Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

First, let’s start with the basics and learn about vowel sounds; this will help us when we begin learning about long vowels in English.

Vowel sounds are an essential type of speech sound in the English language. They’re one of the two types of speech sounds we use, along with consonants.

In written English, vowels are represented using the letters ‘ a, ‘e,’ ‘i’, ‘o’, and ‘u.’ The letters ‘w’ and ‘y’ are sometimes thought to be vowels, but in reality, they’re half-vowels, and the sounds they represent are often similar to the vowels ‘u’ and ‘I.’

What are long vowels in English?

Now that we know a bit about these speech sounds, let’s find out about a specific group called long vowel sounds.

A long vowel is where the sound a vowel makes matches its spoken name; this means we have a handy way of remembering which vowel sounds are long in English. For example, the ‘a’ in cake is a long vowel sound pronounced the same as the letter A in the alphabet. To give you another example, the letters ‘e’ and ‘a’ in the word ‘beat’ come together to form a long ‘e’ sound.

There are several ways we can form these long vowels in English. We’ll explore each of these methods in a bit more detail below.

1. Vowel teams

The fancy name for these is diphthongs, where two vowels or vowel sounds come together in a word to form one sound. When this happens, the resulting sound can be a long vowel. One of the main vowel team rules is that they’re made up of two of the same vowels, such as ‘oo,’ or two different vowels, like ‘ea.’

Some examples of vowel teams creating long vowel sounds are the long ‘a’ sound in the rain and the long ‘e’ sound in the word thief. Another example of a vowel team is the word ‘boy.’ Although ‘y’ isn’t a vowel in the strict sense, it combines with the vowel ‘o’ to form the vowel sound ‘oi.’

What are the vowel team rules?

Let’s take a quick look at the vowel team rules to see when a diphthong represents a long vowel sound. When two vowels are beside each other in a vowel team, it’s typically the first vowel that becomes a long vowel sound while the second vowel is silent. To illustrate the vowel team rules, let’s take a look at several quick examples:

• In the word ‘beat,’ the ‘e’ is extended while the ‘a’ is silent.
• In the word ‘goat,’ the ‘o’ represents a long ‘o’ sound while ‘a’ stays silent.
• In the word ‘pie,’ the ‘I’ in the vowel team is long while the ‘e’ is silent.

Now that we understand the vowel team rules let’s check out some more ways to form long vowels in English.

2. Vowels at the end of syllables

Another way these sounds are sometimes formed is when a vowel appears at the end of a syllable. For example, the ‘o’ sound at the end of the word halo and the ‘u’ at the end of the ‘mu’ syllable in ‘music’ are both long vowels.

3. Split digraphs can make a long vowel sound

When a consonant separates a vowel team, we call this a split digraph. This type of vowel team can also make a long vowel sound. For example, the ‘a_e’ in ‘bake’ makes a long ‘a’ sound, as does the ‘i_e’ in the word ‘five.’

What are some words with long vowel sounds?

There are lots of words that contain long vowels in English. Below, we’ve included a few helpful examples to show how the vowels ‘a’ and ‘I’ can form long sounds. Knowing them will help to inform us of how to teach long vowel sounds:Top of Form

Long ‘i’ sound word examples

The long ‘i’ sound can be made in a few different ways.

The letter ‘i’ by itself can be pronounced as a long vowel sound:

• Bike
• Kite
• Drive

As we’ve shown by looking at the vowel team rules, ‘i’ can be a long vowel when it’s the first letter in a vowel team with the letter ‘e’:

• Lie
• Die
• Fries

Another combination of letters that produces the long ‘i’ sound is ‘igh’:

• High
• Light
• Night

The letter ‘y’ on its own can also create this long vowel sound:

• Sky
• Fry
• By

Extended ‘a’ sound word examples

There are several ways to form a word’s long ‘a’ sound.

An ‘a’ by itself can be pronounced as a long vowel sound:

• Ale
• Ape
• Whale

The combination of the letters ‘ei’ can also create the long ‘a’ sound, which can be confusing. Here are some examples:

• Rein
• Vein
• Neigh

Following the vowel team rules, The vowel team ‘ai’ also creates the long ‘a’ vowel sound:

• Gain
• Paid
• Aim

Another option is the ‘ay’ combination:

• Day
• Way
• Say

To answer the question of what agriculture is, let’s look at the definition first; then, we can dive into history and learn how agriculture started and how it looks today.

Agriculture is the science of farming; it includes cultivating the soil for growing crops, rearing animals to provide food, wool, and other products, and harvesting grown crops as effectively as possible.

It is agriculture that has allowed human civilization to expand to the great heights that it is today, and it is agriculture that took humanity from the simple hunter-gatherer way of life to a more complex society.

The Origin of Agriculture

Agriculture was not ‘invented’ in a single flash of genius by one of our ancestors. Instead, plant and animal domestication happened gradually over centuries and often independently worldwide. However, such development was only made possible after the last great Ice Age, when climates worldwide became more stable, and human populations could thrive again.

Historians have been able to track the development of agriculture in four significant places around the world; the earliest signs come from the Middle East and China before it spread into the Mediterranean and Europe and finally developed independently again in the Andes and mountains of South America. So let’s dive back into time and see how these civilizations used agricultural skills to improve their world.

Middle East

The hunters and gatherers of early human societies, particularly in the fertile crescent (modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq), we’re experts on the plants and animals around them. The movement, needs, and abilities of each animal were well known to these people because they relied on that knowledge to feed themselves and their children.

Around 11,000 BCE, people began to protect and herd the wild herds of goats, sheep, cows, and pigs that moved up and down the valley. They also harvested wild cereals such as einkorn, emmer, and barley. At first, they used random and unorganized; people would pull weeds out of the ground to promote the growth of more plants they ate or bring water from the river to water the plants. They would herd the animals but did not build farms for them yet.

At around 8800 BCE, scientists noticed a change in our genetics; for the first time, humans in this area had switched from primarily wild food to mainly farmed food.

China

Agriculture developed entirely independently in China and other countries of the far east of Asia. However, findings at archaeological digs suggest that pig herding was being used as a method of food production as far back as 10,500 BCE in the Yellow River Valley.

By 8000 BCE, this area had become a center of millet cultivation and, alongside the pig farming industry, sustained large villages such as Cishan. The domestication of wild rice soon followed and is still a stable ingredient in Asian cooking to this day.

Europe

The development of agriculture within Europe differs slightly from its development in China or the Middle East; early European societies benefited from the work done by the communities in the Fertile Crescent. Knowledge was traded back and forth between cultures living on the shores of the Mediterranean for many centuries, and with it came the knowledge of farming.

Around 7000 BCE, farming was introduced to areas that would become modern-day Greece, Italy, and Spain, before moving north into Central Europe. It is thought that new arrivals from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East brought domesticated plants and animals; elsewhere, local people adopted the same skills.

Once the skills had been taught, the art of farming exploded in Europe, with much of the land well suited to growing plants and feeding livestock.

The Americas

In the Andes mountains of South America, people experimented with cultivating potatoes and other root vegetables around 5000 BCE. They used llamas and alpacas to help them plow the soil and even farmed the local guinea pigs as a food source.

The hunter-gatherer way of life existed alongside farming here because there were far fewer species of animals suited to domestication, and the land was more difficult to farm.

How did agriculture change human civilization?

Culturing crops and animals allowed humans to evolve beyond the nomadic lifestyle they had relied on for thousands of years. Hunter-gatherer societies had to rely on the movements of animals, and this could lead to periods when hunting was very fruitful (but they could not store the meat for long) or periods with very little to eat.

Once more permanently, settlements were established around farming communities; people could store food they could use during the winter months when hunting and gathering weren’t possible. It also meant that for the first in human history, people could specialize in different tasks; until the advent of agriculture, each person dedicated their time to food production for themselves, their family, and their communities. Once farming took hold, people had more food than they needed. In addition, they had time to develop new ways of building, new tools, and skills such as art, blacksmithing, and even music.

Let’s look deeper at some changes and innovations made possible by agriculture.

Population Growth

The earliest farming villages were small huddles of mud-brick houses nestled together and separated by narrow spaces. These soon started to grow as more animals were added to the herds and as more crops were planted. In the Jordan Valley, Jericho is one of the earliest villages to have flourished in this way. By 8000 BCE, the population had gone from a few families to a massive community of hundreds who created stone houses and a wall to protect their town and animals.

The ability to produce more food from a smaller area allowed populations to grow together and develop into towns and even cities. Without that, our society would not be possible.

Better diets

Scientists have looked at the remains of humans throughout our history. Following the agricultural ‘revolution,’ they saw a marked increase in food and the quality available food. People no longer had to survive on the food they could immediately find; they could split up their meals and food. As a result, cereal grain has become a staple part of the diet in the Middle East, China, and Europe, along with bread, porridge, water, milk, and a variety of high-protein meats.

Such a stable diet saw changes in human health, with less evidence of intestinal diseases or worms!

Specialization

Living in farming communities meant that not everyone had to work towards producing food daily, every day. A network of people would live together for generations, which meant they could develop specific skills and roles in their communities. For example:

• Some people herded and gathered animals
• Some people worked on the farms and cropland
• Others prepared food

More importantly, not everyone had to have a job on the farm:

• Some people started to make pottery or build houses
• Some could become traders or merchants
• Some people could develop tools for better farming

Without the diversification of all these skills, we would not have invented all the superior technology and creations we have today.

What is a Continent?

A continent is a large uninterrupted landmass, separated from other continents by water or other geographical features. Approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and the remaining 29% is land. This land makes up the seven continents we know and study today. The seven continents are:

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• North America
• South America
• Australasia/Oceania
• Antarctica

The names of the continents, from smallest to largest in surface area, are as follows: Australia, Europe, Antarctica, South America, North America, Africa, and Asia. Amazingly, these continents make up a total of 57 million square miles of land.

How was the Continents Formed?

The world’s seven continents have been formed over millions of years through the movement of tectonic plates. The outer part of the Earth is made up of tectonic plates, and these large, irregular slabs of rock are always moving. This constant movement is known as plate tectonics, which led to the land movement and the continents’ formation.

Seven continents make up Earth’s land surface area. So the next question is how do we determine which countries make up which continent?

There are two points to consider when placing countries within a particular continent. These two points are the proximity to the region and tectonic plates.

Geographers usually include all the islands in the same region as part of a continent. Hence, this is why Madagascar is part of Africa, and the United Kingdom is part of Europe.

Each continent also has a geological distinction where tectonic plates play a part. Countries that share a tectonic plate will be on the same continent; this is why Antarctica, an island on its tectonic plate, is described as a separate continent. While Greenland, also one of the world’s largest islands, is part of the North American continent. This island shares the same tectonic plate as North America!

What was Pangaea?

The Earth is constantly changing. For example, if you look at a map of the continents millions of years ago, it would look very different from today’s maps.

About 240 million years ago, much of the land on Earth formed a single, colossal continent. This supercontinent is called Pangaea (also spelled Pangea), which means ‘all the Earth’ in Greek.

Forces known as plate tectonics began to break the continent apart into separate smaller continents. The continents then moved in different directions. This movement is called continental drift.

The idea of plate tectonics is that the Earth’s upper crust is made up of different sections floating on a sea of melted rock. Like cookies floating on jelly. These sections or plates making up the continental crust move very slowly; as they move, they can separate or collide.

Scientists believe in another 250 million years; the continents will join together again. We’ll then have to draw a new continent map.

What is the biggest continent in the world

The world’s biggest continent is Asia, which occupies a whopping four-fifths of the Eurasian landmass.

Diversity In Asia

In addition to being the biggest continent in the world, Asia is also the most diverse. This diversity can be seen geographically, as Asia is home to the highest and lowest points of the Earth and has the longest coastline of any continent. Asia is also highly diverse regarding its climate, as it experiences climatic extremes on both ends of the scale; this, in turn, helps to produce various plant and animal life across the continent. The diversity of Asia is also true of its inhabitants, as the people of Asia have the widest variety of human adaptation of any continent in the world.

How Did Asia Get its Name?

The name Asia can be traced back to ancient history, as the Greeks referred to the lands located east of them. In terms of its derivation, it is believed that the name ‘Asia’ comes from the Assyrian word, ‘asu,’ which means east; this is just one theory, however. Another theory suggests that the name ‘Asia’ is derived from a local name given to the plains of Ephesus. The ancient Greeks and Romans then broadened the scope of this term to refer to Anatolia, the most western parts of mainland Asia, and every aspect of the world east of the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, when explorers from the west traveled to South and East Asia in early modern times, they broadened the name further to encompass all of the vast landmasses we now know as Asia.

The Boundaries of Asia

Asia has borders with many different oceans. For instance:

• To the north, Asia is bordered by the Arctic Ocean
• To the east, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean
• To the south, it is bordered by the Indian Ocean
• To the southwest, it is bordered by the Red Sea and some inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean

To the west, Asia is bordered, not by an ocean, but by Europe. The border between Asia and Europe is a line that runs south from the Arctic Ocean along the Ural Mountains. The border then turns southwest and travels along the Emba River to the northern shore of the Caspian Sea. West of the Caspian Sea, the border travels along the Kuma-Manych Depression to the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait of the Black Sea; this dictates the isthmus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, which contains the Caucus mountain range, is classified as part of Asia. An isthmus is ​​a tight strip of land that unites two larger land masses and separates two bodies of water.

How Big is Asia?

So, we know that Asia is the biggest continent in the world, but how big is it? The total surface area of Asia, excluding the island of New Guinea, amass a total of 17,226,200 square miles; this makes up around one-third of the Earth’s total surface area. In addition to its mainland, Asia encompasses various islands, including Taiwan, Japan, Asian Russia, Sri Lanka, Cyprus, and more. The total surface area of these islands is 1,240,000 square miles, which makes up about 7 % of Asia’s total surface area.

The Elevation of Asia

The largest continent, Asia, also has the highest average elevation of all of the continents. Asia is home to Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 29,035 feet (ca. 9 km). In contrast, the continent is also home to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the Earth’s land surface, at an elevation of around 1,410 feet (0.43 km) below sea level. Asia also encompasses the deepest continental trough in the world, which Lake Baikal occupies. This trough is 5,315 feet (1.62 km) deep, and its bottom is an impressive 3,822 feet (1.16 km) below sea level.

These extremes in elevation, the vast amount of mountain belts and plateaus in Asia, have come about due to the collision of tectonic plates. As a result, Asia encompasses several different landmasses and areas that have come together over time to form the continent we see today.

The Different Regions of Asia

Asia is typically divided into eight different regions, each of which is huge in its own right and encompasses a variety of countries. These regions of Asia are:

• North Asia, which encompasses the majority of Siberia and the northeastern edges of Asia.
• East Asia encompasses the continental section of the Russian Far East region of Siberia, the East Asian islands, Korea, and eastern and northeastern China.
• Central Asia includes the Plateau of Tibet, the Junggar and Tarim basins, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, the Gobi, and the Sino-Tibetan ranges.
• Middle Asia includes the Turan Plain, the Pamirs, the Gissar and Alay ranges, and the Tien Shan.
• South Asia includes the Philippine and Malay archipelagoes, peninsular Southeast Asia and India, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the Himalayas.
• West Asia encompasses the West Asian highlands (Anatolia, Armenia, and Iran), the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula.

There are some discrepancies to note when discussing the regions of Asia. For instance, the Philippines, the Malay Archipelago, and peninsular Southeast Asia are classified as Southeast Asia.

The Climate in Asia

As it is the largest continent in the world, Asia has a vast range of climates. The majority of Asia experiences a continental climate, which is relatively dry, with sweltering summers and frigid winters; this is because the air reaching Asia from the Atlantic Ocean passes through Europe and Africa first. During this time, the ocean absorbs moisture from the air, producing the continental air that is common in Asia. Arctic air travels across the continent from the north, while tropical and equatorial air masses dominate in the south. However, these tropical air masses are blocked from reaching Central Asia by the ridges of the mountainous belt, which extends from the highlands of West Asia through the Himalayas to the mountains of southern China and

Southeast Asia.

There are several different climate regions found in Asia. They are as follows:

• Polar climate
• Subarctic climate
• Temperate climate
• Arid climate
• Highland climate
• Grassland climate
• Tropical climate

In Asia’s northern and northeastern fringes, you will find polar, subarctic, and temperate climates. However, the arid and highland climates dominate Asia’s interior and southwestern regions. Finally, along the southern edge of Asia, you will find a combination of grassland and tropical rainforest climates.

Language

Due to its massive size, it makes sense that Asia is home to a wide range of different languages. It is estimated that, amongst the 4.46 billion people living in Asia, 2,300 languages are being spoken. Furthermore, the majority of the individual countries in Asia each contain more than one native language. For example, there are over 800 languages spoken in India, more than 600 languages spoken in Indonesia, and an estimated ​​302 living languages in China.

Religion

In keeping with its diverse culture, Asia is home to many of the major religions in the world. The five primary beliefs that are practiced around the globe are all found in Asia. These religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese folk religion (Confucianism and Taoism), and Buddhism.

Each region of Asia is home to a diverse selection of religions. What’s more, different religions are more prominent in some areas of Asia than in others. For example, let’s look at how religion is practiced in South Asia.

• South Asia

South Asia is home to many religions, the oldest of which is Hinduism. Hinduism is an essential religion in South Asia, particularly regarding its influence on Indian culture and society.

In the 6th and 5th centuries B.C.E., Jainism and Buddhism emerged as a reaction to the dominance of Hinduism across South Asia; Jainism was never popular enough to spread or have a massive significance in the world. However, its moral teachings on non-violence and asceticism (an extreme form of self-discipline involving avoiding all indulgence) have greatly influenced Indian culture. On the other hand, Buddhism became extremely popular to the point where it was regarded as the universal alternative to hierarchical religion in northeastern India.

Towards the end of the 15th century C.E., Sikhism was established in the Punjab state of India. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that has dramatically impacted Punjab society and is still the primary religion in the state today.

What is a writing convention?

Writing and language conventions are simply the rules people must follow when writing any text. Whether you’re writing a story or a political speech, certain principles, such as correctly writing in complete sentences and spelling words, will help the text make sense and impact the audience.

As well as the more general writing conventions that apply to all texts, certain genres have specific rules and principles that guide them. For example, you know you’re reading a play script if it contains stage directions, scenes, and speech without speech marks.

Keep reading below to learn all about language conventions and techniques, including a language conventions list for you to use with your class.

What are the leading writing conventions?

The main writing conventions that children will learn are the ones that apply to all texts. These guidelines must be followed in all writing tasks to help the reader understand what has been written. This language conventions list includes:

• Spelling – words must be spelled correctly, including any homophones.
• Punctuation – punctuation must be utilized appropriately, such as a complete stop at the end of a sentence or commas separating items in a list.
• Capitalization – all words that require a capital letter should have one, including proper nouns and words at the beginning of a sentence.
• Grammar – all grammatical rules must be followed, such as subject-verb agreements and correct use of tense.

Writing conventions for specific genres:

While spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar are necessary for all texts, some genres have rules and principles to follow. These features help the reader to identify what kind of text they are looking at. Read on to find out about some of the more common genres and their conventions:

Narrative writing conventions

A narrative text tells a story, like a book. Some standard features of a narrative piece include characters, speech, and a clear story structure. For example, children might plan using a story mountain structure so that their narrative text has a clear introduction, build-up, climax, resolution, and ending. If you are reading a text with a plot like this, you can be sure you are reading a narrative.

Persuasive writing conventions

Persuasive texts aim to convince the reader to agree with the author’s point of view and might be presented in a format such as a speech, article, or poster. One example of a persuasive writing convention would be having a clear point of view, which is likely to be presented in the introduction and the conclusion. Standard features include facts and figures, emotive language, and rhetorical questions.

Letter writing conventions

When reading a letter, many visual clues tell you what type of text you are looking at. For example, a note will include an address in the top right-hand corner, a date, and a greeting (such as “Dear Sir/Madam”). It is also likely to be written in paragraphs and finish with a sign-off, such as “Yours Sincerely.”

Instructional writing conventions

Instructional writing covers text types such as recipes, instruction manuals, and how-to articles. This genre has many defining conventions, such as having a numbered list of instructions; this will be written in chronological order and include imperative verb commands, such as “Mix the batter.” Instructions are unlikely to have any speech or defining features. This specific list of conventions helps the reader to know they are reading a set of instructions and to follow them effectively.

Formal writing conventions

There are also writing conventions for specific writing registers and genres. If you are writing a standard text, such as a letter to your headteacher, particular rules will guide your writing and help the reader to know that you are writing formally. Including avoiding contractions, for example, saying “cannot” instead of the more informal “can’t.” A formal text is also unlikely to have any nicknames or slang terms. These conventions will help you to set the right tone for your writing.

Why are writing conventions necessary?

The main aim of writing conventions is to help the reader understand what they are reading. If spelling, punctuation, and grammar were all incorrect, no one would be able to read and enjoy the text!

Writing conventions are the foundation of any written work, so children must learn to master them as best they can before they move on to more detailed writing.

Many school exams and tests are graded according to writing conventions, so this is an important skill to master. For children to succeed academically, writing conventions are a must-know for children of all ages. A piece of work can be brilliantly structured and informed in its contents, but if it is littered with spelling and grammar mistakes, children will lose marks quickly.

Following the conventions of writing isn’t just a skill child will need throughout their school years; it’s also an essential skill that will help them in their adult life. For example, following the conventions specific to writing a resume and using correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar will work in their favor when applying for a job in the future.

Descriptive Verbs Definition

Verbs are the action words in a sentence. They show an action done by or to a person, place, or thing. Descriptive Verbs (also known as solid verbs) are more colorful versions of verbs, which include an action that is more detailed or interesting than we might typically use. For example, you might say, ‘The boy ran home, but that sounds quite plain. So why not say, ‘the boy sprinted home, instead?

Weak verbs like ‘ran’ are very common and act as the base version of an action.

Not to be confused with adjectives (which describe a noun) or adverbs (which represent a verb, adjective, or another adverb), a descriptive verb includes the descriptive element in the word itself.

Why should we use descriptive verbs?

Descriptive verbs can add excitement and intrigue to our writing. The reader can better picture the action taking place if the words used include more detail; this can make your writing stand out on the page, which will keep them wanting to read more. It might even help them connect more with the characters being written about.

Adjectives and adverbs are valuable kinds of descriptive words that provide similar detail. What makes descriptive verbs worthwhile compared to these other words is that they can be used in a shorter sentence.

Instead of saying, ‘Mark strolled into the room,’ we can say, ‘Mark ambled into the room.’; this describes the casual nature of his action and allows us to write a more snappy sentence. We’ve conveyed more information with fewer words!

Sometimes, using the base form of a verb can be the most direct way of writing, but descriptive verbs can give more mood and personality for creative writing.

Three types of descriptive verb

Verbs come in all shapes and sizes, describing different actions, events, and states of being. These helpful categories will help you think about when you should replace a verb in a sentence and will be beneficial to teach your children, so they have a better grasp of their communication using verb forms.

• Verbs of movement. These are the first thing you think of when you think of a verb. These verbs describe the action made by a person, animal, or object. In creative writing in primary school, a movement verb can help a child tell what a character wants, how they feel about it, and how challenging this activity is for them.

• Verbs of thought. Thinking can be as active as doing when it comes to verbs. These words show the inner workings of action, like the terms ‘imagine,’ ‘reflect,’ and ‘wonder.’ These words can be as helpful for informational texts as when describing a character’s thoughts in creative writing.

• Verbs of speech. These words will be handy to teach during a lesson on dialogue, as these are the words that can describe how a character said something. Of course, the term ‘said’ is valuable and could be used independently. But in those cases, when you want to emphasize something, words like ‘shouted,’ ‘cried,’ or ‘whispered’ can be helpful.

What are some examples of descriptive verbs?

Looking for examples of descriptive verbs? Here’s a handy list of descriptive verbs to simplify things, including the word’s root meaning.

Walk	Stroll, march, stomp, amble, plod, hike
Eat	Munch, nibble, gobble, devour, slurp
Think	Conceive, imagine, ponder, brood
Speak	Whisper, shout, demand, question, natter
Smile	Grin, smirk, beam, leer, chuckle
Frown	Scowl, glare, pout, grimace, wince
Hit	Punch, smack, wallop, jab, clip
Look	Stare, glance, gaze, eye, peek, examine
sit	Slump, perch, freeze, squat

 

What is a fronted adverbial?

Let’s answer ‘what is a fronted adverbial?’ by breaking down the grammar behind it.

A fronted adverbial is a word (or a phrase for adverbial phrases) used for the same reason as adverbs to modify a specific verb or clause. They are so similar that many adverbs can be used as fronted adverbials. Many other word types and clauses can also be used as a fronted adverbial. For example:

• prepositional phrases
• subordinate clauses

Fronted adverbials can help young learners create vital pieces of descriptive writing. They can set the scene at the start of a chapter or paragraph. They’re also crucial for describing where, when, and how the action occurred.

So, what is a fronted adverbial? They are the words or phrases found at the start of a sentence that is used to describe the action that follows.

What are Fronted Adverbials used for:

Fronted adverbials are most commonly used to describe specific characteristics or actions. Here are a few sentences where you can see them in action:

• The time something happens – Darius crept into the beast’s cave before sunrise.
• The frequency that something happens – Darius could hear the beast’s ferocious snore every so often.
• The place something happens – The terrifying creature began to stir at the back of the cave.
• The manner something happens – As quick as a flash, Darius bounded behind a nearby rock.
• The possibility (how likely) something will happen – Almost certainly, the deadly beast was nearing closer.

List of Fronted Adverbials:

Fronted Adverbial:	How to use it in a sentence:
Afterward	Afterward, we all had ice cream.
Tomorrow	Tomorrow, I think I’ll take the dog for a walk.
Once	Once, it snowed so much that we couldn’t go to school.
Sometimes	Sometimes, I like to have a bath instead of a shower.
Upstairs	Upstairs, there was an enormous bedroom.
Sadly	Sadly, I couldn’t find my umbrella this morning.
Perhaps	Perhaps, the rain would stop soon.
As fast as she could	As fast as she could, Winnie dashed across the muddy field.
Quite understandably	Quite understandably, Lila wasn’t very impressed.
In the distance	In the distance, Jess called out as loud as she could.
Back at the house	Back at the house, Oscar was sleeping soundly.
Without warning	Without warning, Maha started singing and dancing.
In the blink of an eye	In the blink of an eye, everything was back to normal again.

When to use Fronted Adverbials in your writing:

Adding description

Fronted Adverbials are brilliant when you want to make your writing more descriptive and precise. They are best used when the specific place, time, or manner in which an action took place might be of interest or importance to the reader.

Creative writing can give clues about a character’s feelings or personality. Look at how the addition of a fronted adverbial changes our perception of the main clause ‘the teacher looked at Clare’s homework:

• Joyfully, the teacher looked at Clare’s homework.
• With a look of disdain, the teacher looked at Clare’s homework.

In this example, the fronted adverbial (highlighted in bold) completely changes the reader’s perception and understanding of both the subject (the teacher) and the object (Clare’s homework) of the sentence; this shows how they can be used to add detail and intrigue to a piece of writing quickly.

Improving the flow and tone of your writing

Sometimes using too many short, simple sentences can make a piece of writing feel awkward or clunky. Similarly, sentences with too many connectives like ‘and’ or ‘but’ can make a sentence seem too wordy. Here’s an example:

Jim and his dog went to the park. They played fetch. Jim laughed out loud and threw the ball as far as he could.

Luckily, you can use fronted adverbials to make sentences flow together more fluidly while keeping your sentences short and easy to follow. For example, take a look at what the above sentences could look like if they used them too:

At the park, Jim and his dog played fetch. Then, laughing out loud, Jim threw the ball as far as he could.

Notice how the sentences seem to flow more naturally?; this is because fronted adverbials do a better job mimicking how we speak. You probably use plenty of them in your speech without even realizing it!

Building tension and suspense in your writing

Suspense and horror writers often love fronted adverbials because they build suspense by putting the verb toward the end of a sentence, making the reader wait to find out the action being described. They can also add atmospheric and spooky details to a sentence. Here are a few sentences where you can see them in action.

• As the wind howled outside, the door slammed shut behind them.
• Without a sound, Nadine started her descent into the dark cellar.
• Mysteriously, the painting that had been on the wall yesterday was now gone.

If you’re teaching a primary school class how to use this technique in their writing, you could prompt your students to use them to write a short horror or suspense story. It is fun to get them engaged and excited about the topic while also getting them to think about how different fiction genres use different writing styles.

1. George Washington is the only United States president with a state named after him. Washington was granted statehood in 1889, long after his death. Its name was chosen to honor his achievements!
2. When Washington held office, the capital of the United States was temporarily founded in New York City, then later Philadelphia.
3. Many counties, streets, towns, bridges, parks, schools, and colleges are named after George Washington. These can be found all over the United States. So keep your eyes peeled for a Washington Street near you!
4. George Washington was a big fan of animals. The names of some of his hunting dogs included Sweet Lips, Venus, Trulove, and Drunkard.
5. Some people think that George Washington’s iconic white hair was a wig. But it’s his hair – he just powdered it!
6. Washington’s teeth were broken and damaged from cracking walnuts, so he wore dentures. Contrary to popular belief, these were not made out of wood. Instead, his dentures were made from gold, ivory, lead, and human teeth pulled from enslaved people.
7. George Washington owned a distillery and made gallons of whiskey every year. He was also involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. Farmers in Pennsylvania stopped paying the tax on whiskey, and Washington sent forces to stop them.
8. The tale of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree is thought to be a myth nowadays. Although it was told in a written biography, no eyewitnesses confirmed it. But it’s still a fun story!
9. As the president of the United States, George Washington’s salary was 2% of the country’s total budget.
10. Over his life, George Washington wrote over 18,000 letters. Some estimates go as high as 20,000; this would amount to several daily letters for most of his life.

What is an acute angle?

The acute angle is small, less than 90˚ (degrees). It is one of many primary types of angles, along with a right angle (equal to 90˚), an obtuse angle (between 90˚ and 180˚), and a reflex angle, which measures more than 180˚ but less than 360˚.

You can remember the definition of an acute angle by thinking of this mnemonic: an acute angle is small.

What is an angle?

Firstly, what is an angle? We have to understand angles before we can start thinking about acute angles.

In geometry, an angle can be defined as the figure formed by two rays meeting at a common endpoint. The two rays — lines — that meet at the endpoint are called the ‘arms of the angle.’ An angle measures a turn, calculated in degrees or °. There are 360° in a complete turn. The endpoint is also known as the vertex.

You find out the size of an angle using a protractor, which is a bit like a ruler. It is a semicircular piece of flat, transparent plastic with lines marked on it. Then, you can line up the lines with an angle to measure the degrees of the angle.

What are the five types of angles?

A few different types of angles vary in size and measurement. Therefore, children need to learn about the other angles.

Acute angles are angles of measurement less than 90˚.

Obtuse angles are greater than 90° but less than 180°.

Reflex angles are greater than 180°.

Right angles are exactly 90˚ in measurement.

Straight angles are 180° exactly, so they are a straight line.

Complete angles are a whole angle, exactly 360˚ in measurement, and so are a circle.

Adaptation is the process of evolution where an animal or plant becomes better suited to its habitat. There are many examples of physiological processes and special functions that animals and plants use to thrive.

There are three forms of adaptation in the animal and plant kingdom.

These changes could be physiological – causing their internal processes to change and adapt to cope with their environment. Structural- in which a feature of their physical body changes, usually over millions of years. Or behavioral – in which a response causes an animal or plant to change how it responds to its habitat.

Behavioral adaptations– an organism’s actions to survive in a specific habitat or environment.

Examples of behavioral adaptations:

• Bears hibernate in the winter to conserve energy as there is less food.
• Dogs pant to help themselves cool down.

Structural adaptations– physical attributes that enable an organism to survive in its unique habitat.

Examples of structural adaptations:

• Seals and penguins develop fat to help them preserve heat in freezing temperatures.
• Reptiles like frogs and chameleons have long sticky tongues to grab and stick to prey.

Examples of plants and animals and their specific physiological adaptations:

• Snakes and spiders produce venom to paralyze their prey and make them easier to digest.
• Many fish and reptiles are cold-blooded to cope with living in a cold-water environment.
• Plants release nectar to attract bees and insects that help them to spread pollen.

Extreme environments

Every part of our planet has an ecosystem of life uniquely and physiologically adapted to live in that specific habitat and may not survive anywhere else. A fish would not be able to stay in the desert because it is too hot and dry for such a creature that needs water to live. A polar bear would not survive in the jungle because it would be too hot and not camouflaged from prey. Equally, a lion would suddenly be upset to find itself in the snowy Arctic. It would be like you or me turning up to the North Pole in sunglasses and a swimsuit – we would be freezing! Each animal has unique attributes that are ideally suited to its place.

Surviving in the tundra

Plants

1. Growing smaller leaves- smaller leaves have less surface area, meaning the plant loses less heat, water, and energy through its leaves.
2. Growing low to the ground- growing closer to the ground protects a plant from solid winds often found in the Arctic Tundra climate.
3. Quick blooming- small flowers bloom quickly to soak up as much light as possible in the 24-hour summer.

Animals

1. Hibernation– hibernation is considered part of the behavioral process, though it is also a part of physiological adaptation. For example, animals consume large amounts of food before they hibernate, which is then converted to fat and stored in the body; this slows down their metabolisms and enables them to sleep for long periods at very cool temperatures.
2. Molting– large animals like polar bears need to stay warm in the winter, but their thick fur coats become too hot for the summer. Molting is a physiological process that helps them cool down and shed heavy surplus fur to hunt faster and more efficiently in the summer when there is less ice. Molting is a feature of many animals; cats and dogs also molt to cool down similarly.
3. Biological Anti-freeze– many insects can create their anti-freeze, a naturally forming anticoagulant in their blood, to prevent them from becoming miniature ice sculptures. Some plant species also have a natural chemical antifreeze ability. The Alaskan Wood Frog is a particularly fascinating example; it can literally ‘freeze’ itself over winter and then thaw out and come back to life in spring – does anyone think it should be renamed the zombie frog?

Surviving in the desert

Plants

1. Water storage– cactuses absorb water to enjoy the longevity of life in a barren land where it rarely rains, which means they can soak up as much as possible on the rare occasion a storm greets the sand.

Animals

1. Storing fat– camels store fat reserves in their humps to deal with the lack of water in the dry, sandy desert; this is then converted into food and water sources in extreme circumstances. Kangaroo rats are specialized in that they never have to drink water; they absorb moisture from the seeds they eat.
2. Specialized digestive systems– desert critters have very special stomachs that enable them to easily consume the scarce food supply in the desert. For example, meerkats can consume scorpions whole without being poisoned by their venom, but if they get a sting on the body, it might spell disaster.
3. Camouflage– desert dwellers are similar to tundra animals as they also use camouflage for physiological survival. Some species can change the color of their skin or fur to match the environment in the changing seasons. For example, an addax’s coat is white in the summer to reflect heat, but it changes to a dull brown in the winter to absorb heat and keep warm.

Surviving in the ocean

Plants

1. Chemical defenses– sea stars secrete chemicals from their skin to prevent them from being eaten by a predator.

Animals

1. Breathing– large mammals like whales live in the ocean full time, but they need to breathe air, so they have become very adept at holding their breath for long periods underwater.
2. Chemical defenses -sea creatures such as octopuses and squid have a marvelous chemical defense mechanism to warn off predators. If something comes along and decides they look like a tasty dinner, they get a face full of ink and often retreat as hastily as they came.
3. Warm-blood-migrating animals such as whales and dolphins must deal with changing temperatures in the water they travel through. Therefore, they are endothermic, or ‘warm-blooded,’ which helps them regulate their temperature depending on the surrounding water.

What is a curriculum?

A curriculum is a collection of lessons and assessments taught by a teacher in an educational institution. Or, to put it another way, it describes the totality of experiences a student will have when taught in an institution by a teacher.

Why the curriculum is important

A curriculum is essential because it imposes some order onto what is taught in an educational institution. It communicates clear expectations for teachers and students about what ought to be achieved by the end point of the course.

Having a curriculum allows students to pass between institutions so they can progress and get further qualifications. At the primary and secondary school levels, many students will move between schools; this is why a curriculum is essential. It means that schools are standardized and students will not suffer or miss out on teaching just because they move from one school to another.

What’s more, it sets a goal for all students to reach at the end of the primary school years. Moreover, all primary schools follow a curriculum, so they are prepared to the same level when they start studying at the secondary school level.

What are the different types of the curriculum?

There are several different ways to design a curriculum. These include a subject-centered design, which can be found in most schools across the UK; this will involve following a particular subject or discipline, such as mathematics and biology, and ensuring that a core set of knowledge is communicated to students throughout the course.

There is also a learner-centered or problem-centered curriculum design, which emphasizes what the students wish to learn or how they might solve a problem.

The subject of English in the UK follows a spiral curriculum design where each topic is covered several times throughout the student’s career, at a greater depth each time. Allowing students to become familiar with certain concepts at a young age and build on them each time they encounter them later.