Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

A limerick poem is a poem where the first, second, and fifth lines have the same rhyme and rhythm. The third and fourth lines within a limerick will rhyme too!

A limerick contains just one stanza, a group of lines within a poem, much like a verse within a song. When discussing the way that poems rhyme, we often refer to it as a rhyming scheme. In the case of the limerick, the rhyming plan is AABBA.

Limerick’s poems are usually fun poems designed with humor, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. They are sometimes read quite quickly, and the final line is designed to make people laugh.

What is the origin of the limerick poems?

The origin of the limerick is not defined. However, it is suggested that the name is derived from the place in Ireland, also called Limerick, and referred to an old-style parlor game that

The first limericks were written in the early 1700s and were often used in folk songs. However, the father of the limerick is Edward Lear, the famous British poet. He popularized the first limerick poem even if he didn’t write it. His limericks are considered to be the best ones. Most of them tell the story of an older man, just like this one:

There was an Old Man in a tree,

Who was bored by a bee?

When they said, “Does it buzz?”

He replied, “Yes, it does!

It’s a regular brute of a bee.”

(There was an Old Man in a tree, by Edward Lear)

What are the features of a limerick poem?

• Lines 1, 2, and 5 verse.
• Lines 3 and 4 verse.
• The rhyming pattern is AABBA
• Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer and have approximately the same number of syllables (usually 8-10) in each.
• Lines 3 and 4 are shorter, with the same number of syllables (5-6).
• The first line sets up the subject, so it usually ends with the name of a person or place.
• The second line gives more details about the subject.
• Lines 3 and 4 give us some action about the subject.
• The last line is the punchline, usually the consequences of lines 3 and 4.

Examples of limerick poems

Here are some more examples of limerick poems written by Edward Lear:

There was an Old Man who said, ‘Hush!

I perceive a young bird in this bush!’

When they said, ‘Is it small?’

He replied, ‘Not at all!

It is four times as big as the bush!’

(Limerick No. 80, from A Book of Nonsense, by Edward Lear)

There was a Young Lady of Dorking,

Who bought a large bonnet for walking;

But it’s color and size,

So bedazzled her eyes,

That she very soon went back to Dorking

(There was a Young Lady of Dorking, by Edward Lear)

There was a Young Person from Crete,

Whose toilette was far from complete;

She dressed in a sack,

Speckle-speckled with black,

That ombliferous person of Crete.

(There was a Young Person of Crete, by Edward Lear)

If you liked Lear’s limerick poems, we’ve also created some for you:

*

There once was a teacher in school,

Who thought, “I am nobody’s fool.”

She searched for the lovely Twinkl,

For resources to sprinkle,

And now her classroom looks so cool!

**

There was an old Martian named Zed

With blue spots all over his head.

He sent out a lot

Of di-di-dash-dot-dot

But nobody knows what he said!

***

I’m writing this verse for my Dad,

I hope it will make him quite glad,

And if he gets sick,

In this limerick,

It’ll prove that I’m poetry mad!

How to write a good limerick poem?

Writing can be double fun if you plan to create a limerick with your little learners. We are sure they’ll enjoy putting their ideas together and creating an amusing poem to read and show others. Here are six simple steps to have in mind when writing a limerick poem or when you teach your children to do it:

1. Find a narrative – Like any other poem, the limerick poem has to tell a story, has a main character, or have a theme. Think of a limerick poem as a concise story.

1. The subject should come first – The first verse should introduce the main character or the topic you chose for your poem. Always start a limerick poem with the issue. For example, you can pick a name for your character or use your own and find words that rhyme with it. You’ll see what amusing poem you can come up with.

1. Don’t be afraid to be silly – After introducing the character or the theme, you can let your imagination run free. Limericks are meant to be a bit silly and playful so that you can get creative with your humor.

1. End with a twist – If you want to get some good laughs with your limerick, you should end with a plot twist. This is like the punch line of a joke everyone is waiting for, so don’t keep them waiting!

1. Always follow the rhyme scheme – You can pick any topic for your limerick and have as much fun as you want, but remember to always stick to the AABBA rhyme scheme and the limerick’s rhythm. Check a dictionary for ideas if you need to find some words to rhyme.

1. Read your creation out loud – The easiest way to find out if your limerick poem has the proper rhyme scheme is by reading it out loud. If writing was fun, imagine how much fun you will have to hear your masterpiece. Once it passes your test, the limerick poem is ready to be read in front of other people!

Types of Underwater Animals.

Our ocean habitats cover an impressive two-thirds of the earth’s surface and contain up to 226,000 species of underwater animals. The world’s oceans can be divided into five sections – the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. Each one is home to thousands of unique and colorful species of fish, mammals, and other wildlife. Let’s look at just a few of these incredible marine creatures!

Pacific Ocean Animals.

Sea Lions: Using their fore flippers to swim and back flippers to steer, these hefty mammals can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour! The species is found along the coast of Japan and Korea, western North America from southern Canada to mid-Mexico, and the Galápagos Islands.

Killer Whales: As part of the dolphin family, killer whales are classed as mammals, despite being commonly mistaken for fish. Killer whales get their name from their success at hunting – they feed off various fish, seals, and even whales.

Nudibranch: These are colorful, soft-bodied mollusks that shed their shells after releasing larvae. More commonly known as “sea slugs,” they get their nameNudibranchfrom “naked gill,” referring to the breathing apparatus outside their bodies.

Atlantic Ocean Animals.

Sea Horses: Technically fish, these beautiful creatures are known to swim in pairs with their tails linked. Luckily for them, very few other animals eat the sea horse because they are just too boney (except for crabs). They’ve cleverly adapted to look like sea plants to avoid them, though. Fun fact: the male seahorses get pregnant and give birth to the young!

Green Sea Turtle: These beautiful animals can weigh up to 160kg when fully grown. When they’re still growing, they eat jellyfish and sponges. In adult life, they’re herbivores, meaning they maintain a plant-based diet, sustaining themselves on sea grasses and algae.

Salmon: Our planet’s salmon population has massively suffered due to overfishing. Often, fish aren’t caught for food sustainably, meaning that their numbers deplete and sometimes go extinct. However, they can grow up to a meter long and feed off a range of other life, such as plankton and insects in their youth and Capelin in adulthood.

Indian Ocean Animals.

Butterfly fish: Recognizable due to their beautifully colored scales, these tropical fish can also be found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They’re named due to their stunning coloring, which ranges from yellow to silver, red, orange, and black. They sometimes even have eye-like patterns on their bodies.

Oceanic dolphins: There are 36 species of dolphins that can be found in every ocean. The majority of dolphins live in the sea or brackish waters along coastlines. Dolphins are small, toot cetaceans with curved mouths, making it look like they are constantly smiling!

Whale sharks: These mighty creatures are the largest fish in the ocean. The largest one on record was over 20m long and weighed 42 tonnes! Grey-blue in color, these giants display an exciting pattern of pale spots on their bodies. The design is unique to each individual, just as human fingerprints are.

Antarctic and Arctic Ocean Animals.

Seals are brilliantly adapted to their environment, with a thick layer of blubber (fat) to keep them warm. In addition, their long whiskers help them to detect prey when hunting underwater.

Antarctic Krill: They’re small crustaceans that live in large swarms, with a whopping 10,000 to 30,000 individuals per square meter! Most people will know these creatures to be a favorite delicacy amongst whales.

Beluga Whale: Easily recognizable due to their bright white coloring, these large-headed creatures are known as the canaries of the sea, being the most vocal of all the whales.

Looking for some pop music facts? We’ve got you covered better than a cover song (a cover song is when a new recording of a popular song is “covered” by a musician who didn’t sing the original song – that’s another pop music fact for you before we even get started!)

Read on for our top fun facts about pop music.

1. Pop music became popular in the 1950s when rock and roll became a ‘popular’ hit with teenagers.
2. Today there are hundreds of different types of pop music, also known as ‘genres,’ including K-pop (Korean pop), hip-hop, electric dance music (EDM), and rock music.
3. Elvis Presley was a rock and roll musician and one of the first worldwide pop music stars we know today.
4. The Beatles were one of the first “boy bands” in pop music; bands such as Take That, One Direction, JLS, and many more have them to thank!
5. The Beatles are behind so many exciting pop music facts – for example, they were so popular that on their tour of America in the 1960s, they were followed by crowds of screaming teenage girls! These young girls would get so worked up that the media coined a term for it – they called it “Beatlemania.”
6.  Paul McCartney was in The Beatles and still performs today – he is the world’s richest pop star with a fortune of over $1 billion!
7. The most popular music in the 1970s was disco, and one of the top pop groups of this decade was the Swedish pop group ABBA. An extra pop music fact about ABBA – they rose to fame after performing on the Eurovision TV contest with their hit “Waterloo.”
8. The UK’s best-selling single was Elton John’s ‘Something About the Way You Look Tonight/Candle in the Wind 1997′. It sold nearly 5 million copies when it was released following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
9. In the UK, 178 songs have sold over 1 million copies.
10. For recent facts about pop music, who were some of the best-selling pop artists of 2021? They were Adele, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, and some older bands such as Queen and ABBA (yes, the same ABBA from the 1970s!).

In geometry, a polyhedron is a three-dimensional object with flat polygonal faces, sharp corners, and straight edges. Each side is a flat surface and is without any curved surfaces. The word comes from the Greek ‘poly’ (stem of many)  + ‘hedron’ (face). So, a polyhedron  means ‘many-faced geometric shape.’

Examples Of A Polyhedron

A polyhedron features identical faces. Here are some examples of a polyhedron noticeable in everyday life.

• Pyramid
• Football
• Prism
• House
• Brick

What Is Not A Polyhedron?

A polyhedron does not feature contain gaps between the edges or vertices. Here are some examples of shapes that aren’t polyhedrons.

• Cone
• Sphere
• Cylinders
• Coffee Mug

What Is A Regular Polyhedron?

A regular polyhedron is where all faces of an object or shape are a regular polygon. Here are some examples of common polyhedron shapes.

• Regular tetrahedron
• Cube
• Regular octahedron
• Regular dodecagon
• Regular icosahedron

A plot summary is a short, concise description of the events of a story. It covers all the main things in the text but doesn’t go into any detail. There’s no analysis or explanation, only an overview.

This might seem simplistic, and you might even wonder what its point is. However, there are many reasons someone might want to read a plot summary, and they can be instrumental. Moreover, you’ve probably read one at some point yourself!

What are plot summaries used for?

There are many different reasons why people might look up the plot summary for something. Check out some of the main reasons below:

• To allow someone to understand a text that is confusing them – sometimes, you might find yourself reading something over your head a bit. For example, maybe the language is compli. Checking a plot summary can help to smooth out these misunderstandings and allow you to enjoy the story more.
• To help someone decide whether they want to read a book – checking out the beginning of a plot summary might help you determine whether a particular book is up your alley. But be careful – if you’re the kind who likes to avoid spoilers, make sure you don’t read the whole thing!
• To allow someone to engage in a discussion – now and again, you might find people sharing their opinions about something you don’t know anything about. A plot summary can help provide contexts for these debates, allowing you to follow the discussion.
• To help someone know what to expect – some people prefer to know exactly what to expect when reading a book or watching a film. It can help them to relax and enjoy the story without worrying about keeping up or what’s going to happen next.
• To compare different versions of a story – sometimes a plot is adapted in other contexts, for example, if a book has been adapted into a film. The plot summary can help you see how the story has changed.

So, how can I write an excellent plot summary?

The key to writing an excellent plot summary is to pull out the most critical information and not give extra details. Before you begin writing, try and find the core of the text. In non-fiction, this might be the main idea, while in fiction, it might be the critical event. Then, use the text’s skeleton to structure your plot summary.

Make sure that you’re not writing anything too long. There’s no point reading a book summary if it’s half the book’s length – you might as well just read the real thing! Ideally, please keep it to one paragraph, but there’s no hard and fast rule for this. Summaries of really long texts may be longer.

Don’t include any judgments or biases in your summary. The point of a plot summary is not to provide analysis or opinion but rather to relay facts. It’s up to the reader to make decisions based on them.

What does a good plot summary look like?

Now you know what to expect from a plot summary and how to write one, check out this example to see it all come together in precisely what it should look like. For example, here’s a plot summary example for the traditional fairy tale ‘Cinderella’:

Cinderella is an orphan made to cook and clean by her wicked stepmother and nasty stepsisters. When the chance to go to a ball at the palace comes along, her stepmother ensures she cannot attend. However, with the help of her fairy godmother, Cinderella attends in a beautiful dress and captures the prince’s attention. After she’s forced to leave in a hurry, the prince finds the unique glass slipper that she was wearing on the steps to the palace. Using the slipper as a guide, he searches the kingdom for her. He finally finds her, and she proves her identity by donning the slipper. They get married and live happily ever after.

So, what makes that so good?

This plot summary example features all the main events of the classic story, providing an overview of the narrative in a short word count. If you read that, you’d understand the level of Cinderella, even if you’d never heard it. However, it cuts out all the description that makes the whole story captivating, just providing the bones of the plot.

What skills do children learn through plot summaries?

We’ve explored why plot summaries are essential and valuable, but the art of practicing summarising has many benefits for children too. Learning how to summarise is an integral part of reading comprehension and can be an excellent activity for you to do with your learners after you’ve read a text. It helps them show how much they’ve understood and can allow you to identify any areas of confusion you need to go over in more detail.

Repeating a summary is also proven to have helped children to remember texts better, which can help them build strong memories. The ability to recall information is an important comprehension skill and can set children up for future success in exams and have lots of real-life applications.

The circumference is the distance around the edge of a circle.

In other words, it is the perimeter of a circle – however, the word perimeter is generally only used for shapes with straight edges.

Why is finding the circumference helpful?

Finding the circumference is a topic taught from Year 6 through to KS4. Not only is it one of the essential skills in geometry, but finding the circumference of a circle can also be used for many reasons in day-to-day life.

Think about circular everyday items – car wheels, cups and saucers, roundabouts, and even the Earth!

Architects find the circumference when looking at materials for their projects, and it’s also used a lot in farming for fencing and looking at crop yields.

Because the circumference measures the distance around something, it’s an invaluable tool for lots of work that involves area, shape, and measurement.

How To Calculate Circumference

Radius (r) and diameter (d) are two other essential measurements on a circle that is needed before you can calculate the circumference.

This picture shows the circumference, diameter, and radius of a circle:

Using these measurements, there are two different ways to calculate the circumference.

The radius(r) is the distance from any point on the circumference to the circle’s center. The diameter (d) is the distance from one side of the process to the other and is double the radius.

How To Calculate the Circumference Using the Diameter

Step 1:

The first step in working out the circumference is finding the correct formula. To find the circumference using the diameter, you will need to use the following formula:

C = πd

Let’s break this formula down. So, the ‘C’ in this formula stands for circumference, and the ‘d’ stands for diameter. This means that this formula essentially means:

​​Circumference of circle = π × diameter of the ring

*π or Pi is a mathematical constant equal to 3.14159. When you are using pi in maths, it can be simplified to 3.14.

So, now that we know the formula, we can start calculating the circle’s circumference.

Step 2:

This method of measuring the circumference assumes that we already know the circle’s diameter. So, we need to put it into our formula. For example, let’s say that the circle’s diameter is 10.

C = π10

C = π × 10

Put π × ten into your calculator, and you will get 31.4.

Answer: C = 31.4

Let’s look at a few more examples to solidify your understanding of circumference calculating.

Example 1: Find the circumference of a circle with a diameter of 93 cm.

C = πd

Let’s put our numbers into the formula.

C = π × 93

Answer: 292.2 cm.

Example 2: The Smith family has just bought a new dining table that is 13 feet wide. Find the circumference of this dining table.

Since we have not been given the diameter of this dining table, we must work it out with the information provided. We know that the diameter is half of the entire width of a circle, so we must divide our width by two.

Width ➗ 2

13 ➗ 2

Diameter = 6.5 feet

Now that we have the diameter, we can use our formula to calculate the circle’s circumference.

C = πd

C = π × 6.5

Answer: 20.4 feet.

How To Calculate the Circumference Using the Radius

To calculate the circumference of a circle using the radius, we need to use a different formula. The formula for finding the circumference with the radius is:

C = 2πr

Let’s break this formula down. So, the ‘C’ in this formula stands for circumference, as in the one above, and the ‘r’ stands for radius. This means that this formula essentially means:

Circumference of circle = 2 × π × radius

Again, as stated above, you can find π in your calculator, whose numeral value is approximately 3.14.

Because the radius is just half the diameter, the formula for calculating the circumference using the radius is similar to C = πd.

Let’s look at a few examples to solidify your understanding of how to calculate the circumference using the radius.

Example 1: Find the circumference of a circle with a radius of 6 m. The first step in solving this problem is to get the right formula, which we know is: C = 2πr.

Step 1:

The formula is

C = 2πr

Now, let’s put our numbers into the formula:

C = 2 × π × 6

This formula can be simplified as follows:

C = π × (2 × 6)

C = π × 12

C = 37.7

Answer: 37.7 m

Example: Holly’s favorite hobby is hula-hooping. Every day after school, she goes home and plays with her hula-hoop for hours in the garden. A few days ago, Holly broke her favorite hula-hoop, so now she has to look for a new one. Holly wants her new hula-hoop to be the same circumference as her last one. Her old hula-hoop had a diameter of 3 feet. What should the rim of Holly’s new hula-hoop be?

Step 1: In this maths problem, we have not been given the radius straight away, so we must work it out with the information given. We know that a circle’s radius is half its diameter, so we must divide three by 2.

Radius = diameter ➗ 2

Radius = 3 ➗ 2

Radius = 1.5

Step 2: Now that we have the radius, we can use our tried and true formula to calculate the circumference of the hula-hoop.

C = 2πr

Let’s put our numbers into the formula:

C = 2 × π × 1.5

C = π × (2 × 1.5)

C = π × (3)

C = 9.4

Answer: 9.4 feet.

• Rote counting is the power to recite numbers in order from memory. Essentially, it is how to count by saying numbers in order.
• With rote counting, children aren’t “counting” objects; they’re saying numbers in the correct sequence. For example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30.
• Rote counting is a foundational math skill taught in pre-k and kindergarten math.
• Once children master how to count using rote counting, they can tackle more complex math concepts, like addition, subtraction, times tables, division, place value, and money.
• Repetition is the key to mastering rote learning.

How is it different from rational counting?

Knowing how to count with rote counting is a little different than being able to count with rational counting. Rational counting is when children can allocate numbers to the objects they’re counting. With rational counting, the child is trying to determine the quantity. However, with rote counting, they’re demonstrating that they can recite numbers in order from memory.

Example of rational counting: Asking a child to count how many cookies are left in the cookie jar.

Example of rote counting: Asking a child to count from 1 to 10 from memory.

What is one-to-one correspondence?

One-to-one correspondence is a hands-on learning technique that teaches children to count groups of objects. With one-to-one correspondence, children learn how to trust by learning to assign just one number to each object, rather than relying on some things twice or missing other objects altogether.

Example of one-to-one correspondence: Asking a child to count building blocks by picking them out of a container, one by one.

Why is rote counting important?

Rote counting is essential in children’s math development and forms the foundation for learning more advanced and complex math concepts. Ask any math teacher, and they’ll tell you that learning how to count using rote counting is the bedrock of all math learning. Rote counting plays a vital role in helping children to:

• understand numbers and quantities
• memorize numbers in the correct order
• master higher-level skills, like addition and subtraction
• develop their overall number sense
• become more confident in class

The dragon is the fifth zodiac animal in the 12-year Chinese calendar.

In traditional Chinese culture, the term “zodiac” refers to a repeating cycle of 12 years in which each year is represented by a particular animal.

In China, “zodiac” is usually referred to as “shengxiao,” literally meaning “born resembling.”

As this term suggests, the Chinese zodiac animals are similar to the star signs more commonly used in western culture. That is to say that certain personal qualities are associated with the people born during a particular zodiac year. For instance, those born during the Year of the Ox are considered hard-working and honest.

What personal qualities are associated with those born during the Year of the Dragon?

In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon typically embodies the qualities of power, nobleness, leadership, honor, luck, and success. The dragon is often considered the most highly revered zodiac animal of all. Many years ago, it was even commonly thought that the Emperors of enormous dynasties were reincarnations of dragons!

Because of these many positive attributes associated with the dragon, there has been a considerable spike in birth rates during the Year of the Dragon in recent years. This is the result of families planning to have their children this year, hoping they’ll be born with the positive characteristics associated with the dragon.

That said, there are also some negative qualities associated with the dragon. It’s thought that they can often be considered impatient and hotheaded.

Why is the Year of the Dragon, the fifth animal in the cycle?

The order of the Chinese zodiac animals comes from an ancient, traditional Chinese story.

The story begins long ago, with the Jade Emperor deciding that there should be a way to measure and keep track of time.

To do this, on his birthday, he told all the animals in the world that there would be a swimming race. The first 12 animals to cross a long river would have a year named after them.

The winner of the race was the rat, with the dragon coming in fifth place, which is why the Year of the Dragon is the fifth year in the Chinese zodiac calendar.

When is the Chinese Year of the Dragon?

The Chinese Year of the Dragon occurs every 12 years. The next Chinese Year of the Dragon will be in 2024. These are the dates of the Chinese Year of the Dragon since the start of the 20th century (the 1900s):

1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048

The Chinese Year of the Dragon will continue every 12 years after this. Each Chinese Year of the Dragon has a particular element associated with it, which is either wood, fire, earth, metal, or water.

Why are dragons important in China?

Dragons are one of the most respected and admired animals in China! Traditionally, dragons are a symbol of power and strength. They are also strong and independent. Although they may look fearsome, dragons were also seen as loving and kind creatures in Chinese myths, a little bit different from the idea of scary, fire-breathing dragons in Western culture!

Dragons have been traditionally represented as snakelike creatures with physical features of different animals, including eagle talons, deer antlers, and tiger paws. However, in many Chinese arts, dragons have been represented with whiskers on each side of their mouths and horns instead of antlers.

According to Chinese mythology, dragons lived with humans to protect and guide them after humanity was created. Chinese people refer to themselves as descendants of the dragon because the first Chinese imperial dynasty was said to have originated from dragons!

The myths say that dragons were present when the Earth was created. One of the goddesses, called Nu Kua, was part dragon herself. She started to land and made four pillars to hold up the sky. Each post had a dragon on top to hold the weight of the heavens. Nu Kua was also the creator of humans, meaning Chinese people have had a direct link to dragons from the start of their existence.

Some dragons were not as loving, though! The jealous Dragon Kings caused Nu Kua’s creations to be flooded by the Earth’s waters. But the God of Fire came to the rescue and defeated the Dragon Kings. The goddess Nu Kua then returned to Earth to repair the damage and restore her lands. She also created dragons to walk among humanity to help humans recover and restore order to ancient China. Dragons taught humans essential survival skills, like fishing techniques and agricultural skills. Art and music were also introduced to China by dragons. Some dragons were in heaven to oversee the world, ensure balance and protect Chinese people from natural calamities.

So, why are dragons important in China? Because they are protectors, teachers, and part of the Chinese people’s heritage!

Interesting facts about Chinese dragons

Dragons are associated with leadership, wealth, and power in China. These mythical creatures are fascinating, so here are some interesting facts about Chinese dragons for you to enjoy!

1. Chinese dragons come in many forms, such as snake-like, turtle-like, or fish-like creatures.
2. It may come as a shock to you, but Chinese dragons don’t exist in real life! However, these mythical creatures are found in many paintings and people’s imaginations.
3. As water-dwelling creatures, Chinese dragons live at the bottom of the seas, rivers, and lakes.
4. Chinese dragons are believed to control the weather, so they are blamed for causing natural disasters like tidal waves, storms, and floods!
5. Dragons appear in many Chinese proverbs and idioms, such as ‘A dragon among men,’ which means someone who is very talented, or ‘Paint the dragon, dot the eyes’, which means adding the finishing touch to something.
6. Chinese dragons are found throughout the country, with China being the country with most places named after dragons.
7. Boats shaped like Chinese dragons are popular during festivals in China, especially the Dragon Boat Festival. They are long boats with carved dragon heads and long tails.
8. A dragon dance is performed at many celebrations, involving a long Chinese dragon up to 70 meters made of bamboo hoops and glittering fabric.
9. Chinese myth says that the dragon has nine sons with different characters, which are used in architecture, especially imperial palaces.
10. Chinese dragons are even famous in the opera, as there are many Chinese opera shows with ‘dragon’ in the title.

1. “If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams, and you will always look lovely!” – Roald Dahl

A beautiful reflection on the power of positive thinking, this quote inspires us to build up the habit of optimism! Ever noticed someone so happy they’re singing to themselves or smiling as they walk along the street? How did you feel about that person? They probably boosted your mood and lifted your spirits because happiness is contagious!

2. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop

A kind deed can make a world of difference to someone. Random Acts of Kindness Day will be here soon (17th February), which is the perfect opportunity to explore with your children what being kind means and why it’s essential.

3. “Happiness can always be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.” – Dumbledore

A classic quote from the brilliant Harry Potter films, these beautiful words remind us to keep hopeful during difficult times. Things will get better in the end! It’s great to remind our children that things will improve and they will feel better again when facing a tough challenge.

4. “Tears fall for a reason, and they are your strength, not weakness.” – Charlie Mackesy

Children must understand that it’s okay to cry and express their emotions. One of the best things you can do to support your child’s emotional and personal development is to help them feel comfortable letting their feelings out. You can sit with them, listen to them, comfort them and reassure them that things will be okay.

We feel emotions for a reason; they give us a message about something. If you’re sad, something has usually upset or hurt you. Perhaps there’s something you can do to relieve the feeling of sadness or a lesson you can learn for the future so you won’t find yourself in the same upsetting situation again, or perhaps you need to process something by letting the sadness out.

5. ”You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

This is such an important message for children! We tend to spend a lot of time teaching children to care for, be kind to, and love other people, which is brilliant, but how much time do we spend teaching them to love themselves?

Self-love and self-care are essential for happiness. Remember when you’re on a plane, and the flight attendant says you must put on your oxygen mask before helping your child? It might go against your instincts, but this is recommended for a good reason. You need to be able to breathe to support your children and others around you.

6. “Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin

These remarkable statements are brilliant confidence boosters. They will help your child tap into their inner power and feel great about themselves! Most of us underestimate our strength, bravery, and intelligence, but let’s instill unstoppable confidence and self-belief in our children instead!

7. “Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” – Princess Diana

Caring for others and ourselves will make the world a better place! People don’t remember what you had or did, but they remember how you made them feel.

8. “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” – Dolly Parton

As the well-known saying goes, laughter is the best medicine! Smiles and laughs bring us joy and relieve stress at the same time. One smile can be passed on to so many people. When you smile at someone, they will often smile at someone else, and so on. Let’s spread a smile all around the world!

9. “Every child is born a genius.” – Buckminster Fuller

American architect, engineer, and visionary Buckminster Fuller wrote an academic article about every child being born a genius. He said that children are often ‘degeniused’ by the environment or society, but they are born with extraordinary potential and are naturally curious, asking interesting questions about the universe.

10. “One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

Telling your child that they can do anything they set their mind to will instill the confidence and self-belief they need to go out into the world and achieve whatever they want!

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals characterized by their scales and ability to lay eggs.

They include animals like crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles. Snakes are reptiles!

Reptiles are tetrapod vertebrates, meaning they all have back-bones and the majority have four legs, with snakes being the exception. Most reptiles’ skin is made up of scales, so they often shed the outer layer of their skin. Some do this quicker than others, but it’s usually all down to the temperature of their environment – so, where they live!

Types of reptiles

Snakes

Snakes are reptiles with long, thin bodies and no legs. More than 3,000 species of snakes worldwide live everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand.

Some lizards look like snakes because they have no legs, but the way to tell the difference is that lizards have eyelids, and snakes don’t!

Nearly all snakes are covered in scales, which serve two primary purposes: they help trap moisture in arid climates and reduce friction as the snake moves.

Crocodilians

Crocodilians comprise a range of giant reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles, caiman, and gharials. They are ferocious predators and can be found all around the world. The larger species can devour large mammals, from antelope to bison. Others prey on smaller animals, and some feed on fish.

There are two types of crocodiles, depending on the environment in which they live: freshwater and saltwater. The saltwater crocodile is one of the enormous reptiles in the world!

Alligator species are primarily found in the Americas, while crocodile species can be found in Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Chameleons

Chameleons mostly live in the rain forests and deserts of Africa. Many chameleons can change color, which helps them attract mates, regulate their body temperature, and keep intruders away.

A veiled chameleon is also known by its scientific name Chamaeleo calyptratus. They live up to eight years and can grow up to 24 inches. You’ll be happy to hear that the veiled chameleon isn’t close to going extinct – this means we can expect to see these cool reptiles around for many years to come! They have a very distinct look as they have a pointed heads, but what makes this even more interesting is that they use this structure to channel water into their mouths.

One of the fascinating things about the veiled chameleon is that it can change color! How cool is that? This makes the chameleon one of the more popular types of reptiles, as lots of us find the color-changing nature captivating. These reptiles can change color by loads of pigmented cells in their skin. Furthermore, the color they change can often mimic their surroundings or assert dominance. In other words, show others who’s boss! This makes this type of reptile pretty unique.

Tortoises and turtles

Tortoises and turtles have been around for nearly 200 million years, and very little has changed about them in that time!

Though they look similar, tortoises usually live on dry land and have round, stumpy legs. On the other hand, turtles spend much of their time in the water, and many have adapted webbed feet to help them swim in ponds and rivers. Feet are a helpful way of telling apart a tortoise from a turtle! Tortoise feet typically resemble tiny elephant feet, whereas semi-aquatic and aquatic turtles have webbed feet. It is only the sea turtle that has true flippers.

The Indian Star Tortoise is another popular type of reptile and can be found in Asia. They can live up to 80 years and can only travel less than one mile per hour. This means that they are very slow! Like many others, this tortoise is famous in the exotic pet trade, so you can expect many people to have tortoises as pets in their homes.

Lizards

Lizards are among the most common reptiles, with over 6,000 species worldwide. Many lizards live on the ground, but some species live in trees and others underground, like the worm lizard.

A lizard’s diet usually consists of insects and other small animals, and some lizards enjoy plants. However, there are more giant lizards, like the monitor lizard, that prey on animals as big as deer!

Similar to snakes, lizards shed their skin. However, unlike snakes, their skin usually peels off in large chunks rather than all at once.

Location

Reptiles can be found on most continents except Antarctica.

In Britain, common reptiles include Britain’s only venomous snake, the adder, grass snakes, and common lizards. There are six native species of reptiles in the UK: three snakes (grass, smooth, and adder) and three lizards (joint, sand, and slow worm). Some species have been introduced to the UK.

Reptiles can be found in various habitats, from compost heaps to woodland areas.

In Britain, reptiles are easier to see basking in sunny areas. So chances are that if you ever see a snake, as a reptile, it will enjoy the sunshine to warm itself up.

Body temperature

Unlike birds and mammals, reptiles do not maintain constant body temperature.

They do not have fur or feathers to keep warm or sweat glands and the ability to pant to help them cool down.

Because of this, they actively need to seek sunlight or shade to help maintain their body temperature.

This makes them cold-blooded animals with slow metabolisms. Snakes are reptiles, as you might have guessed because they are scaly creatures who mostly lay eggs to reproduce.

Laying eggs

Reptile reproduction is also dependent on temperature.

Most reptiles lay their eggs in a simple nest and leave, waiting for them to hatch.

Depending on the species, this can take as little as a few days or as long as a few months.

The soil temperature around the nest helps determine what proportion of the eggs will hatch male or female.

Most infant reptiles can walk, move or swim within hours of birth.

Although snakes are reptiles and lay eggs, boas and pythons give birth to live young.

Reptile facts

• Reptiles first appeared in fossil records 315 million years ago
• Because the mother leaves the eggs, snakes have to fend for themselves from birth
• They use methods like biting, hissing, and camouflaging to defend themselves from predators.
• The size of reptiles’ brains relative to their body is much smaller than that of mammals.
• The heaviest reptile alive today is the Komodo dragon, weighing in at up to 92kg!

Vocabulary for teaching about reptiles

Adaptation – a characteristic of an organism that increases its chance of survival in its environment.

Camouflage – an organism’s coloration and shape that allows it to blend in with its surroundings (also known as “cryptic coloration”).

Cold-blooded – an animal that is unable to control its body temperature automatically. Instead, body temperature is dependent on the temperature of its environment.

Environment – the conditions that affect an organism, such as plants, animals, water, soil, weather, landforms, and air.

Food chain – the transfer of energy through various stages due to the feeding patterns of a series of organisms.

Habitat – a place in an ecosystem where an animal, plant, or other organism lives.

Mammal – a warm-blooded, vertebrate animal.

Predator – an organism (usually an animal) that preys on and consumes other animals.

Prey – an organism caught or hunted for food by another organism

Scales – the shield of skin that protects a reptile. Reptilian scales are made of keratin, like hair, and are in an overlapping arrangement.

Vertebrates – an animal with a vertebral column (backbone or spinal column).