Basic 4 · English Language

Role-Play, Wide Reading, Simple Present Tense, Free Writing and Conjunctions

In this topic you will role-play a story, build vocabulary through reading, use the simple present tense, write freely and use conjunctions.

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

Role-play a story or play
Build vocabulary through extensive reading
Use the simple present tense
Write freely about topics in your environment
Identify and use conjunctions

What you already know

Friendly letters and prepositions

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 and Role Play
Indicator: B4.1.5.1.1 – Role-play a story/play

Introduction

Role-play helps us understand characters and practise speaking.

Role-Playing a Play

Scene: At the clinic.

Nurse: "Good morning. What is wrong?"

Mother: "My son has a fever and a headache."

Nurse: "Let me check his temperature. Please sit down."

Boy: "Thank you, Nurse."

Pupils role-playing a nurse, mother and sick child at a clinic — Figure 1: Role-play at the clinic Draw a role-play scene.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

role-play: Acting out a situation.
character: A person in a play.
dialogue: Conversation between characters.

Summary

Role-play uses dialogue and actions.
It helps us practise real-life speech.

Exercises

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

1. Acting out a situation is…
- A. Role-play
- B. Reading
- C. Writing
- D. Drawing
Show answer
Answer: Role-playThat is role-play.
2. The boy had a fever.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFrom the scene.
3. Conversation between characters is ______.
Show answer
Answer: dialogueThat is dialogue.
4. Write one line the nurse could say next.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. "Please open your mouth."Fits the scene.

Lesson 2

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Vocabulary
Indicator: B4.2.6.2.1 – Develop a rich vocabulary stock through extensive reading of age-appropriate texts

Introduction

Reading many books helps us learn new words.

Building Vocabulary Through Reading

A word journal

Write the new word.
Copy the sentence where you found it.
Guess its meaning from context.
Check in a dictionary.
Use it in your own sentence.

Example word journal

Word	Meaning	My sentence
enormous	very big	The elephant was enormous.
ancient	very old	Elmina Castle is ancient.

New words

vocabulary: All the words a person knows.
dictionary: A book of words and meanings.
extensive reading: Reading many books for pleasure.

Summary

Reading widely builds vocabulary.
A word journal records new words.

Exercises

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

1. "Enormous" means…
- A. very big
- B. very small
- C. very fast
- D. very cold
Show answer
Answer: very bigFrom the journal.
2. A dictionary gives word meanings.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is its use.
3. All the words a person knows is their ______.
Show answer
Answer: vocabularyThat is vocabulary.
4. Use "ancient" in a sentence.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. The ancient pot was found underground.Correct use.

Lesson 3

Strand: Grammar
Sub-strand: Verbs
Indicator: B4.3.5.1.3 – Use the simple present form of verbs in sentences

Introduction

The simple present tense describes habits and facts.

Simple Present Tense

Uses

Use	Example
habits	I brush my teeth every morning.
facts	The sun rises in the east.
timetables	The bus leaves at 6 a.m.

Add -s or -es for he, she, it: she walks, he washes.

New words

simple present: A tense for habits and facts.
habit: Something done regularly.
fact: Something true.

Summary

Use the simple present for habits, facts and timetables.
Add -s or -es with he, she or it.

Exercises

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

1. The sun ___ in the east.
- A. rises
- B. rise
- C. rising
- D. rose
Show answer
Answer: risesFact; singular.
2. "I brush my teeth every morning." shows a habit.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is regular.
3. He ______ (wash) his uniform every Saturday.
Show answer
Answer: washesAdd -es.
4. Write one fact using the simple present.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. Water boils at 100°C.It is always true.

Lesson 4

Strand: Composition Writing
Sub-strand: Creative Writing
Indicator: B4.4.11.1.1 – Write freely about topics of choice in their immediate environment

Introduction

Free writing lets you express your ideas about things around you.

Free Writing

Topic ideas

My favourite place in my community
A day at the market
How we celebrate Christmas or Eid
My dream job

Tips: write freely first, then read and improve.

New words

free writing: Writing your ideas without stopping.
topic: What you write about.
improve: To make better.

Summary

Choose a topic from your environment.
Write freely, then edit.

Exercises

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

1. Writing ideas without stopping is…
- A. Free writing
- B. Copying
- C. Spelling
- D. Drawing
Show answer
Answer: Free writingThat is free writing.
2. We should read and improve after free writing.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEditing improves work.
3. What you write about is the ______.
Show answer
Answer: topicThat is the topic.
4. Write two sentences about your favourite place.
Show answer
Answer: Answers will differ.Free expression.

Lesson 5

Strand: Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand: Using, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator: B4.5.8.1.1 – Identify and use conjunctions

Introduction

Conjunctions join words and sentences.

Conjunctions

Common conjunctions

Conjunction	Use	Example
and	adds	I like mango and pawpaw.
but	contrasts	It was hot but windy.
because	gives a reason	I stayed home because I was sick.
so	shows a result	It rained, so we stayed inside.
or	gives a choice	Do you want tea or cocoa?

Reading passage: "Yaw wanted to play football, but it was raining. He stayed inside and read a book because he loved stories. When the rain stopped, he went out, so he could still play."

A boy reading inside while rain falls, then playing football after the rain — Figure 2: Yaw and the rain Draw the two parts of Yaw's day.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

conjunction: A joining word.
reason: Why something happens.
result: What happens because of something.

Summary

Conjunctions join ideas.
"Because" gives reasons; "so" shows results.

Exercises

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

1. Which conjunction gives a reason?
- A. because
- B. and
- C. or
- D. but
Show answer
Answer: becauseIt explains why.
2. "But" shows contrast.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt joins opposite ideas.
3. It rained, ______ we stayed inside. (so / or)
Show answer
Answer: soIt shows a result.
4. Find two conjunctions in the passage.
Show answer
Answer: but, and, because, soJoining words.

Homework

Write a free-writing piece about your community using four conjunctions.