Story Planning
This week, Year 6 EAL have been looking at short stories and how to plan their writing. When planning a story, it's important not just to think about the story mountain, but also to think about what powerful vocabulary, figurative language, and sentence structures you can use to really boost the excitement of your story.
We have been planning our own short stories using all the above language points, from this STORY GENERATOR. Why don't you spin the wheels and see if you can get inspiration for your next fantastic tale!
Cohesive Devices
This week, Year 6 EAL have been looking at cohesive devices. Cohesive devices are words or phrases that are used to show the relationship between paragraphs, sentences or parts of a story or report. They also help our writing to flow nicely. There are hundreds of different cohesive devices that we can use for lots of different purposes. We have been focusing on the following:
Cohesive Devices by Erica on Scribd
ADDING devices- used to add further information. eg She was cold and she was tired. Furthermore, she was hungry.
QUALIFYING devices- often used to give a positive and negative. eg, The purple dress was beautiful, however, it was $100.
SEQUENCING devices- used to show the timing or order of events. eg, The plane took off..... 2 hours later they were in Singapore.
COMPARING devices- used to show how two things are nearly the same. eg, I didn't get to school until 9.30am this morning. Similarly, Bob was very late.
CONTRASTING devices- used to compare two different things. eg, We could go skiing in Korea at Christmas. On the other hand, we could lie on a beach in Thailand.
Below are 2 games to practice. The first is a quiz where you choose the correct cohesive devices to fit in the sentence. Once you have finished, get your creativity flowing with the story game below:
How did you do? Now time to practice with your own ideas. Choose a story starter from the list below. Once you have chosen, click the button to select a card with a cohesive device on it. Add one or two sentences to your story, using that cohesive device (it can be anywhere in the sentence, it doesn't have to be at the start). Once you've done, select another card and continue the story. This would be great if you can play with a friend or family member, but I'm sure you can be just as imaginative on your own- you could even write it all down and sent it to me! Enjoy...
Story starters:
- Wandering through the abandoned fairground, it felt like someone was watching me...
- After 8 long, hot hours hiking through the hills, I finally saw a sign post: "Turn left for Snake Mountain, turn right for Crocodile Lake....."
- "Help me! Help me!" said the voice behind the heavy, wooden door.....
Clockwork, or all wound up- Philip Pullman
Year 6 have just started the spine-tingling and suspenseful 'Clockwork, or all wound up' by Philip Pullman.
This week in EAL, we looked at the preface of this book, and how the author has used vocabulary to give the reader a sense of danger or warning. Take a look at an extract from the preface below and see if you can identify the words he has used. Once you have finished, have a go at the EAL weekly round-up quiz on Quizizz, using code 038005 to play. Don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Preface: Clockwork by Erica on Scribd
Floodland- Marcus Sedgwick
Here are the second and final chapter summaries for Floodland. I hope you've enjoyed the story as much as I have! Once you have finished, please have a go at the fun Quizizz quiz by going to joinmyquiz.com, and use pass code 835463 to play. Don't forget to add your name!
Floodland chapter summaries 12 + by Erica on Scribd
Global warming has caused the sea to rise until cities are turning into islands and civilization is crumbling. Ten-year-old Zoe Black was left behind on Norwich by accident when her parents escaped in the last supply ship to visit the island. Zoe discovers a small rowboat and keeps it a secret until she can set out alone on the great sea to find her parents. She lands on tiny Eels Island, where she must survive in a nightmarish world run by wild children and their boy-leader, Dooby....
Year 6 are currently enjoying this exciting fantasy novel. Please read the summaries for chapters 1-11 to help your understanding. You can also practice using some new vocabulary from the book with a fun online gap fill game below!
Floodland Ch 1-11 by Erica on Scribd
Persuasive Arguments
In Term 1, Year 6 looked at debates and how to use persuasive language effectively. This is a really important skill and so this week, we will be reviewing this online.
First of all, please read the persuasive argument about mobile phones below and answer the questions in the slide show. Once you have completed this, please work your way through the activities further down. I'm looking forward to reading your interesting ideas!
Are Mobile Phones Necessary by Erica on Scribd
Now answer the questions:
Persuasive writing questions from Erica Barthorpe
To make our arguments more convincing, we must first make a POINT, then EXPAND that point, then give EVIDENCE, eg:
Question: Is water more precious than gold?
Point: I believe that water is more precious than gold because we need water to survive.
Expand: The
Earth and every living thing on it would die without water, the entire planet
would become extinct. Gold is just decoration; it just looks pretty. Our planet
does not need it.
Evidence: Society can exist forever without gold, but science has shown us that a
human will die if they don’t have water for a maximum 10 days. Just 10 days!
Play the sorting game!
There are 5 arguments, can you drag and drop them different sentences into the correct category depending on whether it's a question, point, expansion or evidence (Tip: doing one argument at a time will make this easier- choose one question, then find the point, expansion and evidence. Repeat for the next question). Don't forget to add your REAL name to the leader board.
Finally......
Think about the last week... School is closed, all your work is posted online and you can complete it from home. Is E- learning the future? Do we need to into school or can we do it all from home?
Are schools necessary?
Write a persuasive argument on google docs to the above question. Let the reader know what your opinion is and write a minimum of 2 points, with expansion and evidence. Once you have finished, please share with me Erica.Barthorpe@bisvietnam.com by Friday 14th February at 12.00pm.
Use the checklist below to help you :-)
Persuasive Writing Guide by Erica on Scribd
Colons and Semicolons
Before Tet, Year 6 looked at one of the trickier aspects of punctuation- colons and semicolons! The EAL students did a fantastic job at working out when to use each one, but reviewing this is always helpful.
First click through the slideshow from teachwire.net to remind yourselves of the rules, then have a go at the quiz below to see how much you remember. Enjoy!
Colons and semicolons from Erica Barthorpe
Now have a go at the game below. Hit the sentences that use colons and semicolons correctly. Don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Causal Connectives
This week in EAL, we have been looking at causal connectives. These are the different connectives or conjunctions that we use to link cause and effect.
Depending on whether we give the cause or the effect first, our connectives will change:
It was raining SO we didn't have the picnic (cause + effect)
We didn't have the picnic BECAUSE it was raining (effect + cause)
Play the game below to review which connectives we use with each type of sentence.
Don't forget to add your name to the leader board!
Comparatives & Superlatives
This week we have looked at using comparatives and superlatives to compare two or more things, or to say something is the highest degree it can be. This is a really useful tool when debating:
Eg- Which are better- Dogs or cats?
- Cat's are so much cuter than dogs.
- Dogs are more expensive to look after than cats.
- Cats are the most beautiful pets.
- Dogs are the friendliest animals in the world.
With a friend or family member, spin the wheel below to get a debate topic. Choose a side each, and then write or speak as many points for your argument as possible using comparatives or superlatives. Enjoy!
Half Term Review
It's been an action packed first half term in Year 6! We've reviewed narrative tenses for grammar, worked on complex sentences with subordinate clauses, described settings using the five senses, used a range of different sentence openers to add interest to our writing, and upgraded our vocabulary to use powerful adjectives and verbs. Phew!
Below is a fun, interactive quiz that reviews just some of what we have been studying. Feel free to play at home, and don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Have a great half term break!
Past Tenses Review
It's always good to refresh our knowledge particularly after a long holiday, so Year 6 have been reviewing some of the most commonly used past tenses this week. These are tenses that we use every day in both speaking and writing. We looked at past simple, irregular verbs, past continuous, and using both past simple and continuous together with 'when' or 'as' to show a longer action being interrupted by a shorter one. The students had lots of fun with the interactive games below to practice irregular verbs and past simple/continuous with 'when'. Click on the games below to continue playing at home with friends or family.
Irregular past tense verbs: Drag and drop to match the present verb with its past tense partner.
Past continuous and past simple with 'when/as' charades: Pick a card and act it out for your partner. Can they guess the sentence using the correct grammar?
Present Tenses Review
Choose Your Own Adventure stories are always written in the present tense to give the idea that they are 'live action'. Last week year 6 reviewed some of the present tenses that can be used in their stories. We reviewed the present simple (multiple uses), present continuous & present simple with 'while' (to show how a longer action is interrupted by a shorter one), and the present perfect (to refer to the very recent past, or for an action/event that happened in the past but has importance in the present).
Find a friend or family member and have a go at playing the three review games below.
Story Planning
This week, Year 6 EAL have been looking at short stories and how to plan their writing. When planning a story, it's important not just to think about the story mountain, but also to think about what powerful vocabulary, figurative language, and sentence structures you can use to really boost the excitement of your story.
We have been planning our own short stories using all the above language points, from this STORY GENERATOR. Why don't you spin the wheels and see if you can get inspiration for your next fantastic tale!
Cohesive Devices
This week, Year 6 EAL have been looking at cohesive devices. Cohesive devices are words or phrases that are used to show the relationship between paragraphs, sentences or parts of a story or report. They also help our writing to flow nicely. There are hundreds of different cohesive devices that we can use for lots of different purposes. We have been focusing on the following:
Cohesive Devices by Erica on Scribd
ADDING devices- used to add further information. eg She was cold and she was tired. Furthermore, she was hungry.
QUALIFYING devices- often used to give a positive and negative. eg, The purple dress was beautiful, however, it was $100.
SEQUENCING devices- used to show the timing or order of events. eg, The plane took off..... 2 hours later they were in Singapore.
COMPARING devices- used to show how two things are nearly the same. eg, I didn't get to school until 9.30am this morning. Similarly, Bob was very late.
CONTRASTING devices- used to compare two different things. eg, We could go skiing in Korea at Christmas. On the other hand, we could lie on a beach in Thailand.
Below are 2 games to practice. The first is a quiz where you choose the correct cohesive devices to fit in the sentence. Once you have finished, get your creativity flowing with the story game below:
How did you do? Now time to practice with your own ideas. Choose a story starter from the list below. Once you have chosen, click the button to select a card with a cohesive device on it. Add one or two sentences to your story, using that cohesive device (it can be anywhere in the sentence, it doesn't have to be at the start). Once you've done, select another card and continue the story. This would be great if you can play with a friend or family member, but I'm sure you can be just as imaginative on your own- you could even write it all down and sent it to me! Enjoy...
Story starters:
- Wandering through the abandoned fairground, it felt like someone was watching me...
- After 8 long, hot hours hiking through the hills, I finally saw a sign post: "Turn left for Snake Mountain, turn right for Crocodile Lake....."
- "Help me! Help me!" said the voice behind the heavy, wooden door.....
Clockwork, or all wound up- Philip Pullman
Year 6 have just started the spine-tingling and suspenseful 'Clockwork, or all wound up' by Philip Pullman.
This week in EAL, we looked at the preface of this book, and how the author has used vocabulary to give the reader a sense of danger or warning. Take a look at an extract from the preface below and see if you can identify the words he has used. Once you have finished, have a go at the EAL weekly round-up quiz on Quizizz, using code 038005 to play. Don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Preface: Clockwork by Erica on Scribd
Floodland- Marcus Sedgwick
Here are the second and final chapter summaries for Floodland. I hope you've enjoyed the story as much as I have! Once you have finished, please have a go at the fun Quizizz quiz by going to joinmyquiz.com, and use pass code 835463 to play. Don't forget to add your name!
Floodland chapter summaries 12 + by Erica on Scribd
Global warming has caused the sea to rise until cities are turning into islands and civilization is crumbling. Ten-year-old Zoe Black was left behind on Norwich by accident when her parents escaped in the last supply ship to visit the island. Zoe discovers a small rowboat and keeps it a secret until she can set out alone on the great sea to find her parents. She lands on tiny Eels Island, where she must survive in a nightmarish world run by wild children and their boy-leader, Dooby....
Year 6 are currently enjoying this exciting fantasy novel. Please read the summaries for chapters 1-11 to help your understanding. You can also practice using some new vocabulary from the book with a fun online gap fill game below!
Floodland Ch 1-11 by Erica on Scribd
Persuasive Arguments
In Term 1, Year 6 looked at debates and how to use persuasive language effectively. This is a really important skill and so this week, we will be reviewing this online.
First of all, please read the persuasive argument about mobile phones below and answer the questions in the slide show. Once you have completed this, please work your way through the activities further down. I'm looking forward to reading your interesting ideas!
Are Mobile Phones Necessary by Erica on Scribd
Now answer the questions:
Persuasive writing questions from Erica Barthorpe
To make our arguments more convincing, we must first make a POINT, then EXPAND that point, then give EVIDENCE, eg:
Question: Is water more precious than gold?
Point: I believe that water is more precious than gold because we need water to survive.
Expand: The Earth and every living thing on it would die without water, the entire planet would become extinct. Gold is just decoration; it just looks pretty. Our planet does not need it.
Evidence: Society can exist forever without gold, but science has shown us that a human will die if they don’t have water for a maximum 10 days. Just 10 days!
Play the sorting game!
There are 5 arguments, can you drag and drop them different sentences into the correct category depending on whether it's a question, point, expansion or evidence (Tip: doing one argument at a time will make this easier- choose one question, then find the point, expansion and evidence. Repeat for the next question). Don't forget to add your REAL name to the leader board.
To make our arguments more convincing, we must first make a POINT, then EXPAND that point, then give EVIDENCE, eg:
Question: Is water more precious than gold?
Point: I believe that water is more precious than gold because we need water to survive.
Expand: The Earth and every living thing on it would die without water, the entire planet would become extinct. Gold is just decoration; it just looks pretty. Our planet does not need it.
Evidence: Society can exist forever without gold, but science has shown us that a human will die if they don’t have water for a maximum 10 days. Just 10 days!
Play the sorting game!
There are 5 arguments, can you drag and drop them different sentences into the correct category depending on whether it's a question, point, expansion or evidence (Tip: doing one argument at a time will make this easier- choose one question, then find the point, expansion and evidence. Repeat for the next question). Don't forget to add your REAL name to the leader board.
Finally......
Think about the last week... School is closed, all your work is posted online and you can complete it from home. Is E- learning the future? Do we need to into school or can we do it all from home?
Are schools necessary?
Write a persuasive argument on google docs to the above question. Let the reader know what your opinion is and write a minimum of 2 points, with expansion and evidence. Once you have finished, please share with me Erica.Barthorpe@bisvietnam.com by Friday 14th February at 12.00pm.
Use the checklist below to help you :-)
Persuasive Writing Guide by Erica on Scribd
Colons and Semicolons
Before Tet, Year 6 looked at one of the trickier aspects of punctuation- colons and semicolons! The EAL students did a fantastic job at working out when to use each one, but reviewing this is always helpful.
First click through the slideshow from teachwire.net to remind yourselves of the rules, then have a go at the quiz below to see how much you remember. Enjoy!
Colons and semicolons from Erica Barthorpe
Now have a go at the game below. Hit the sentences that use colons and semicolons correctly. Don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Now have a go at the game below. Hit the sentences that use colons and semicolons correctly. Don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Causal Connectives
This week in EAL, we have been looking at causal connectives. These are the different connectives or conjunctions that we use to link cause and effect.
Depending on whether we give the cause or the effect first, our connectives will change:
It was raining SO we didn't have the picnic (cause + effect)
We didn't have the picnic BECAUSE it was raining (effect + cause)
Play the game below to review which connectives we use with each type of sentence.
Don't forget to add your name to the leader board!
Comparatives & Superlatives
This week we have looked at using comparatives and superlatives to compare two or more things, or to say something is the highest degree it can be. This is a really useful tool when debating:
Eg- Which are better- Dogs or cats?
Eg- Which are better- Dogs or cats?
- Cat's are so much cuter than dogs.
- Dogs are more expensive to look after than cats.
- Cats are the most beautiful pets.
- Dogs are the friendliest animals in the world.
With a friend or family member, spin the wheel below to get a debate topic. Choose a side each, and then write or speak as many points for your argument as possible using comparatives or superlatives. Enjoy!
Half Term Review
It's been an action packed first half term in Year 6! We've reviewed narrative tenses for grammar, worked on complex sentences with subordinate clauses, described settings using the five senses, used a range of different sentence openers to add interest to our writing, and upgraded our vocabulary to use powerful adjectives and verbs. Phew!Below is a fun, interactive quiz that reviews just some of what we have been studying. Feel free to play at home, and don't forget to add your name to the leader board.
Have a great half term break!
Past Tenses Review
It's always good to refresh our knowledge particularly after a long holiday, so Year 6 have been reviewing some of the most commonly used past tenses this week. These are tenses that we use every day in both speaking and writing. We looked at past simple, irregular verbs, past continuous, and using both past simple and continuous together with 'when' or 'as' to show a longer action being interrupted by a shorter one. The students had lots of fun with the interactive games below to practice irregular verbs and past simple/continuous with 'when'. Click on the games below to continue playing at home with friends or family.Irregular past tense verbs: Drag and drop to match the present verb with its past tense partner.
Past continuous and past simple with 'when/as' charades: Pick a card and act it out for your partner. Can they guess the sentence using the correct grammar?
Present Tenses Review
Choose Your Own Adventure stories are always written in the present tense to give the idea that they are 'live action'. Last week year 6 reviewed some of the present tenses that can be used in their stories. We reviewed the present simple (multiple uses), present continuous & present simple with 'while' (to show how a longer action is interrupted by a shorter one), and the present perfect (to refer to the very recent past, or for an action/event that happened in the past but has importance in the present).Find a friend or family member and have a go at playing the three review games below.
Present Simple: Match the example to the use.
Present Continuous and Present Simple with 'while/as) Charades: Deal yourself a card and act it out for your partner/team. Can they guess the sentence using the correct grammar?
Present Perfect: Silly Sentences. Roll a dice, make a funny sentence with the corresponding number for 1 point ( eg, Ms Erica has seen a spider). Bonus points for adding adverbs into the sentence ( We have gracefully danced to the Hot Potato song). Don't forget to add 'have/has' and change the verb to past participle.
Present Perfect by Erica on Scribd
Cohesive Devices
Year 6 are looking at 'Choose Your Own Adventure' stories this term. These exciting and interactive non- linear stories allow the reader to pick and choose their own story plot. As a result, the reader moves backwards and forwards throughout the story. Cohesive Devices (words and phrases that show how parts of a text fit together) are really important to keep the plot cohesive for the reader.
Play the game below:
" I slowly opened the door to the abandoned prison......"
Using the cards below, deal one out and continue the story using the cohesive device that comes up. Play alone or with a friend. How far can you take your story?
Artemis Fowl
Year 6 are currently reading the exciting crime adventure novel- Artemis Fowl.
Take a look at the chapter summaries below. Who's your favourite character?
Debates- language for agreeing and disagreeing
This week in EAL we have been looking at different sentence openers to agree or disagree.
Work with a friend and choose a topic below. Then take turns to click on the wheel and give your arguments for/against, depending on the sentence opener.
- Homework should be banned
- Everyone should be vegetarian
- Nurses should be paid more than sports stars
- TV is a bad influence on people
Explanation Texts
Examples of Texts
Can you spot the features of explanation texts in these examples?
Explanation text examples from paulinetranBIS
Tips for Writing
Have a look at these as they will help you write your own.
Tips for-writing-explanation-ppt from paulinetranBIS
Active and Passive sentences
The resource below will remind of what they are and how they are formed
Irregular Verbs with Past Participles
Similes and metaphors
Watch this video and see if you can use these in your writing. They will make your writing more interesting and your reader will be able to imagine what your trying to describe.
Show Not Tell
This week in EAL, Year 6 are looking at a writing technique called 'Show not tell'. This is where we use actions, words or senses to show a character's feelings or emotions rather than simply telling the reader how a character feels. Not only does this add interest and excitement to a piece of writing, but it allows the reader to build a picture in their own mind. Check out the examples below:
Wolf Brother
A boy. A wolf. A legend of all time.
Listen to the first chapter of Wolf Brother, Year 6's exciting adventure novel below.
Book Recommendation
Year 6 half term EAL quiz
Take this short quiz and test yourself on what we’ve been learning in EAL this past half term. Good Luck!English: 'The Arrival' by Shaun Tan
A story without words can still be just as powerful as stories with words. Every illustration is included for a reason and if you look very closely you gather a huge amount of information from a single image. What information do you get from these pictures?
Watch this video:
Watch part 2:
Year 6 EAL Display
In Year 6 English, the students have been focussing on Non-linear Stories. A group of Year 6 EAL students have been very busy over the last couple weeks working together on a project to create a 'Choose your own journey' story called, The Magical Castle Story. It is up on display in the main building, on the top floor by Learning Support and Year 3 classrooms. Go check it out!
Here is photograph of what it looks like:
Authors: Olivia (6H); Seok Ho (6S); Jun Woo (6S); James K (6S); Jun Young (6S)
Debates in EAL class!
This unit in English we have been getting ready for our debates at the end of term.
Watch the video below to see some of us in action!
Motion: Every Child Should Be in a Sports Team
Newspaper Reports
Watch the video to remind yourself of the features of newspaper articles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NmVtnEEA8
Present Perfect Simple
Practise Present perfect Simple with this game:
A story without words can still be just as powerful as stories with words. Every illustration is included for a reason and if you look very closely you gather a huge amount of information from a single image. What information do you get from these pictures?
Watch this video:
Why do you think he has left?
Do you know any other situations where somebody has had to leave their country? (Could be from a story, the news or real life)
How do you think he is feeling? What words could you use to describe how he feels?
Watch part 2:
What happens in this story?
Year 6 EAL Display
In Year 6 English, the students have been focussing on Non-linear Stories. A group of Year 6 EAL students have been very busy over the last couple weeks working together on a project to create a 'Choose your own journey' story called, The Magical Castle Story. It is up on display in the main building, on the top floor by Learning Support and Year 3 classrooms. Go check it out!
Here is photograph of what it looks like:
Authors: Olivia (6H); Seok Ho (6S); Jun Woo (6S); James K (6S); Jun Young (6S)
This unit in English we have been getting ready for our debates at the end of term.
Watch the video below to see some of us in action!
Motion: Every Child Should Be in a Sports Team
Newspaper Reports
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Can you think of how the story The Terrible Things relates to what happened in Germany during World War Two?
· How does this Poem by Pastor Niemoller connect to the story of The Terrible Things?
· Have a go at matching words in Jewish to their definitions in English:
An EAL friendly version of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by pauline on ScribdPoetry
Poetry Terms
This handy dictionary will help you in your lessons. See if you can find your own examples for these terms.
Where can I get the poems from?
Finding poems to use is now incredibly easy with the internet. You can find lots of poems by simply typing in the author and the first line or title. There’s a site called Poem Hunter which makes this even easier. So even if you only remember a few lines of a poem that you like you’ll probably be able to find it. The site is http://www.poemhunter.com/.
Enjoying watching poets read their poems
No Breathing:
Chocolate Cake
My Mother
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU5IX_UKEjM&list=PLnef-OFk6nh4b90twVkA1SEjMx1VnLDm3 Shaun Tan and The Lost Thing
Here’s another lovely story about Eric. What do you think Shaun Tan is trying to tell us in this story? link to story
Watch The Red Tree. Have you ever had a bad day? What words would you use to describe how you felt? link to video
Quest stories: Theseus and the Minotaur
Click on the image below to join Theseus on his journey in Ancient Greece.
The Art of Persuasion
Sleep Text by pauline on Scribd
Watch these videos and think how persuasive they are.
This one is from a 12 year girl about the environment and poverty.
This one is by an 11year old boy who talks about better food for everybody.
This one is about how to use only one paper towel after washing your hands.
How to write a biography
How to write a biography by pauline on Scribd
Features of a biography
Features of Biography by pauline on Scribd
Marie Curie Biography
Marie Curie Biography by pauline on Scribd
This vocabulary link will also help you understand the story of 'Shaun Tan' better:
The Highway Man
Language Features of The Highway ManRead and understand the poem
Animation video
Animation video
Review figurative language
A song about Dick Turpin - a famous highway man
Learn more about highway men 1
Learn more about highway men 2
Vocabulary from The Highway Man:
Maths
In Year 6 there are many maths words that you need to understand. Have a look at the link below for a detailed description of lots of useful maths vocabulary:Maths Vocabulary Book
No comments:
Post a Comment