Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

What is the weather like?

We have all experienced it, but what is the weather like? Weather is the mix of events that happen every day in our atmosphere. The atmosphere is the layer of gases around the Earth. This is made of central nitrogen, some oxygen, and a few other gases and is held to the Earth by gravity.

The heat from the sun warms the gases in the atmosphere to different temperatures in different places, which causes the air to move. This air movement is called wind, and the wind changes the weather. Water vapor or moisture in the air also affects the weather. Changes in air pressure also affect the weather. So, the weather we experience depends on what is happening above us in the Earth’s atmosphere.

When we ask ‘what is the weather?’, the answer is different depending on which country you are in and what time it is. This is because the weather can change from minute to minute. For example, have you ever been outside in the sun and it suddenly starts to rain? That’s the weather changing before your eyes!

What’s the definition of weather, and what are the six types of weather?

If you’re feeling hot or cold or feeling the rain fall on you, then you’re experiencing the effects of the weather. Weather is about what’s going on in the sky and clouds. In other words, it’s the daily state of the atmosphere.

While climate refers to the average conditions of a place over a long period, the weather is a specific, temporary event. It could last for ten minutes, like a quick rain shower, or it might last for a few days, like a storm or cloudy sky. Unfortunately, the weather happens all the time, every day, and there’s not much we can do about it.

There are six parts of weather: temperature, cloudiness, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, wind, and humidity.

Meteorologists record and forecast the weather so that we can keep track of changing weather conditions and prepare for any extreme weather that is coming. Unfortunately, the weather is sometimes too unpredictable and changes too quickly for us to predict it accurately.

Weather affects our lives daily. This can be as simple as influencing the clothes we choose to wear or the activities we do. You wouldn’t go to the beach in a swimsuit when it’s snowing! You might pack different clothes if you are going on holiday, depending on where you are going. Not everywhere has the same climate. Think about the desert compared to Antarctica.

In more extreme cases, weather can lead to dangerous situations, destroying homes and taking lives. For example, weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes can be hazardous and destructive.

What are examples of the weather for kids?

To answer the question ‘what is the weather?’ it is best to look at examples of the weather that we are all familiar with! Here are some weather examples for kids:

• Sunshine;
• Rain;
• Wind;
• Clouds;
• Fog;
• Snow;
• Hail;
• Sleet;
• Thunder;
• Lightning.

What are the four elements of weather?

Four main elements of weather affect how we experience our daily lives. These are temperature, wind, snow or rain, and sunlight or clouds.

They can exist in different combinations and affect what we wear, where we go, and how we feel. For example, it can look very sunny outside in the middle of winter, but you will still need to wear a coat. Or it could be cloudy and windy but still quite warm.

Watching weather forecasts each day can help you decide how the four weather elements will affect your decisions that day. They show a weather map with the different conditions you can expect across the day and the week ahead. Maybe you can make the most of the sunshine. Perhaps you need to find some indoor activities instead.

What causes the weather?

Weather is caused by the sun’s heat and the air’s movement. The amount of moisture in the air also affects the weather. All weather happens in the lower layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. That is why it affects our lives so much. The four elements of weather combine to cause the day-to-day weather we experience.

The wind is created by warm air in the atmosphere rising and being replaced by colder air. This causes other weather conditions, such as clear skies or rain. The amount of moisture in the clouds affects the weather, causing us to experience rain, snow, and more. The different seasons are characterized by different weather, too.

How can we predict the weather?

Measuring the weather is called weather observation. That sounds relatively easy – anyone can observe the weather just by looking out the window! But how do we predict the temperature so that we can make forecasts? And how do we do it accurately and in detail?

Meteorologists measure all the different parts of the weather and put them together.

Temperature

Measuring temperature is relatively straightforward: it only takes a thermometer. We use mercury in our thermometers, but mercury is a hazardous substance. Nowadays, digital thermometers are used to measure temperature.

Humidity

Humidity is the quantity of water vapor in the air. It is measured by measuring the temperature of a thermometer with its end wrapped in a damp cloth. This is then compared to a regular thermometer. After doing some calculations, we can work out the humidity.

Wind

We measure wind direction and wind speed. Wind direction can be measured with a weather vane. It shows us where the wind has come from, which can tell us a lot about the weather. For example, wind from the north tends to be quite cold, while a wind from the south is warmer.

To measure wind speed, an anemometer is used. This spins to show how fast the wind is moving.

Visibility

Visibility is the distance that we can see without binoculars or other assistance. When it is foggy, the visibility can be very low.

We measure our visibility by using our eyes. We look for points a set distance away and see which are apparent. Sometimes, lasers are used for better accuracy.

Rain

Rain accumulation is the amount of rain reaching the ground over some time. It is measured using rain gauges that capture rain.

Rain rate is the amount of rain falling out of the sky and its speed. We can use radar to estimate the rain rate.

Pressure

The air pressure can tell us what type of weather to expect. For example, with high pressure, we usually expect clear skies and light winds. But when the pressure is low, the weather is often wet and windy. Pressure is measured with a barometer with different bubbles to show the air pressure.

These are the main factors that we use to forecast the weather!

How does climate change affect the weather?

Climate change means we’re likely to experience extreme weather conditions more often, such as heatwaves, floods, and storms. The hotter weather associated with climate change can have serious consequences.

For example, the increased temperatures in the Arctic have led to the melting of polar ice caps, severely affecting the animals and people living there.

Extreme weather around the world

In the UK, we are fortunate to have relatively temperate weather mostly. This means weather that doesn’t get too hot or too cold. So although you may feel like it rains a lot, the rain is spread out across the year rather than all falling in a couple of months, like during monsoon seasons in other parts of the world. We also don’t experience very many extreme weather events, although parts of the country suffer flooding, especially in winter.

As climate change continues to develop worldwide, we will likely experience more extreme weather in the UK. This includes hotter summers, more flooding, and loss of our coastline.

Here are some types of extreme weather that you might hear about from different parts of the world:

1. Tornadoes – A type of extreme weather experienced across the world. They consist of vertical funnels of spinning air that move at excessive speeds. The United States of America experiences the most tornadoes each year, which can be very dangerous and deadly.
2. Floods – When there is heavy rainfall for a long time, it can lead to floods. Many countries worldwide experience flooding, including The Philippines, India, Vietnam, France, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
3. Thunderstorms – Storms vary in intensity, with some being relatively harmless and others causing mass destruction. Thunderstorms are a type of storm which involve thunder and lightning. Each bolt of lightning can contain one billion volts of electricity!

Adjectival Phrase

An adjectival phrase is a group of words in a phrase that includes an adjective. It acts as an adjective by describing a noun, such as Wiggles is fluffier than most cats.

What is an Adjectival Phrase?

It’s easy to get confused between an adjective and an adjectival phrase.

An adjectival or adjective phrase is a group of words that include an adjective that modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence.

What does an Adjectival Phrase consist of?

To identify an adjectival phrase, the key is to look at the first word of the group of words. If it is an adverb or preposition, it is an adjectival phrase consisting of an intensifier and an adjective.
Sometimes, one adjective isn’t enough, and a string of adjectives can create an adjective phrase to describe a noun.

What can an Adjectival Phrase do in a sentence?

Introducing adjectival phrases in your classroom will help your students with their writing skills, as using them will give their sentences more life and personality.
Sometimes, they will need a single adjective to make the sentence pop; however, to increase detail and engage them with their writing, using adjectival phrases will increase the detail provided.

Examples of Adjectival Phrases

A great way to fully understand and engage with adjectival phrases is to look at some examples and test students’ knowledge of them.

The happy dog wags his tail all day long
The dog, who seems very happy, wags his tail all day.

The bright sun shone through the window
The sun, which is so bright, shone through the window

Both of these mean the same thing; however, the first sentences use adjectives, whereas the second sentences have adjectival phrases.

Some adjectival phrases modify nouns, which look different:

The bakery, around the corner, sells cakes.
The cost of the shoes was way too high.
The bird in the tree flew away.

What is fiction writing?

Fiction is any literature created from the imagination and typically has a narrative. It describes imaginary events and people. Usually, this comes in the form of books and stories. Narrative writing is one of the three types of writing, and it’s important to remember that not all narratives are fiction.

The word ‘fiction’ comes from the Latin word ‘fictus,’ which means ‘to form’ – fiction is stories that are ‘formed’ and created by a writer.

There are many types of genres within fiction, including mysteries, science fiction, romance, fantasy, and crime thrillers.

Fiction is the opposite of non-fiction. It can be based on facts or actual events, but the writer curates most of the content using their imagination.

Fiction is typically read for pleasure but can also be analyzed to discover themes and meanings.

What are the different forms of fiction writing?

Fiction can take many forms, such as:

• Novels: Novels are books that have one long story written in them. They’re works of prose fiction. They’re longer than short stories and novellas.
• Novellas: A novella is a standalone piece of fiction shorter than a full-length novel but longer than a short story or novel.
• Short stories: Short stories are much shorter than novels and usually deal with only a few characters.
• Flash fiction: Flash fiction is a type of fiction writing defined by how short it is. Flash fiction is usually kept beneath a strict word count to tell a story in the least words possible. Some flash fiction tells a story in just a few words.
• Play scripts: A play or drama script is a story written for actors to perform, with the term ‘play’ relating to a theatrical performance.
• Poems: Poems use chosen language, rhythm, rhyme, imagery, and more to create an image or tell a narrative. Poems can be short or as long as an entire novel.

As you can see, fiction is everywhere! And it doesn’t just have to be a book, either. Your favorite film is a work of fiction. Narrative poems are a work of fiction. So fiction is a vital part of our society and culture. It can also be divided into two types of fiction – commercial fiction and literary fiction. But what are commercial and literary fiction?

Commercial fiction includes fiction novels and writing that can be read and enjoyed by a broad audience. Examples of fiction genres include mystery, romance, legal thrillers, and science fiction books. These are examples of commercial fiction found on the bookshelves of our high street bookshops and libraries.

Literary fiction is aimed at a much smaller and often more academic or intellectually adventurous audience. Nevertheless, the noticeable qualities it contains set literary fiction apart, such as excellent but complex writing, originality of thought, and style.

What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction?

Fiction and non-fiction are both types of narrative writing that will be taught to your students in primary education. However, they are vastly different. Fiction texts are created from the imagination and include made-up stories with characters, a setting, and a plot from the author’s imagination. Some examples of fiction texts would consist of picture books, novels, and classic fairytales, to name a few.

Meanwhile, the definition of non-fiction is the term for any writing created to relay the truth or information of actual events to the audience. This means that it is the opposite of fiction. ‘Non-fiction’ texts are based on facts and are informative. These include history books, autobiographies, and many more.

See these examples of fiction and non-fiction writing to see where you can find the differences between these two forms of writing.

Examples of Fiction: Fairy tales, poetry, plays, novels

Examples of Non-fiction: Autobiographies, textbooks, newspapers

Popular types of fiction: Find the genre of fiction for your students

You will find many mainstream genre fictions in your reading corner, and school libraries will fall into common and popular types of fiction according to the genre. Genre is the style or category of a book. As a writer, genre controls what you write and how you write it. It describes the style and focus of the novel you write. Genres give you blueprints for different types of stories. These different genres will appeal to the various readers in your classroom. Read more about these different genres to find the best types of fiction books to get your children excited about reading and writing.

•  Adventure stories include something exciting and extraordinary, often a quest or a mission. A good adventure story can draw your children into a world or time they would have never been able to explore. In addition, because adventure stories are so immersive, children will have no idea they are learning as they go!
• Crime/detective fiction: Detective and crime fiction follow the classic ‘whodunnit’ formula, where readers can help solve a crime or mystery with vibrant characters. Detective stories are a popular genre in which a crime is introduced and investigated, and the culprit is revealed.
• Thriller fiction: Thriller fiction is great for your adventurous and imaginative readers. Thrillers often include dark storylines, high stakes, and suspenseful plot-driven stories.
• Fantasy fiction: Fantasy is a type of fiction that typically, taking inspiration from myth and legend, is set in a fictional universe and features supernatural characters and mythical creatures. Fantasy fiction stories are a wonderful escape from the norm and reality. This is what makes them so popular with children and adults alike
• Science fiction: Science fiction, often shortened to ‘sci-fi,’ is a genre of fiction that’s usually set in space or the future. It can include spaceships, astronauts, machines, robots, and aliens. Science fiction stories are often about exploring new worlds, inventing new imaginary scientific technology, or having an adventure in space. Science fiction stories are great for your interested and thrill-seeking students.
• Young adult fiction: Young adult fiction is now booming in popularity, thanks to memorable young protagonists like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. The main characteristic of young adult fiction (often shortened to YA fiction) is that its main characters are the same age as the story’s intended audience, usually between 12 and 16 years old. The story will explore their coming-of-age journey through their relationships with other characters or through the lens of a critical mission to save people from danger.
• Romance fiction: Romance is one of the best-selling genres of fiction in the adult market. It focuses on a relationship between two characters, usually with lots of twists and turns happening to prevent them from getting together before they get their happy ending! While romance isn’t a genre aimed at children, many children’s stories contain an element of romance – think of all the princes and princesses in fairy tales. Romance is also a popular element of young adult fiction, with characters exploring their feelings for others as they come of age.
• Historical fiction: Historical fiction refers to any fictional story set in the past. Sometimes the stories contain accurate historical figures, such as kings, queens, or even celebrities from previous ages. Still, the central character will almost always be a product of the author’s imagination. The plot might also contain fictionalized versions of events that happened, or it might be entirely made up. Historical fiction books are usually meticulously researched to ensure all the period details are correct.

Not all fiction stories can easily be categorized. Many stories contain elements of two types of fiction or even more. Think of the Harry Potter series, for example. It’s a young adult series and an adventure story with a central quest. In addition, it contains elements of fantasy, with plenty of magic and mythical creatures, and there’s also quite a lot of romance.

Examples of Fiction: What are the three types of fiction?

Novels and fiction books fall into three broad categories: literary fiction, genre fiction, and mainstream fiction. But what does this mean?

• Literary fiction: Literary fiction tends to follow non-conventional plot structures. This type of fiction usually uses heavy symbolism and deeper meanings. Examples of literary fiction are often viewed as more ‘advanced’ or more ‘serious’ than here and mainstream fiction. Instead of focusing on the plot of a story, the character and their development are prominent in literary fiction. Reading literary fiction focuses on the experiences, growth, and beliefs of the main character we follow through the story. A story arc and traditional plot may or may not even be present, which means that a satisfying ending is no guarantee. Types of literary fiction also include contemporary literary fiction, realistic literary fiction, experimental literary fiction, and philosophical, literary fiction.
• Genre fiction: Genre fiction is one of the more popular types of fiction that your students will encounter. Genre fiction traditionally includes genres such as romance, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and children’s books. (You can read more about the different genres you can try above.) These types of fiction are often our best sellers that you can find on the shelves of high street shops. Unlike literary fiction, the plot and storylines are the main focus of these books, and they are mainly written for entertainment.
• Mainstream fiction: When a fiction novel or a genre novel becomes massively popular beyond its intended and core audience, attracting new readers and bestseller status, it is considered an example of mainstream fiction. Every type of fiction has the potential to become mainstream fiction.

What are the three characteristics of fiction?

The main characteristics of fiction can vary depending on your opinion of which characteristics are most important to the story. However, it is widely agreed that the three essential features of fiction include the familiar elements different people will list: character, plot, and point of view.

Character: A character is a person in a story, either a human, a fantasy character, a mythical character, or even an animal. It can be anything from a human to an inanimate object. So whether it’s Little Red Riding Hood or the Big Bad Wolf you’re describing, these characters play an essential part in their story.

Point of view: Point of view is the voice in which a story is told. It is the narrative voice through which readers follow the story’s plot, meet its characters, discover its setting, and enter into its relationships, emotions, and conflicts.

Plot: The plot is the main event(s) of a play, novel, film, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as a complementary sequence.

What is the difference between fiction and literature?

Fiction is a type of literature, but not all literature is fiction.

Literature is an umbrella term encompassing many genres, forms, and writing styles. For example, fiction and non-fiction are types of literature, so not all literature is fictional. In addition, poetry and plays are also types of literature.

Some also define literature as more ‘classic’ in nature. General fiction is written to be read for pleasure, not for deeper analysis or comprehension. It has clear themes, interesting characters, and an exciting plot.

On the other hand, literature is writing with themes and symbolism that can only be discovered after careful analysis and comprehension.

When you compare the two, fiction focuses on creating an enjoyable experience for the reader. It’s a story to be read and loved. Literature focuses on a central theme or message – it wants the reader to think critically and analyze what they’re reading.

In English lessons, children will read stories considered ‘literature’ so that there are more opportunities for them to practice reading comprehension and making inferences.

However, children need to read both! This will improve their reading comprehension skills and help them to develop a love for reading.

What does fiction do?

The main aim of fiction is to entertain and inspire all who read it. Fiction takes us into imaginary worlds and introduces us to characters we can see grow, change and develop. It gives us an insight into lives we would never have had the chance to witness otherwise.

Many fictional stories also have a moral message or explore specific topics and themes. For example, many stories examine the issue of racism and how it’s impacted people’s lives and our society. These stories aim to educate the reader and hopefully teach them something new.

Some fiction explores emotions such as grief, anger, or love. These stories allow the writer and the reader to express complicated feelings.

Facts about Fiction

Here are some quick-fire facts about fiction!

• The hero of the story is called the protagonist.
• The villain of the story is called the antagonist.
• The fight between the protagonist and the antagonist is called the conflict.
• There are five basic types of conflict: person vs. self, person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. nature, and person vs. supernatural.
• A new type of conflict has been introduced in modern times: person vs. technology.
• The plot must have a beginning, middle, and end.
• The climax is the most exciting part of the plot. Like a rollercoaster, the plot builds up until you’re at the top – the climax.
• Fiction is about what the protagonist wants – and who or what stops them from getting it.
• Change and development are crucial to fiction. Characters should learn and grow throughout the plot. They might gain a new perspective on things.
• One of the most common techniques for writing fiction is ‘show, don’t tell.’ This means you show the reader what’s happening rather than just telling them exactly what happens. This leaves lots of room for inferences.
• The world’s oldest known fictional story is the ‘Epic of Gilgamesh.’ It’s an adventure story written in the style of a poem.
• Modern examples of fiction include films, video games, anime, manga, comic books, TV shows, and cartoons.

Synonym

A synonym is a word with a similar or identical meaning to a different word. Learning about literacy synonyms helps pupils to strengthen their literacy skills and develop an understanding of the nuances of the English language. Read on to learn more about synonyms.

If you’re wondering, “what does ‘synonym’ mean?” you’re in the right place. In this handy teaching wiki, we’ll review synonyms and how they can be used in a sentence. We’ll also explain where they fall into the National Curriculum and how you can teach your class about them.

What does synonym mean?

A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase with the same or similar meaning to another word. For example, synonyms of ‘happy’ include ‘joyful,’ ‘cheery,’ and ‘contented.’

When learning about literacy synonyms, you will often find references to antonyms. Antonyms are the opposite of synonyms, so the meaning of an antonym is the opposite of your word. For example, an antonym of ‘happy’ is ‘sad.’

You can find literacy synonyms by looking up your word in a thesaurus, a particular type of dictionary for finding synonyms and antonyms.

Why do we use Literacy Synonyms?

Synonyms are a helpful way to add some variation to your language when you’re writing or speaking in long form. It can be easy to fall into the trap of repeating the same word repeatedly. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have synonyms ready to keep your language fresh.

Synonyms often have very slight differences in meaning, which sometimes means one is more appropriate than another in a given context. There are cases where a synonym might even be a better choice than the original word you’ve chosen.

For example, let’s look at our synonyms of ‘happy’:

The choir sang happy songs.
The choir sang joyful songs.
The choir sang cheery songs.
The choir sang contented songs.

In this context, ‘happy,’ ‘cheery,’ and ‘joyful’ all have similar meanings, but ‘contented’ sounds strange.

Let’s try another literacy synonyms example:

She is happy with the result.
She is joyful with the result.
She is cheery about the result.
She is content with the result.

This time, ‘happy’ and ‘contented’ have the most similar meaning in the context, whereas ‘joyful’ and ‘cheery’ don’t sound right!

Examples: 9 Synonyms for literacy

If you’re still asking, “what does ‘synonym’ mean?” then let’s use the word ‘literacy’ as an example.

Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen. It helps us to communicate with others, express our thoughts and ideas and learn new things. Literacy language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together.

Some examples of literacy synonyms include:

• Education
• Knowledge
• Learning
• Proficiency
• Articulateness
• Scholarship
• Culture
• Wisdom
• Mastery

Spacing in writing

Putting spaces into your writing is an essential part of written communication. In the English language, it is mainly used to separate different words from each other. However, the blank area ( ) can also be used to separate sentences, syllables, and other written characters.

Spacing in writing is essential because it tells the reader or speaker were to take a gap or pause. If you tried to read a speech without taking an audible rest between words, no one would understand! Similarly, when you’re reading a written piece, it would be illegible if all the words continued from each other.

Although spacing in writing can seem simple, blank space can be complicated. Spacing in writing varies depending on the language, and the rules for the size of the area are not always the same. In addition, the spaces between characters or words can change in typefaces depending on the letter. To simplify things, it’s best first to learn to space at a consistent size.

There are different methods for teaching children to put spacing in writing. You might even suggest placing sweets between words to encourage a gap. After, why not eat them as a reward? However, one of the most valuable methods is using finger spacing. This utilizes what you already have at your fingertips, your fingertips!

What is a book report?

A book review is a written description, study, or presentation summarising and describing the reader’s reading experience.

How do you structure and plan your book report?

There are a few simple steps that can help you introduce writing clear and informative book reports to your children. These include:

1. Introduction: Every book report needs an attention-grabbing opening introduction. This paragraph should include all the critical information about the book, including the title, author, genre, and the year it was published. Children might also want to include a comment about why they picked up and read this particular story. For example, is it written by their favorite author or focuses on their favorite hobby or interest?
2. Summary: Now is the time to summarize some key events and features of the book. For example, where and when the story is set, the genre, tone, and who narrates the story. Once they have read this paragraph, the reader should have a clear book outline.

3. Character evaluation and details: The characters are significant features that make a book a great or terrible reading experience. At this stage of the book report, children can write a paragraph about the main characters in the book. This is an excellent opportunity for students to write about their favorite characters or characters they relate to most.
4. Plot event and theme details: The plot is the sequence of events that make up the story or book. The structure, also known as the narrative structure, is the overall layout of a story. The plot picks up on an intentional cause-and-effect relationship between a sequence of events in the narrative. Because the plot is such an important feature of any book, it is essential to writing a good report. Here, students might want to detail the major plot events of the book and discuss their favorite and least favorite moments. For example, what did they think of the ending? Were there any plot twists or events that surprised them?
5. Conclusion: Any good report needs a conclusion. This could be a whole paragraph or a couple of sentences; it is up to your writer! The concluding paragraph of a book report is where you summarize the ideas you’ve presented in the analysis and offer your opinion of the novel.

What are the different forms of a book report?

The different forms of book reports differ based on what they are discussing. However, you and your student will create three standard book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analysis reports. Read on to discover more about these three different formats.

Plot summary: The plot summary book report will focus on the narrative structure they have read. It is an opportunity for children to express an opinion of the book. For example, did they find the book scary or compelling? Funny or intriguing? You can analyze critical points in the story where the plot began, any plot twists, and how well the story concluded. This is also a fantastic opportunity to review and analyze your favorite passages and quotes.

Character analysis: The characters are often what bring a story to life. In a character analysis book report, you can describe and review your favorite or most minor favorite characters and their impact on the story. In this type of report, you can explore the physical and personality traits of characters and how their actions affect the plot of the book.

Theme analysis: Many stories and books we read when we are younger often have huge themes and moral lessons hidden between the lines. A theme analysis book report is an excellent opportunity for your students to explore their favorite themes in a book. Try bringing some of their thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show how the theme impacts the story.

Define Auxiliaries: What are Auxiliary Verbs?

The definition of auxiliary verbs is verbs that form the tense, mood, and voice of other verbs. They are also known as ‘helping verbs.’ There are also primary auxiliary verbs. ‘Be ‘and ‘have’ are the primary auxiliaries. A primary auxiliary is used to construct compound tenses.

A simple definition of a verb is a word used to describe an action or occurrence.

The three most common auxiliary verbs are: ‘be, ‘have, do.’ Examples of each of these auxiliary verbs include:

• To Be: am, is, are, was, were, being, been, will be.
• To Have: has, have, had, having, will have.
• To Do: does, do, did, will do.

The modal verbs ‘can, can, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would’ are auxiliary verbs.

What are examples of auxiliary verbs?

1) ‘Be’ auxiliary verbs

‘Be’ can be an auxiliary or main verb in a sentence.

The ‘be’ auxiliary verbs are in bold in the examples below.

Used in a progressive sentence:

1. I am going to school.
2. She is playing basketball.
3. They have been learning about verbs.

Used in a passive sentence:

1. I was going to school.
2. She was playing basketball.
3. This lesson on verbs has been interesting.

2) ‘Have’ auxiliary verbs

‘Have’ is used to create the ‘present perfect tense’ and is always followed by the past participle.

‘Has’ is used to make it third-person singular.

‘Had’ is used to make a sentence past tense. It explains an action that started in the past but is still ongoing into the present, known as the ‘past perfect tense.’

Used in a perfect sentence:

1. I have been walking to school.
2. We have learned a lot today.
3. They had been the best students.

3) ‘Do’ auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs can be used to make questions and negative statements.

‘Do’ and ‘does’ are frequently used to make questions and negatives.

‘Did’ is used to replace ‘do’ and ‘does’ to make a sentence past tense.

Examples of statements:

1. I do my schoolwork.
2. You do your schoolwork.
3. We do our schoolwork.
4. They do their schoolwork.
5. He/she does their schoolwork.

Examples of questions:

1. Do I want one?
2. Do you want one?
3. Do we want one?
4. Do they want one?
5. Does he/she want one?

What are the structural features of a newspaper?

The newspaper structure can be divided into four key sections: headline, byline, lead, body, and tail.

The inverted pyramid

Below is an example of this newspaper structure in the form of an inverted pyramid. This shape is commonly used when displaying a suggested format for a newspaper report. It starts with the essential information first, with each section containing less critical information as the pyramid progresses. This is not to say that the body of the text is not essential, but it could not exist without a lead, headline, or byline.

Below you will find each element of the inverted pyramid with information about how to write each component. You could print this out for your learners as a guide for their writing.

The Headline:

The headline grabs the reader’s attention while successfully summarising the article’s main point.

Key features of the headline:

• It needs to be short and snappy, which can sometimes mean missing out on non-essential words such as ‘the,’ ‘a’, or ‘to.’
• Headlines also need to be eye-catching, which can be achieved using humor, alliteration, or a pun.
• Write in the present tense even if the event has already happened. This will help to simplify your language choices.
• It should be written in the third person.

The Byline:

The byline is the easiest part of the entire article, as it does not require much creativity. It tells the reader who the article is by, their job role, and how to find more of their content.

The byline structure:

• Start your byline by inserting your full name after the word ‘by.’
• Add your specialty so that you may be a sports reporter, education reporter, or food writer, for example.
• Then detail how the reader can find more of your opinions or your work, so add a made-up social media name, such as @JoeBloggs.

An example byline:

• By Joe Bloggs
• Sports Reporter
• Social Media: @Joe.Bloggs

The Lead:

The lead could be considered an essential part of the newspaper structure. It should be one paragraph long; your audience should understand your article and what you report by reading it.

Key features of the lead paragraph:

• It needs to be short and snappy to portray the message. You can achieve this by communicating your message in as few words as possible- make sure it makes sense.
• The lead paragraph should explain clearly what has happened so that if your reader stops reading after the lead, they will understand the central message of your report.
• Stick to using the past tense.
• It should be written in the third person.

The Five Ws (and H)

Another way to ensure that your reader gets the critical messages in your report is to stick to the Five Ws in your lead paragraph. These include…

• Who: which people were mainly affected by the events you are reporting?
• What: are the key events that happened?
• Where: where did those events take place?
• Why: is there a specific reason why these events occurred?
• When: what was the time, day, month, and year (if necessary) the events happened?
• How: this isn’t strictly a word starting with the letter ‘w,’ but it is helpful for your lead paragraph. Explain how the events occurred or what made them able to happen.

The Body:

This is the main section of your newspaper article, so it will include lots of important information about what happened, along with more detail about what you said in your lead section. The body should be around 3-4 paragraphs long, depending on how much your teacher has instructed you to write.

Key features of the body:

• This is the chance for you to go into as much detail as possible about what happened.
• The most important information about the events should go first.
• Each paragraph should be on a slightly different aspect of what happened.
• It should be written in the third person.
• Explain the background information that is relevant to the story.
• Include evidence, facts, and quotes from people related to the event.
• You could also include a quote from an expert on the topic you are reporting on.

The Tail:

The tail includes the least essential information from your report and summarizes the events.

Key features of the tail:

• Add any extra or surrounding information about the event or related topics.
• Include links to find extra information about the topic or other news reports.
• You could also feature an expert or witness quote to summarize the story or imply what may unfold next.

The Newspaper Caption:

What is a newspaper caption?

They consist of a sentence describing the picture in the article and how it relates to its topic.

What is a newspaper cut-line?

This can be used underneath the newspaper caption describing what is in the picture. This is more literal and does not need to be stylized like the caption does.

Example newspaper structure

Headline:

Cat flies to the Moon

Byline:

By Joe Bloggs

Space Reporter

Twitter: @Joe.Bloggs

Lead:

At 10 am on Tuesday, 20th April, Molly the cat flew from Birmingham to the Moon. The event occurred after she grew wings after eating some gone-off cat food.

Body:

• Paragraph 1 – Explain how Molly managed to get to the Moon and what she did once she was there.
• Paragraph 2 – Introduce Molly in more detail and include opinions and quotes from Molly’s owner and an animal expert.
• Paragraph 3 – Explain how experts think the cat food resulted in Molly’s wing growth.
• Paragraph 4 – Explain how people are trying to help Molly get home to Birmingham on planet Earth.

Tail:

Include a quote from an expert talking about how other animals may be able to fly to the Moon in the future and link to websites containing information about space travel.

Newspaper structure checklist

Below you will find a checklist to go through once you have finished writing your newspaper article. First, use the newspaper structure above, and then use this checklist to double-check you have everything you need for a successful article.

1. A catchy and snappy headline.
2. Byline (name, specialism, social media contact).
3. Newspaper Name.
4. The lead paragraph contains the 5 Ws (and H).
5. The body of the text contains 3-4 paragraphs.
6. Details of the event.
7. Details about who the event affected.
8. Quotes from people involved and from experts.
9. Correct use of punctuation when introducing and closing quotes.
10. The use of a third person.
11. The tail includes extra information about the topic.

Why is understanding the newspaper structure important for children?

Understanding the form of a newspaper article is handy for children of many ages. It will help them to…

• include the critical newspaper features;
• explore the breadth of the story they’re writing about;
• understand that different text genres have various features;
• understand how to adapt their writing style for different genres, audiences, and purposes;
• explore the use of different vocabulary that’s suitable for the news article genre;
• more readily pick out the features of news writing when reading the news.

Why is it important for children to read the news?

By reading the news, your pupils will have the chance to…

• understand how different cultures work;
• learn about communities from around the world;
• learn about our systems and organizations;
• expand their vocabulary;
• understand that current affairs are appropriate for everyone, no matter what their interests are;
• understand that different types of texts are adapted for different audiences and purposes;
• learn the various language features of the news genre that can be used in their work.

A Word Bank (also called a vocabulary bank) is a list of key vocabulary words or phrases to support pupils’ writing. They may be subject-related or used for spelling.

What is a Word Bank?

Word banks (also called vocabulary banks) are visual teaching resources used to familiarise pupils with specific words. They’re most famous for use with KS1 and KS2 children.

As well as helping build a child’s vocabulary, word banks are valuable visual tools that can help to improve children’s spelling skills.

Although word banks can be short lists or glossaries, colorful and nicely designed vocabulary banks and word mats can make excellent display materials for the classroom.

Examples of Word Banks

Vocabulary banks are commonly used in English lessons to help children with their writing, but word banks are found in various subjects.

A word bank for Geography may include UK countries’ names. Therefore, it would consist of the following countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

In English, a teacher may create a word bank of alternative words for ‘said’ to help students make more inventive word choices. This vocabulary bank may include: shouted, begged, argued, spat, snarled, simpered, murmured, crowed, and sang.

In Maths, a vocabulary bank may help children understand some of the longer terms associated with Mathematics. For instance: multiplication, division, subtraction, Pythagoras, algebra, geometry, probability, and variables.

How to use Word Banks to help you teach

Words banks can be a fantastic way to introduce your pupils to new vocabulary words and build their literacy skills.

You may encourage your class to create their word banks. Then, whenever they come across a new word or one they like, have them add it to a list in the back of their books. You can even challenge them to use some new vocabulary bank words in their writing.

The magic ‘e’ rule, sometimes known as the unspoken ‘e’ or the silent ‘e,’ is where the ‘e’ at the end of a word is silent but changes the way that the word is spoken or pronounced. This happens when ‘e’ is the second letter in a split digraph with another vowel sound, such as in the word ‘like.’

What is the magic ‘e’ rule?

The magic ‘e’ rule is something we use all the time when talking and communicating, often without us even realizing it. It’s where you have a silent ‘e’ at the end of a word that completely alters how that word is pronounced.

You’ll sometimes see them referred to as the “bossy e” since they tell the other vowels what to do. When the letter ‘e’ is at the end of a word, it’s usually silent and ‘tells’ the other vowel in the word to pronounce itself. So it goes to the end of a word to give power to the vowel, giving up its power and pronunciation.

Let’s look at the word ‘sham,’ for example. The ‘a’ in the word isn’t strongly pronounced. When we add a silent ‘e,’ the word becomes shame. The ‘a’ is now pronounced, but the ‘e’ is silent.

The fancy name for a magic ‘e’ word is a split digraph. This is when vowels split between consonants go together to make a sound. A digraph is any two letters that go together to make a sound. Some examples of digraphs include ‘sh,’ ‘ch,’ ‘th’, ‘ai,’ and ‘oa.’

What are the split digraphs?

There are five different split digraphs in the English language: a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, and u-e. Children will most likely be introduced to these digraphs in year one as part of their phonics learning.

Remember that no matter which of these split digraphs appears in a word, the ‘e’ at the end will always be silent.

What are some examples of silent ‘e’ words?

To help us understand the magic ‘e’ rule, let’s take a look at some everyday examples of how it applies to different words:

• Amaze
• Gape
• Tube.
• Ape
• Kite.
• Globe.
• Late
• Hate
• Rope.
• Cube.
• Space.
• Gate

In all of these examples, the silent ‘e’ at the end of each word informs how we pronounce the vowels that come before it. For example, if we took the words ‘gape’ and ‘hate’ and removed the unspoken ‘e,’ we would end up with the words ‘hat’ and ‘gap.’ This lets us see how adding the silent ‘e’ sound causes the ‘a’ to become a long vowel sound.

When do we lose the unspoken ‘e’?

When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel to the end of a word, we remove the silent ‘e.’ For example:

Take+ the suffix ‘ing’ = Taking

Have+ the suffix ‘ing’ = Having

Make+ the suffix ‘ing’ = Making

However, if the suffix begins with a consonant, we keep the silent ‘e.’ For example:

Love + the suffix ‘ly’ = Lovely

Care+ the suffix ‘less’ = Careless

Arrange+ the suffix ‘meant’ = Arrangement

Why do we call it the bossy “e” and the magic “e”?

You’ll often see this rule called by these names because it helps make learning about it more fun and engaging for little ones. Because let’s be honest: while ‘split digraphs’ might be the correct terminology, it doesn’t make for a very compelling name!

Referring to split digraphs as ‘magic’ or ‘bossy’ allows teachers to develop a fun story or made-up anecdote to explain how it got its name. And what’s more, it also makes split digraphs easier for children to understand. For example, they’re able to see that as if by magic, the silent letter ‘e’ at the end of a word can turn a short ‘o’ into a long ‘o’ sound or a short ‘i’ into a long ‘i’ sound.