagram of information is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: chartThat is a chart.
4. Name a visual you would use for a talk on fruits.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. real fruits or pictures of fruits.Fits the topic.

Lesson 2

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Fluency
Indicator: B4.2.9.1.2 – Use recognition strategies to confirm understanding of level-appropriate texts

Introduction

Good readers check their understanding as they read.

Recognition Strategies

Re-read a sentence that is unclear.
Use pictures and headings.
Sound out difficult words.
Ask "Does this make sense?"
Summarise each paragraph in your head.

Passage: "Shea butter is made from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows in northern Ghana. Women crack, roast and grind the nuts, then knead the paste with water to separate the butter. It is used for cooking and skin care."

New words

strategy: A plan or method.
confirm: To make sure.
knead: To press and mix with the hands.

Summary

Use strategies to confirm understanding.
Shea butter is made from shea nuts in northern Ghana.

Exercises

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

1. Where does the shea tree grow?
- A. Northern Ghana
- B. The sea
- C. Cape Coast only
- D. Lake Volta
Show answer
Answer: Northern GhanaFrom the passage.
2. Shea butter is used for skin care.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFrom the passage.
3. To make sure is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: confirmThat is confirming.
4. Name two steps in making shea butter.
Show answer
Answer: Any two: crack, roast, grind, knead.From the passage.

Lesson 3

Strand: Grammar
Sub-strand: Modals
Indicator: B4.3.9.1.1 – Use modals to express a variety of meanings

Introduction

Modals are helping verbs that show ability, permission, possibility or duty.

Modals

Modal	Meaning	Example
can	ability	I can swim.
may	permission or possibility	May I go out? It may rain.
must	duty	You must obey the rules.
should	advice	You should drink water.
will	future	We will travel tomorrow.

Pictures showing can (swimming), may (asking permission), must (obeying a road sign) — Figure 2: Modals in use Draw a picture for one modal.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

modal: A helping verb showing ability, permission or duty.
ability: Being able to do something.
permission: Being allowed.

Summary

Modals add meaning to verbs.
Can shows ability; may shows permission; must shows duty.

Exercises

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

1. Which modal shows ability?
- A. can
- B. must
- C. may
- D. should
Show answer
Answer: canIt shows ability.
2. "You must obey the rules." shows duty.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueMust shows duty.
3. ______ I borrow your pen? (May / Must)
Show answer
Answer: MayAsking permission.
4. Give advice using "should".
Show answer
Answer: E.g. You should sleep early.Should gives advice.

Lesson 4

Strand: Composition Writing
Sub-strand: Letter Writing
Indicator: B4.4.15.1.1 – Write to friends about personal experiences using appropriate letter formats

Introduction

Write a friendly letter about something that happened to you.

Letter About a Personal Experience

Example body paragraph: "Last weekend, I visited Mole National Park with my uncle. We saw elephants drinking at a waterhole. A warthog ran past our car! I was so excited that I took many photos."

Remember

address and date
greeting
introduction, body, conclusion
closing and your name

New words

personal experience: Something that happened to you.
excited: Very happy and eager.
format: The layout of a letter.

Summary

Use the friendly letter format.
Describe your experience with details.

Exercises

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

1. Where did the writer go?
- A. Mole National Park
- B. Kakum
- C. Makola
- D. Labadi
Show answer
Answer: Mole National ParkFrom the example.
2. A friendly letter ends with a closing.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueLike "Your friend,".
3. The layout of a letter is its ______.
Show answer
Answer: formatThat is the format.
4. Write an introduction sentence for a friendly letter.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. How are you and your family? I hope all is well.Friendly opening.

Lesson 5

Strand: Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand: Spelling, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator: B4.5.10.1.1 – Use invented spelling to increase fluency and free writing

Introduction

When writing freely, you can try to spell a new word by its sounds, then check it later. This is called invented spelling.

Invented Spelling for Fluent Writing

Write your ideas without stopping.
If unsure of a word, spell it the way it sounds.
Underline words you are unsure about.
Check the spellings in a dictionary afterwards.

Reading passage: "Writers do not stop for every hard word. They keep writing, mark the words they are not sure of and check them later. This helps them write fluently and still spell correctly in the final copy."

New words

invented spelling: Spelling a word by its sounds.
fluently: Smoothly and without stopping.
final copy: The corrected, neat version.

Summary

Invented spelling keeps ideas flowing.
Always check spellings for the final copy.

Exercises

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

1. Spelling a word by its sounds is…
- A. Invented spelling
- B. Copying
- C. Dictation
- D. Reading
Show answer
Answer: Invented spellingThat is invented spelling.
2. We should check invented spellings later.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFor the final copy.
3. Smoothly and without stopping means ______.
Show answer
Answer: fluentlyThat is fluently.
4. Why do writers underline unsure words?
Show answer
Answer: So they remember to check them later.It helps correction.

Homework

Write a friendly letter about a recent experience and check all spellings.