Friday 30th January

Morning Work

Grammar Warm Up

LC: to use commas to clarify meaning

Complete these sentences so that the meaning is clear. No more commas are needed!

1. I'm feeling tired, fed up and .....

(commas to separate items in a list)

2. Let's eat, ...

(commas to clarify meaning)

3. That man, who just fell off his bike, was ...

(commas to separate a relative clause)

LC: Analyse and evaluate diaries looking at language, structure and presentation

Tell your talk partner what you have learnt about the features of Recount Writing.

Look at your teacher's model text.

What features from the Recount Checklist has she identified?

Now do the same for this recount text by annotating (make notes around and label) the features.

Can you find

- first person

- past tense verbs

- paragraphs

- events in chronological order

- details and description

- adverbials for time to link ideas

- fact and opinion

- character's thoughts and feelings?

Monday 5th December

I had a fantastic time at Uncle Sam’s today. After we’d eaten the delicious lunch Auntie had made for us, Uncle took us out to the nearby park. I was a bit dubious at first as my favourite park activities are the swings and slides so my heart sank when Uncle Sam came equipped with cricket bat, ball and wickets!

I was still a bit apprehensive as he and my brother set out the equipment. Isn’t cricket just for boys? Anyway, after I watched them for a bit, Uncle Sam asked me if I’d like a go. I figured that it wouldn’t do any harm to join in, so took the bat from my brother. As the ball spun towards me from his first bowl, I nearly ran for cover Instead I hit it with all my might and, much to my surprise it travelled for miles, allowing me to get loads of runs. It felt amazing! Watching the little ball fly through the air, past the surprised faces of my uncle and brother, my tummy felt all squirmy and excited.

After about twenty minutes, a guy who had been watching from the side of the field came up to my uncle. “You have a very talented daughter,” he said. When Uncle had explained that I was his niece, not his daughter, the man asked me if I’d like to try out for the local girl’s cricket team! He gave me a leaflet with all the details on it – and said that I had a really good chance, as he had never seen such a talented young girl! Zak warned me to watch my head as I walked through the door when we got back home. I can’t wait until Friday and the trials. Zak and Fahim said they’ll spend loads of time with me before then practising. I think this has been the best day of my life. Who’d have guessed I had this hidden talent? Certainly not me!

Mid-year revision (Section C)

The sky darkened as Liam zipped up his jacket. Only minutes earlier, the sun had been shining, but now heavy clouds rolled across the field. A low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, and the wind began to tug at the trees.

Liam quickened his pace, hoping to reach home before the rain started. Just as he turned the corner, icy drops splashed onto the pavement. Within seconds, the rain poured down, soaking his shoes. Although he was wet and cold, Liam felt relieved that he was nearly home.

R- What change happened to the weather at the start of the text?

I- How do you know Liam felt relieved at the end of the story?

C- Why does the author describe the rain as “icy drops”?

LC: Use evidence in the text to make inferences.

Let's read and discuss -what is happening? Where? Model by thinking aloud active reading strategies.

Mum had just finished packing away the groceries and nipped upstairs to the bathroom. Neil watched her exit the room and swiftly pulled a dining chair forcefully across the porcelain tiled floor. There was a slight screech as the legs of the chair scraped along the tiles. He clambered up on to the chair, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and reached up to grab the handle of his favourite cupboard. As he opened the cupboard door, he eagerly peered inside in anticipation of what he might find. His expression quickly changed.

Let's do the first question together:

1. What was Neil hoping to find in the cupboard? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

Complete the rest independently:

2.How did Neil feel after he had looked inside the cupboard? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

3.Why did Neil’s expression change?

4. How old do you think Neil was? Explain how you know this.

5.Why did Neil not find what he was looking for? Give evidence and explain how you know.