Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

Definition: Adaptation

• The process of changing so an animal or organism can become better suited to its surrounding environment.

What are adaptations?

Adaptations are characteristics that improve an organism’s chance of survival. These are usually functional traits maintained through evolution and natural selection and passed down through generations.

Adaptation has three meanings in a biological sense:

An organism can change to adjust to its immediate habitat. For example, a growing plant at an increasing altitude could alter its metabolism or the nutrients it requires to help it survive.

Adaptation is also considered in a genetic sense. There is a sense of the ‘survival of the fittest where only the most potent genetic variations survive, thrive, and reproduce. For example, the peppered moth in the UK had to adapt following the Industrial Revolution. A genetic mutation caused an adaptation, allowing the moths to hide from predators due to their darker pigmentation.

Lastly, adaptation can be for one specific function. An example of this is the horn of a rhino to fight off competitors or the webbed feet of a duck to help with swimming.

Who was Charles Darwin?

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who worked on the theory of evolution and adaptation. Born in 1809, his book, On The Origin of Species, provided the first tangible evidence that development had occurred. He also put forward theories about how and why animals adapt and evolve.

Why do animals adapt?

Animals adapt to survive better in their environments. Philosophers and natural historians argue two opposing viewpoints on the reason for adaptation. Some believe that animal adaptation would happen regardless of their ability to survive in their environment, becoming more complex and adapting to achieve more and more.

While some believe that there is a final purpose for adaptation, once an animal survives and thrives in its environment, there is no need for further transformation.Top of Form

Practically, animals adapt to survive. We can see this with Darwin’s Finches. An experiment that studied finches living on different islands in the Galapagos. Over 40 years of observation, each developed specific character traits to survive on their respective island.

Some islands were found to have more bugs living burrowed inside trees. Over time, the finches on these islands developed beaks that were long and slim, giving them a better tool to catch and eat these bugs.

How do animals adapt?

Adaptations are popularly known to be created through natural selection; this is when animals with more promising traits are more likely to survive and, therefore, more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation. Passing those adaptations on to their offspring, giving them a better chance at survival – and the pattern continues.

Similarly, animals that do not have this trait are less likely to survive and less likely to pass on those traits to their offspring. Leading animals with that trait eventually die out.

Here are four different ways that an animal adaptation could take place:

Changes in habitat

When an environment changes, animals have no choice but to adapt; this can be through finding a suitable climate or adapting eating and living habits to support themselves in their new environment.

Genetic change

A genetic change may take place if natural selection allows for a particular gene to be more easily passed down because of a better survival rate due to that gene.

Co-adaptation

Co-adaptation is when two species adapt to help each other survive; the existence of one is tightly bound to the presence of another. Examples include bees and flowers or humans and trees.

Mimicry

Mimicry is when an animal’s adaptation mimics another species to help it survive. For example, the hoverfly, a harmless bug that looks a lot like a wasp, bears the warning colors of black and yellow.

Examples of Animal Adaptations

Here are a few examples of some crazy animal adaptations found in the natural world.

• Alaskan wood frogs freeze their bodies during the winter to survive.
• Kangaroos survive the desert by hydrating through moisture in seeds. They never drink water.
• Some fish in the antarctic can produce proteins that bind to their blood, preventing them from freezing.
• The African Bullfrog can create a hard outer shell from the mucus it produces; this can keep it hydrated for up to seven years while it waits underground for rain.
• Chameleons can change the color of their skin to match their surroundings so they can easily blend in and hide from predators.

What is the Closest Planet to the Earth?

In addition to being the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury is also the closest planet to Earth. However, the answer to this question is not as straightforward as it sounds. Many people argue that Venus is the closest planet to Earth, and while this is not correct, it is not technically incorrect either. It all has to do with how you measure the distance.

If you look at a solar system diagram, you will see that Venus and Mars appear to be the closest distance to the earth. So, if you find the average distance between Earth & Mars and Earth & Venus, subtract the smallest radius from the biggest one for each pair. The smallest space should tell us the closest planet to the Earth, Venus. There is nothing overtly wrong with this method of measuring distance; however, if you look at it closely, you will see that you are just counting the smallest possible distance between the two planets. It is because the formula only calculates how close the planets will get to Earth throughout their orbit; the rest of the time in their orbit, they may be much further from Earth. Therefore, to find the planet closest to the Earth, we need to consider the planets’ average distance throughout their orbit.

Venus gets the closest to the Earth, but it is not always this close. In fact, at its farthest distance from Earth, Venus is a massive 160 million miles away. So, when Venus is off 160 million miles away, what planet is the closest to Earth? Again, the answer to that is not straightforward, as it tends to change. Sometimes, Mars is the closest planet to Earth. The closest Mars comes to Earth in its orbit is 33.9 million miles away.

To get an answer that is not subject to change, we must look at what planet is closest to the Earth on average. When we calculate this, we find that Mercury spends the most time relative to the Earth; this is large because, out of all of the planets in our solar system, Mercury has the smallest orbit. So, while it never gets as close to Earth as Mars or Venus, it never gets as far away as those planets do.

Interestingly, Mercury’s small orbit also means it is the closest planet to all other planets in the solar system. So, Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The same logic applies here when calculating Mercury’s distance from the Earth. While Mercury is never actually very close to any of these planets because of its small orbit, it is also never very far away. It’s important to note that while Mercury’s orbit might be classified as small in terms of spatial distance, it is still comparatively huge to any space on Earth. For instance, Mercury tends to orbit around the sun at a mean distance of ​​58 million km. If this is small, imagine how big the other planets’ orbits must be!

How Long is Each Planet’s Orbit?

Each of the planets in our solar system has its unique orbit that they travel within, all of which last varying amounts of time. The length of the planet’s orbits are as follows:

• Mercury: Out of all the planets in our solar system, Mercury has the shortest orbit, coming in at just 88 days.
• Venus: The orbit of Venus lasts 224 days.
• Earth: This is the one we all know because it is how we measure our years. The Earth’s orbit lasts 365 days.
• Mars: One of Mars’ orbits lasts 1.88 years.
• Jupiter: Jupiter’s orbit is a big jump from the previous one, as it lasts an impressive 11.86 years.
• Saturn: There is another leap here, as Saturn’s orbit lasts 29.46 years.
• Uranus: This is where the orbits get big, as Uranus’ orbit lasts 84 years.
• Neptune: Now we’re in the hundreds, as Neptune’s orbit lasts 164.79 years.
• Pluto: Pluto is technically a dwarf planet, but for the sake of comparison, we’ve included it in this list anyway. Pluto is very far from the sun, so its orbit is vast, lasting 248.59 years!

A large part of the Arctic is made up of the Arctic Ocean, mostly covered by sea ice. As a result, the Arctic has extreme weather conditions, with temperatures falling below -58 degrees F. These inhospitable conditions meant that all creatures in the region had to develop adaptations that allowed them to survive there. Despite the extreme weather, various Arctic animals call this region their home.

Polar Bear

Polar bears are one of the most recognizable Arctic animals. They’re the largest bear species in the world. A polar bear weighs between 385 lbs and 1,400 lbs and measures between 6.5 ft and 10 ft. These massive animals have a strong sense of smell; this helps them hunt seals, as they can smell a seal from as far as .5 miles away and even under 3 feet of snow. Their primary diet consists of seals, but they have also been known to hunt small whales. In addition, they will eat roots, seaweed, and other plants if no other food is available.

Polar bears have developed unique adaptations that allow them to live in the Arctic habitat. For example, they have large furry feet with sharp and powerful claws that help them move efficiently on ice. They’re also great swimmers. Polar bears build a thick layer of fat around their bodies, up to 4 inches wide; this protects them from frigid temperatures and provides an energy reserve when food is scarce. Polar bears have black skin under their fur, which helps to absorb heat and keep them warm. Despite appearing white, their hair is made from hollow, transparent fibers that act as insulation. Due to the melting of sea ice caused by climate change, polar bears need to hunt earlier each year; this makes their feeding season shorter, and as a result, they have less time to build up their fat reserves.

Arctic fox

Arctic foxes have thick, warm coat that changes color depending on the seasons. In the winter, their skin is bright white, allowing them to blend in with the surrounding snow and ice. In the summer, their fur changes to a greyish-brown color that helps them camouflage amongst the rocks and plants of the tundra. In addition, they have thick, bushy tail that serves as a cover in cold weather and helps them balance. Arctic foxes measure between 18 and 26 and weigh between 6.6 lbs and 20 lbs.

Arctic foxes hunt rodents, birds, and fish. When prey is insufficient, they follow polar bears and scavenge their leftovers. Arctic foxes are well-adapted to the freezing conditions of the Arctic regions and can withstand temperatures as low as -58 degrees F. Some of their adaptations include furry paws and short ears.

Walrus

Walruses are pretty giant! Some males can weigh over 3,500 lbs. They are the largest fin-footed mammals, also called pinnipeds. Unlike other pinnipeds, walruses can walk on their hind fins. The average lifespan of these incredible Arctic animals is 40 years. They are mostly recognizable by their massive tusks that can grow almost a meter long. Male walruses use these tusks to fight and show dominance. These tusks also help them climb onto the ice. You can tell a walrus’s age by the number of rings in the cross-section of its tusk.

Their bodies store a lot of blubbers, which helps protect them from the cold temperatures of the Arctic. It also serves as a source of energy when food is scarce. Walruses can float vertically in the water and even sleep this way, thanks to air sacs located along their neck. They have thick, wrinkled skin up to 4 inches wide. Their diet includes marine animals such as shrimp, crabs, mollusks, and clams. Walruses will forage the sea floor searching for food using their sensitive whiskers called vibrissae.

Snowy Owl

The snowy owl is unique and different from other owl species because it needs to develop some adaptations to help it survive in the inhospitable habitat of the Arctic. It is one of the few owl species that has mainly white plumage. Younger owls will have more brown and dark markings that eventually turn white as they age. Snowy owls measure between 7 and 12 cm. Their wingspan ranges from 4 to 5 ft.

Snowy owls hunt at night, but unlike other species, they also hunt during the daytime. They’re patient hunters and will wait to locate their prey before flying after it. They have exceptional eyesight and hearing, which helps them detect prey even under plants or snow. Snowy owls use their strong paws to snatch their prey. They mainly eat lemmings, but they will also eat other small mammals, fish, and birds. An adult snowy owl can eat up to 1600 lemmings per year.

Lemming

Lemmings are small rodents. These tiny Arctic animals grow to 5-18 inches in length and weigh around 23g. They are herbivores and mainly eat mosses and grasses. They can often be found foraging for berries, leaves, and shoots. Unlike other rodents, they don’t hibernate over the winter. Instead, they stay active, burrowing in the snow to find food. Lemmings create large tunnel systems in the snow with various areas for rest and other activities.

Arctic Hare

Arctic hares live in the North American parts of the Arctic tundra. They can weigh between 5 and 12 lbs and measure 16 – 30 inches. Arctic hares are speedy runners; they can run up to 40 miles per hour. These animals have adapted to the extreme environment of their polar habitat with short ears and limbs, a small nose, and a thick coat. Their coat is pure white in the winter and brown in the summertime. It helps them blend in with their surroundings and protect themselves from predators.

Arctic hares eat mosses, woody plants, and lichens. They are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They also eat leaves, berries, and roots in the summer. Their bodies store a lot of fat, up to 20%. This layer of fat provides important insulation that protects them from the cold.

Harp Seal

Harp seals prefer to spend most of their time swimming in the icy Arctic Ocean. Adult harp seals measure between 5.5 to 6.5 feet long and weighs from 250 to 300 lbs. Adult seals are silver-gray. Their pups have white coloring. This color helps them blend in with their surroundings, as they’re born on the sea ice and remain there until they become strong enough to swim. Harp seals are social animals that live in large groups. They produce a wide variety of vocalizations with which they communicate with each other.

Harp seals have a thick layer of fat around their bodies that helps to protect them from freezing temperatures. Their diet includes mainly fish and sea invertebrates. They catch their prey by diving into the ocean and can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes.

Repeated subtraction is a way of teaching about division. It is the repeated subtraction of the same number from a large number down to zero. It is a great way to introduce children to division.

Repeated Subtraction is a method that subtracts an equal number of items from a group, also known as division. Also, the same number is subtracted repeatedly from another more significant number until the remainder is zero or more negligible than the number being deducted.

Why is repeated subtraction useful?

Learning about division as repeated subtraction allows children to use a skill they are already familiar with; this gently introduces them to a new concept that might be difficult to understand at first. Because of this, repeated subtraction is especially useful for younger primary children new to the division. It is similar to how repeated addition can be used to teach a lesson on multiplication.

Not only will it make these abstract concepts less daunting, but it will also give them an essential procedure for working out problems related to division.

Repeated subtraction is also a valuable tool for individual learning. For example, when first attempting to solve division problems on your own, having an ordinary skill to fall back on will make the process much simpler.

Examples of Repeated Subtraction

There are two ways repeated subtraction can be used to get the correct answer:

1. The first method is where the divisor is subtracted until the remainder is less than the divisor. For example, if you had the question 30 ÷ 6, you would remove 6 from 30 until the rest is less than 6. In this case, after subtracting five times, you would be left with the answer 5.
2. The second way to use division as repeated subtraction is to note how many times you subtracted the divisor. For example, in the question above (30 ÷ 6), six were taken away from 30 five times. So the answer you would write here would be 30 ÷ 6 = 6 r5, which translates to 6 with the remainder 5 (or five left over).

Let’s take another example: what is 38 divided by 5? You could use repeated subtraction to find out how many times you could take five away from 34 before hitting a number smaller than 4; this (plus the remainder) would be your answer. For example:

1. 38 – 5 = 33
2. 33 – 5 = 28
3. 28 – 5 = 23
4. 23 – 5 = 18
5. 18 – 5 = 13
6. 13 – 5 = 8
7. 8 – 5 = 3

So the answer is 7 with a remainder of 3

What is regrouping in mathematics?

Regrouping is done by creating groups of tens during operations like subtraction and addition. Regrouping involves reorganizing numbers into groups by place value to make it easier to carry out operations.

This process is called regrouping because you rearrange numbers into place values to carry out the operation. Regrouping is a great way to make more significant calculations easier, especially for children. When you’re using regrouping with subtraction, it can also be known as ‘borrowing.’

This helpful method is taught in schools to make addition and subtraction easier for students. If you’re unsure how it’ll work and if it’ll be as easy as it sounds, don’t worry; we’ll take you through the process.

How does regrouping work?

Regrouping may sound complicated when it’s explained, but seeing it in action will show you that it’s not as hard as it sounds. So here are our guides on how to regroup with addition and subtraction.

Regrouping with addition:

1. First, we need a problem that we want to solve. Let’s say we want to add 18 and 12, which equals 30.
2. When regrouping with addition, it’s best to visualize your problem as a grid. Take a look below for an example:

	1	2
+	1	8
	3	0

3. The first addition we’d make in this situation would be to add together 2 and 8, which equals 10. But there’s no spot to write ten on the bottom row. So, in this case, we need to use regrouping. To do this, we take the 0 from the ten and place it into the bottom row, then we take the one and put it above our ten’s column. Here’s an updated grid below:

	1
	1	2
+	1	8
		0

4. Now, we need to add up the ten’s columns. In this case, we have three 1s to add together; this brings us to the correct answer to the solution, which is 30.

	1
	1	2
+	1	8
	3	0

5. But, sometimes, you’re not just using ten-digit numbers. You might need to add up some triple-digit numbers. The process is the same, but you may have to carry over more 1s. Take a look at the example below:

	1	3	7
+	1	6	9

6. So, in this case, we need to add 7 and 9, which equals 16. Place the 6 in the bottom and regroup the one above the 3; this now means that our second column becomes 1 + 3 + 6 = 10. We do the same thing again, the 0 from the ten goes to the bottom, and the one goes above the first column; this means our first column is 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. There you have it; our big number problem was solved quickly.

	1	1
	1	3	7
+	1	6	9
	3	0	6

Regrouping with subtraction:

1. First, we need to decide what our problem will be. Let’s say we want to solve 33 minus 19, which equals 14. Next, we need to put our numbers into a grid again; look below for an example.

	3	3
–	1	9
	1	4

2. We can start regrouping now that we have our grid setup. When it comes to subtraction, the process is a little different from addition. We need to ‘borrow’ a ten from the first column, so we take a ten from the 30; this makes our grid look like this:

	2	13
–	1	9

3. Next, we do the calculations. 13 minus 9 equals 4. For the first column, we do 2 – 1 = 1. That leaves us with our answer of 14.

	2	13
–	1	9
	1	4

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Practice questions

To give you some practice, here are some questions for you to try out with the regrouping method. We’ll put the answers further down the page so you can check them later. See how many you can do and use the guides to help you if you get stuck. Good luck!

1. 19 + 23
2. 45 + 22
3. 56 + 18
4. 103 + 219
5. 219 + 327
6. 33 – 14
7. 45 – 27
8. 62 – 29
9. 93 – 77
10. 86 – 37

When is regrouping used in real life?

Regrouping is used, in our lives, whenever people need to use addition and subtraction. You might see this when you’re around the house, doing chores, or organizing your bedroom. You’ll see this when you’re handling money at the shops or buying things online. Adults use addition and subtraction all the time when they’re at work.

Don’t worry if you have to use regrouping at any point; it’s a great and easy method. Suppose you have to pause and get a pen and paper to work out excellent math. Not everyone is a maths whiz and can solve problems in their head. Sometimes you have to write things down to work them out; that’s completely normal. The more you practice this method, the more you’ll start to be able to work out solutions in your head.

Practice question answers

Here are the answers to the questions we gave to you earlier. How many did you get right?

1. 19 + 23 = 42
2. 45 + 22 = 67
3. 56 + 18 = 74
4. 103 + 219 = 322
5. 219 + 327 = 546
6. 33 – 14 = 19
7. 45 – 27 = 18
8. 62 – 29 = 33
9. 93 – 77 = 16
10. 86 – 37 = 49

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