Basic 4 · English Language

Values in Songs, Word Endings, Proper Nouns and Writing for a Purpose

In this topic you will discuss values in songs, decode words using endings, use proper nouns, choose ways of writing for different purposes and use nouns in sentences.

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

Identify and discuss values in songs
Decode words using common endings
Identify and use proper nouns
Choose a suitable form of writing for a purpose

What you already know

Nouns and commas

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: B4.1.1.1.2 – Identify and discuss values in songs

Introduction

Songs often teach values like honesty, hard work and love for country.

Values in Songs

Songs and values

Song idea	Value
the national anthem	patriotism
songs about farming	hard work
church and mosque songs	faith and thanksgiving
songs about sharing	kindness

Pupils singing the national anthem at morning assembly — Figure 1: Values in songs Draw a song and the value it teaches.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

value: A belief about what is important.
patriotism: Love for your country.
anthem: A song of praise for a country.

Summary

Songs teach values.
The national anthem teaches patriotism.

Exercises

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

1. Which value does the national anthem teach?
- A. Patriotism
- B. Laziness
- C. Greed
- D. Cheating
Show answer
Answer: PatriotismIt is about love of country.
2. Songs can teach hard work.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueWork songs do.
3. Love for your country is ______.
Show answer
Answer: patriotismThat is patriotism.
4. Name a song you know and the value it teaches.
Show answer
Answer: Answers will differ.Each song has values.

Lesson 2

Strand: Reading
Sub-strand: Word Families and Common Digraphs
Indicator: B4.2.3.1.1 – Use common rhyming/ending words to decode words

Introduction

Common endings help us read longer words.

Using Endings to Decode

Common endings

Ending	Examples
-tion	station, nation, action
-ight	night, light, bright
-ing	singing, reading, playing
-ful	helpful, careful, joyful

New words

decode: To read a word by its parts.
ending: The last part of a word.
suffix: An ending added to a word.

Summary

Knowing common endings helps decode words.
Break long words into parts.

Exercises

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

1. Which word ends in -tion?
- A. nation
- B. night
- C. sing
- D. help
Show answer
Answer: nationn-a-tion.
2. "Careful" has the ending -ful.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: Truecare + ful.
3. br + ight = ______
Show answer
Answer: brightBlend the parts.
4. Write two words ending in -tion.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. station, action.They end in -tion.

Lesson 3

Strand: Grammar
Sub-strand: Nouns
Indicator: B4.3.1.1.2 – Proper nouns

Introduction

Proper nouns are special names. They always begin with capital letters.

Proper Nouns

Common and proper nouns

Common noun	Proper noun
city	Tamale
river	River Volta
day	Wednesday
girl	Akosua
festival	Hogbetsotso

A map of Ghana with town, river and lake names written with capital letters — Figure 2: Proper nouns on the map Write five proper nouns from the map.Base map: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New words

proper noun: The special name of a person, place or thing.
common noun: A general name.
capital letter: A big letter.

Summary

Proper nouns name particular people, places and things.
Proper nouns begin with capital letters.

Exercises

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

1. Which is a proper noun?
- A. Accra
- B. city
- C. town
- D. village
Show answer
Answer: AccraIt is a particular place.
2. Proper nouns begin with capital letters.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is the rule.
3. "river" is a ______ noun.
Show answer
Answer: commonIt is general.
4. Write two proper nouns from the Ghana map.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. Kumasi, Lake Volta.Particular places.

Lesson 4

Strand: Composition Writing
Sub-strand: Paragraph Development
Indicator: B4.4.6.1.1 – Choose appropriate ways and modes of writing for a variety of purposes

Introduction

We write for different purposes: to tell a story, give information, persuade or invite.

Choosing How to Write

Purpose and form

Purpose	Suitable form
to tell a story	narrative
to give information	report or notice
to invite	invitation card or letter
to persuade	poster or speech
to keep in touch	friendly letter

New words

purpose: The reason for writing.
form: The type of writing.
audience: The people who will read it.

Summary

Choose the form of writing that suits the purpose.
Think about who will read it.

Exercises

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

1. Which form is best for inviting friends to a party?
- A. Invitation card
- B. Story
- C. Poem
- D. Report
Show answer
Answer: Invitation cardIt invites.
2. A poster can be used to persuade.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TruePosters persuade.
3. The people who will read your writing are the ______.
Show answer
Answer: audienceThat is the audience.
4. Which form would you use to tell your school about a lost bag?
Show answer
Answer: A notice.Notices give information.

Lesson 5

Strand: Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand: Using Naming Words, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator: B4.5.3.1.1 – Identify and use nouns in sentences to identify people animals events and objects

Introduction

Nouns name people, places and things in sentences. Let us use nouns and read a passage.

Nouns in Sentences

Reading passage: "Kwame and his sister Afia live in Ho. Every Sunday, they go to church with their parents. After church, Grandmother cooks banku and okro stew. Kwame's dog, Bingo, waits at the gate."

Nouns in the passage

Proper nouns	Common nouns
Kwame, Afia, Ho, Sunday, Bingo	sister, church, parents, Grandmother, banku, stew, dog, gate

New words

noun: A naming word.
passage: A short piece of writing.
identify: To find and name.

Summary

Sentences contain proper and common nouns.
We can identify nouns in a passage.

Exercises

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

1. What is the dog's name?
- A. Bingo
- B. Kwame
- C. Afia
- D. Ho
Show answer
Answer: BingoFrom the passage.
2. "Ho" is a proper noun.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is a town.
3. Grandmother cooks banku and okro ______.
Show answer
Answer: stewFrom the passage.
4. List three common nouns from the passage.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. church, dog, gate.They are general names.

Homework

Write a short paragraph with five proper nouns about your town.