Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

When a writer or author decides to write a story, there are a few questions they must ask to create their account. They must ask who? This will give them the characters of their story. They must also ask what? It will provide them with the story’s plot, i.e., what happens to the characters and what the characters do. Then they must ask when and where their characters will act out their plot. A story setting is the when and where a story is set.

• When can be if the story is set in the past, the present, or the future. Or even what time of the year it is. Is it night or day? Is it set at Christmas, a particular historical event, or period, or has it not even happened yet? This is called the temporal setting.
• A story can be set in a particular country, at sea, in space, in a desert, in a jungle, or in an entirely imaginary world. This would be the geographic setting.
• The reader must also know where the story is set within the geographic setting. It could be in a castle, a house, a car, or a dungeon; the possibilities are endless. This is the individual setting, i.e., the specific area within the geographic location. But this isn’t always necessary; a story set within a forest can be clear enough!
• There are other considerations regarding a story’s setting, which may cover both when and where. This could be environmental settings such as the weather – like is it during a storm? Is it foggy? Is it a lovely sunny day?

Once these questions have been decided, you have a story set!

Why are story settings necessary?

Story settings are important because they give context to the time and place where the characters and plot unfold. Events in the plot need somewhere to happen, and the characters need somewhere to do what they do.

The story’s setting can often influence and dictate the characters and plot of a story, and it is essential to choose elements that work well together for a good story and credibility. For example, a samurai and an elf traveling through space in a milk float might not make such a great story (although).

Story settings also do more than merely form a backdrop to a story. The chosen setting, such as that of a particular historical period or a genre, sets the story up to the reader with a load of already pre-conceived notions and expectations of what the story may entail and free up a lot of time spent on exposition (explaining features of the story).

For example, setting a story during a storm can suggest some inner turmoil the character may be feeling. And in stark contrast, setting the story on a nice sunny day could indicate that the characters feel happy and content.

But there are multiple interpretations of such settings, such as a sunny day could also indicate that the heat might mean the characters are feeling uncomfortable or under pressure. Again, it is up to the writer to make such suggestions by using literary devices such as adjectives:

Describing a day as “bright, sunny, warm, breezy, etc.” would indicate to the reader that the character or part of the plot is positive.

Whereas if a day were described as “chilly, rainy, cold, dreary, ” it would indicate a hostile story setting.

Describing other senses, such as what can be heard, also works well for story settings, and combining adjectives can have different effects:

If the soundscape were described as “peacefully quiet,” the reader would read this as a good thing.

If it were described as “eerily quiet,” it would create a sense of foreboding and atmosphere.

The atmosphere is created by how the writer depicts their story setting and creates a mood that the reader feels. The atmosphere is useful for getting better pay-offs from plot lines.

For example, suppose the writer creates an atmosphere, mood, or feeling of dread and fear in the build-up to a showdown between the story’s protagonist (hero) and antagonist (villain). In that case, the feeling of relief and satisfaction in the reader is more significant when the protagonist defeats the antagonist.

Story settings can be used as metaphors, such as climbing a mountain may be a metaphor for overcoming significant obstacles in a character’s life. Think of The Lord of the Rings novels culminating with the main protagonist, Frodo, climbing Mount Doom to destroy the ring of power.

How to come up with a story setting

Remember, it is necessary to distinguish whether the story will be in first, or second-person perspective.

It’s also important to remember what that particular character would notice, especially in stories set in the first-person perspective. So, for example, if we placed James Bond and The Cat in the Hat in the same individual setting, they would notice different things, and the reader would get their unique character’s perspective of the story setting, which would ultimately shape the story.

A story setting described in the third-person is shaped by the writer and can inform the reader about the characters. For instance, if we are introduced to a character in their bedroom described as messy, dirty, or untidy, we make assumptions about the character.

A golden rule when creating stories is to “show” the reader rather than tell them. This is more applicable if a story is set in the third-person perspective. Because the author can’t say to the reader directly what the thoughts and feelings of a character are, they can “show” them through using the story setting:

Is the character confused or feels lost? Set the story in a hall of mirrors or a maze.

Is a character powerful and vital? Place them higher than others on a throne in a grand building made of stone or steel.

Deciding whether the story setting will be completely made-up or rooted in reality is also important. While imagining a completely new world might be fun, you may find yourself explaining a lot to your readers (exposition).

Describing a story setting with adjectives can help to build the world. Think about the colors, the textures, the feel, the smells, the sounds, the views, the light, the background characters, etc. that will all play a part in the story setting. It is also essential to think about how these will affect your characters.

Examples

Here are some examples of story settings as outlined above from popular books:

(When it comes to a story’s setting, there can be many different settings throughout the story that can reflect other characters or parts of the plot.

Dracula: Set in the late 1800s, in a castle within a forest in Transylvania and Victorian London, mostly during misty or moonlit nights. The central protagonist often hears the wolves’ distant howling and the bats’ fluttering.

Ask the class: How would you feel if you were in these places?

Harry Potter: The Harry Potter books are interesting as they begin in contemporary England, in a typical suburban house. Then the character is transported through a fictional train platform through the genuine King’s Cross Station in London into a fantastical college for witches and wizards.

Ask the class: How would you gain entrance to a fantastical world in your life?

The Road: Is set in a post-apocalyptic America in the future, where little grows, the scenery is bleak, barren, and grey, and there is little solace in indoor settings.

Ask the class: How would they imagine a story set in the future?

James and the Giant Peach: Set inside a giant peach! His evil aunts’ house, locked in his bedroom, afloat at sea, finally arrives in New York City, where the peach lands atop the Empire State Building.

Ask the class: What food would they most like? What is the size of a house that they could live inside?

Why not get your students to write the story settings for their favorite books, films, or stories?

What is Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day is the day of love and affection celebrated annually on the 14th of February. It’s also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or Feast of Saint Valentine.

People show their love for one another every year by sending Valentine’s cards and giving gifts such as chocolates, flowers, or teddy bears. These gifts are also themed with love hearts or colored red or pink!

The History of Valentine’s Day for Students

Before it was known as Valentine’s Day, a pagan fertility ritual was held in Rome every February until the Pope abolished it and replaced the festival with Saint Valentine’s Day. From then, it was a feast day in the Catholic Calendar of Saints.

The first person to link Valentine’s Day to romantic love was a poet from the Middle Ages named Chaucer. In the late 14th century, he wrote a poem called ‘Parliament of Fowls’, which describes a group of birds that gathered together to find their mates on ‘seynt valentynes day.’

Valentine’s Day now celebrates all types of love – including between friends and family.

The day itself is named after a Catholic priest named Saint Valentine.

Who was Saint Valentine?

Saint Valentine was a Roman priest from the 3rd century. He was born in 226 AD in Terni, Italy, and died on February 14th, 269 AD. He is one of the few legendary Christian martyrs believed to have lived. Not only is he the patron saint of lovers but also the saint of beekeepers and epileptics.

During Valentine’s life, many people converted to Christianity, but the Emperor at the time, Emperor Claudius II, was a pagan and created strict laws for Christians. He believed Roman soldiers should be wholly devoted to Rome and shouldn’t marry, so he passed a law to prevent this. According to legend, St Valentine married these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies, which is why he gained a reputation for believing in the importance of love.

After a while, the Emperor discovered Valentine’s actions and jailed him for his crimes. The legend is that while imprisoned, Valentine wrote a letter to his jailer’s daughter and signed it as ‘from your Valentine.’

Famous Valentine’s Day Poems

Poets have written love poems for Valentine’s Day for centuries. Here are a few you could share with children:

• I carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) by E.E Cummings
• I Like Hearts by Nellie Edge
• My Mother’s Chocolate Valentine by Jack Prelutsky
• Going Steady by Ian Serraillier
• The Kangaroo’s Courtship by Jane Yolen
• Valentine’s Chocolate by Valerie Worth
• Smitten by Patrick Winstanley

What is a rhombus?

A rhombus is a 2D shape with four straight, equal sides and parallel pairs of opposite sides. This shape resembles a diamond and is the shape you’d expect to see in playing cards to represent the suit of diamonds. Rhombuses can be seen in everyday life in various ways. Items such as playing cards, kites, jewelry, signs, and crystals are or feature a rhombus.

What are the properties of a rhombus?

Like any shape, various properties define what a rhombus is. These properties are:

• A rhombus has four straight, equal-length sides.
• A rhombus has four vertices.
• A rhombus has two lines of symmetry.
• A rhombus has four interior angles. These angles are two acute angles and two obtuse angles.
• A rhombus has two pairs of parallel lines.

Interestingly enough, the qualities that make a shape a rhombus mean that all squares are rhombuses. Weirdly enough, though, not all rhombuses are squares, which you’ll be able to tell by checking through the above properties. It’s also worth remembering the following:

• All the sides of a rhombus have to be an equal length. So, like a square, if one or more sides are a different length, it’s not a rhombus.
• Opposite sides need to be parallel, and opposite angles must be equal; a parallelogram is also a rhombus.
• If you draw an X inside a rhombus by drawing a line from corner to corner, the angles in the middle should be a right angle.

How many lines of symmetry does a rhombus have?

Before checking the lines of symmetry of a rhombus, let’s start with the basics!

A line of symmetry is a line that cuts a 2D shape or 3D object into half. Upon drawing this line, two equal parts of the given form should have to match. Because of this, a line of symmetry – not surprisingly – can only be applied to symmetrical shapes like a rhombus.

To find the exact middle of a shape, you must look for two identical parts that are the mirror image of each other precisely. To draw the line, use a ruler, and if you’re trying to determine the sequence of symmetry of a paper shape, you can fold it in the middle.

Depending on the original shape, multiple lines of symmetry could be spotted. So how many does a rhombus have, then? The answer is 2. While a rhombus does have four equal sides, the angles inside are not all the same. Therefore, there are two ways to halve the quadrilateral shape.

How can I measure the area of a rhombus?

There are two different ways to calculate and measure the area of a rhombus. The first is by multiplying the diagonals of a rhombus – these are the two interior intersecting lines that make a cross shape. So if the horizontal diagonal is 4 cm and the vertical diagonal is 5 cm, the rhombus in question would have an area of 20 cm.

The second way to calculate and measure the area of a rhombus is by using the base and height. Similarly to using the diagonals, you must multiply the base and size to get the area. So if a rhombus has a base of 6 cm and a height of 10 cm, it would have an area of 60 cm.

Is a rhombus the same as a diamond shape?

There is an entire discussion about this question, and there are different opinions, even among teachers. We have to come back to the definition of the rhombus, a parallelogram in which all the edges are of equal length. According to parallelogram properties, in a rhombus, the diagonals bisect the angles and are perpendicular to each other.

Now, looking at a rhombus’s definition and properties, we can decide whether a rhombus shape and a diamond shape are identical. You might think a rhombus is the same shape as a diamond, and you’re not wrong.

There are different diamond shapes, just like there are different rhombus shapes. Many shapes can be classed as multiple shapes by changing their orientation or looking at them differently. Similarly, a rhombus can be classed as a shape despite not looking like one.

The rhombus is often called a diamond in a lot of different contexts. For instance, the diamonds suit playing cards, resembling an octahedral diamond’s projection. But most of the time, it is used as a synonym for rhombus.

Is ‘diamond’ appropriate in geometry lessons?

The diamond shape is not usually a formal mathematical term teachers use in their geometry lessons. Not everyone agrees that diamond shapes and rhombi are the same.

Some people associate this shape with a kite and call it like this, while others call it a tilted square. However, many people use this term when discussing geometric shapes.

So, returning to our question, is it appropriate to use ‘diamond shape’ during geometry lessons when we want to teach children about rhombus? This name is not formally included in primary school lessons because it wasn’t adopted officially, but there is nothing wrong with using it, either.

The approach might vary depending on what and how you are trying to teach.

If you want to ensure that everyone in your classroom understands a concept in the same way and make the lesson as concrete as possible, sticking to the geometry vocabulary might be the best idea.

That would mean teaching children that the figure is called a ‘rhombus.’ This direction might fit you if you take into consideration that, just like the ‘oval,’ the diamond shape doesn’t have a precise definition, so you’re sticking to the term that has one.

However, if you want to help your children identify a diamond when they see one or what shape they should imagine when they hear this word, it’s nothing wrong with teaching them about it. Just keep in mind that diamond shape is an informal term that doesn’t have a geometrical definition in place.

What is a constellation?

A constellation is a group of stars in the night sky that make up a recognizable picture or pattern.

The shapes they might take include animals, objects, or people. Many of the human-shaped patterns have been named after mythological figures from the ancient world.

Constellations have many uses in astronomy, navigation, farming, and storytelling.

How many constellations are there?

There are 88 major star constellations in the sky. Unfortunately, you can’t see all of them at once, and some are nearly impossible to see without the help of telescopes – especially the brightest ones during the day.

What constellations you can see also depends on what part of the world you live in. Some of them can only be seen in the skies of the Northern Hemisphere, while others are most prominent in the Southern Hemisphere.

How do you find constellations?

Stargazing is a fun hobby, but some places make it more challenging to see the night sky in all its glory.

Light pollution from towns and cities can make the sky into one blurry color, hiding any stars you might want to see. Unfortunately, that means looking for constellations; you may have to travel to find somewhere dark and quiet.

Not to mention, you’ll not be able to see any stars if it’s cloudy! So make sure you check the weather when you plan your stargazing trips and pick a clear night.

Be sure to bring a compass with you to check what direction you’re looking in and some binoculars or a telescope to make things easier.

What is the most prominent star constellation?

The Hydra is the largest constellation in the night sky. It measures 1303 square degrees and also happens to be the longest at over 100 degrees in length. It’s easiest to spot in the Southern Hemisphere, but between January and May, you might also be able to see it further north.

This constellation is included in many ancient religions and mythologies as a great serpent, water snake, or hydra. The ancient Greeks and the Babylonians had a myth linked to the idea of a similar massive creature.

What is the minor star constellation?

The minor constellation is Crux, also known as the Southern Cross. Despite its small size at only 68 square degrees, this is one of the most important constellations for navigators in the Southern Hemisphere because it helps you find the direction of the South Pole.

Three of the brightest stars in the night sky are located in this constellation, which makes it extremely visible. Still, you must be careful when stargazing because there’s a similar one called the False Cross that you could confuse it with – hence the name.

What are the 12 most common constellations?

People often think of the Western zodiac when they hear’ constellations.’ These 12 constellations are:

1. Aries
2. Taurus
3. Gemini
4. Cancer
5. Leo
6. Virgo
7. Libra
8. Scorpio
9. Sagittarius
10. Capricorn
11. Aquarius
12. Pisces

You might have heard some of these names before without realizing they’re a part of this vital set of constellations! They’re sometimes known as star signs. What star were you born under?

Famous Star Constellations for Kids

Orion

As one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky, Orion was named for the hunter in Greek mythology by the same name. Some archaeologists think that the oldest known representation of this constellation dates back 32,000 years to a mammoth ivory carving found in a cave in Germany.

Inside the constellation of Orion is a smaller set of three stars in a line. It is called Orion’s Belt because, as the name suggests, it looks like a belt!

Below the belt is a star that looks a bit fuzzy to the naked eye called a stellar nebula. Hundreds of young stars and planets outside our solar system are forming.

Ursa Major

Ursa Major is the third largest of the known constellations. Another name for it is the Great Bear. Nobody knows when it was first identified because it was already well-known by the 2nd century, included by the astronomer Ptolemy in his list of constellations. Some myths about hunting and great bears date back over ten thousand years!

It has a few key features, such as a smaller pattern of seven stars known as The Plough. It is an important constellation because it points towards the North Star, which helps people in the Northern Hemisphere navigate as if they had a compass.

Pegasus

Named for the winged horse in Greek mythology, Pegasus comprises a square set of four stars with others surrounding it. The number of stars you can see inside this square tells you how clear the night sky is. It’s graded as follows:

• Less than four stars and visibility is poor.
• Your atmosphere is good, clear, and dark, between four and thirteen stars.
• More than thirteen stars and the skies are excellent for stargazing tonight.

Pegasus is attached to another constellation named Andromeda.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is a massive constellation of stars in the northern sky that gets its name from a queen in Greek mythology. Cassiopeia is also known as the ‘W’ constellation because of its distinct W shape formed by the five brightest stars. The Greek astronomer Ptolemy first recorded the constellation in the 2nd century.

As mentioned, Cassiopeia gets its name from a Queen in Greek mythology of the same name. Cassiopeia was known for her vain and boastful character and was the wife of King Cepheus of Ethiopia. Her vanity was such that she once boasted that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, who were sea nymphs famous for their beauty. Outraged at Cassiopeia’s claims, the Nereids appealed to Poseidon to punish her for her behavior. Poseidon agreed and sent a sea monster named Cetus, represented by the constellation of the same name, to ravage the coast of Cepheus’ kingdom. The story goes that Cepheus was desperate to end Poseidon’s punishment and turned to an oracle for help. The prophet informed him that the only way to appease Poseidon was to sacrifice his and Cassiopeia’s daughter, Andromeda, to Cetus. They obliged and left Andromeda chained to a rock for a sea monster to find. Thankfully for Andromeda, she was saved last minute by the Greek hero Perseus.

Poseidon cast Cassiopeia and Cepheus into the sky, where it is believed that Cassiopeia is condemned to circle the celestial pole for the rest of the time. Cassiopeia also must spend half of the year upside down as punishment for her vanity. Cassiopeia is usually depicted on her throne, combing her hair.

Canis Minor

Canis Minor is one of the smaller constellations in the northern sky. ‘Canis Minor’ translates to ‘the smaller dog’ or ‘lesser dog’ in Latin.

Much like Canis Major, this constellation represents the smaller of Orion’s two dogs. Both Canis Minor and Canis Major were first recorded by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century.

While the common moth myth surrounding Canis Minor is that it represents one of the dogs that follow Orion, the hunter in Greek mythology, other tales around the constellation exist. One story theorizes that Canis Minor represents Maera, the dog of the unlucky wine-maker Icarius. Unfortunately, Icarius’ bad luck followed him to the end, as he eventually died at the hands of a group of shepherds that he had given some wine. The shepherds, who had never tasted wine before, were shocked by the taste and thought that Icarius had poisoned them, so they killed him.

The dog, Maera, is believed to have discovered Icarius’ body and immediately ran to his daughter, Erigone. Completely overcome with the grief of losing Icarius, his daughter and his dog took their own lives.

Another myth surrounding Canis Minor, the constellation, is believed to represent the Teumessian fox. This animal was famous in Greek mythology for being impossible to outrun and was ultimately turned to stone by Zeus. Unfortunately, the King of the gods also turned his dog, Laelaps, to rock. To commemorate the event, Zeus placed Laelaps and the Teumessian fox in the sky, which is how we get Canis Minor.

Canis Major

In the version of events where Canis Major represents the Teumessian fox, Canis Major is believed to represent Laelaps, Zeus’ speedy dog. Laelaps’ speed made him stand out to the King of the gods, who lifted him into the skies to be one of his hunting dogs. Laelaps was so fast that he was said to be destined to catch any prey that he set his sights on. So impressed with this dog was Zeus that he presented him to Europa, a Phoenician princess in Greek mythology, as a gift, along with a weapon that he could never miss. Unfortunately, while she initially welcomed the grant, Europa was killed by the weapon that Zeus presented her with when her husband, Cephalus, was traveling.

The story of how Canis Major became a constellation goes like this. Cephalus was out hunting with Laelaps in Thebes in Boeotia, a Greek province of north Athens. Cephalus was attempting to hunt down a troublesome fox whose speed proved too much for Laelaps. The fox was destined never to be caught, which, combined with the fact that Laelaps was destined to catch any prey he set upon, created a sort of eternal chase. Seeing no end in sight, Zeus ended the pursuit by turning both animals to stone and placing them in the sky. Laelaps became Canis Major, and the Teumessian fox became Canis Minor.

In another myth surrounding Canis Major, the constellation is believed to represent the larger of the two dogs that follow the hunter, Orion.

As a constellation, however, Canis Major contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It’s found in the Southern Hemisphere during the summer or the Northern Hemisphere in winter.

What are constellations used for?

Astronomy

Stargazers can often work out the position of one star from another using constellations. Learning them can make following the patterns in the night sky even easier. For example, if you can find Orion, you can probably find Canis Major and Canis Minor.

Even though technology has advanced so far that astronomers can now use coordinates and other techniques to be more precise, there’s still one more hidden function of the constellations. Their names make it easier to know what part of the sky people is talking about – a string of numbers isn’t as memorable as something like Andromeda or Aquarius!

Navigation

Sailors and explorers have long since used the night sky patterns to find out where they are and how to get where they’re going. In addition to using the sun and the moon, constellations like the North Star and the Southern Cross were reliable ways to work out roughly what direction home was in.

For more accurate figures, navigators would need to use a sextant to measure the angle between stars and the horizon, along with other things like a clock and an almanac (a journal made up of a calendar, star information, and weather forecasts).

10 Fun Facts about Star Constellations for Kids

1. The first star other than the Sun to be photographed was Vega. It can be found in the constellation Lyra, which is shaped like a harp.
2. In 1922, the sky was divided into the 88 constellations we know today. Forty-eight were listed by Ptolemy, while 40 new ones were added.
3. In most cases, the Greek myth for which a constellation is named has a Mesopotamian version that predates it.
4. Farmers were some of the first people to use constellations in daily life. They had to use them to keep track of the seasons, especially in places where spring and winter weren’t clearly defined.
5. The Plough is known as the Big Dipper in the United States.
6. An asterism is a group of stars that isn’t an official constellation, even though non-astronomers and stargazers still think of it as one. An example of this is the Plough, which is a part of Ursa Major.
7. We usually think of the Babylonians as the first ones to use maths to predict the movements of the stars – the first astronomers. However, their records from around 1000 BC use Sumerian names, meaning that they were referencing work from an even older civilization.
8. The word constellation comes from Latin and means “set of stars.”
9. Constellations are constantly traveling from the east to the west.
10. The Sun is the only star in our galaxy which does not belong to a constellation.

Classroom rules are an essential part of a positive school environment. Here is a list of 30 basic classroom rules for primary schools to help you out.Top of Form

Coming up with classroom rules isn’t everyone’s favorite task. Moreover, spending your days dealing with challenging situations can be frustrating.

We all want to spend more time teaching our students and, if we can, stop unwanted behavior from happening in the first place.

So, what can you do? If you want to keep your class on task and create a calm environment for learning, having clear basic classroom rules set out can be a big help.

According to a study in Classroom Management That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Every Teacher, classrooms with effective rules had 28% fewer disruptions in lessons.

So, clear rules give you more time to focus on what you do best: inspiring children to learn. It clears up more time for lesson delivery, activities, and that all-important time spent with your class.

Below you’ll find 30 classroom rules to try out. You’ll also find advice about developing your ideas, so you can make positive changes and create a happier classroom.

A List of 30 Basic Classroom Rules 

Your rules should be about promoting positive behaviors and actions – for the benefit of you and your class. At the same time, these rules should be easy for students to understand.

Here is a great mix of ideas you can use whenever you need!

1. Be kind
2. Turn up to class on time
3. Listen to your teacher
4. Always try your best
5. Be respectful of the school grounds
6. Put your hand up if you’d like to speak
7. Make others happy
8. Concentrate
9. Keep your desk tidy
10. If you make a mess, clean it up
11. Take pride in your work
12. Respect other people’s things
13. Listen to your classmates when they speak
14. Obey the school rules
15. Share your equipment with others
16. Get involved in discussions
17. Never give up!
18. Always ask for help if you need it
19. Walk around the school, don’t run
20. If you see someone in danger, tell an adult
21. Ask questions
22. Be creative
23. Keep your hands and feet to yourself
24. Never use hurtful words
25. Help your classmates
26. Be quiet when someone else is talking
27. Be honest
28. Have a positive attitude
29. Follow the dress code
30. Be curious

How to Come up with Your Own Rules

Every class is different. It is essential to get to know your students and tailor your rules to their behaviors and attitudes.

Below are some easy ways to get started.

Set Boundaries

You need a good mix of favorable rules and ones which set clear boundaries.

Are there any school-wide rules that you need to keep in check? For example, you might have a dress code that you need to follow.

Ask your school leaders and peers what rules you should be following. This way, you’ll be sure you’re ticking off the essentials.

Putting up these boundaries means children will know what they can’t do. Then, you can move on to more positive examples.

Think Big

Setting rules shouldn’t be negative. You can also use them to inspire curiosity, creativity, and learning.

Think about the values that are important to you. Respect? Passion? A good attitude? Put these values at the heart of your list.

Classroom rules should mainly be about what students can do, not just what they should avoid. It creates an environment where they’re encouraged to take positive action rather than worrying about doing wrong.

Be Specific 

Once you’ve looked at the broader picture, hone in on the details.

Does your class have bad habits that disrupt the lesson? Is there something that crops up again?

Add these things to your list as the year goes on. It’ll help you tailor your plan and iron out any issues. After all, no class is ever the same.

Creating Classroom Rules with Students

Getting students involved in the process of creating classroom rules has lots of benefits. It makes them feel more in control, helps you get to know them better, and creates a sense of community.

It makes them feel valued and ensures that their voices are heard. When you actively ask for their opinions and thoughts, it assures them that you respect them as part of the class. After all, the students have to follow the classroom rules in the end, so why not let them be a part of creating them? They might even come up with some ideas that hadn’t crossed your mind.

Creating classroom rules with your students means they’re more likely to follow them in practice. You’ll have worked hard to develop a personalized set of rules together, and not only will the children have a deeper understanding of what the rules represent, but they’ll also be more connected to them. They’ll be able to see their thoughts and feelings reflected in them.

Where should you start?

Hand out some post-it notes and ask them to write down some rules they’d like on the list. You could also ask them to write down what their ideal classroom would be like – is everyone kind to each other and ready to lend a hand when someone needs it? Then, you could quickly adapt these suggestions to classroom rules.

Then, put them on the board and go through them as a class. Filter out any that aren’t appropriate, then agree on what works best for everyone! You may want to have a class vote at this point and finalize the set of rules with your class – this way, your students are involved with every part of the process of creating classroom rules.

Another way you could get your students involved is by using this worksheet. Your students can write down a suggestion for a classroom rule and their reasons for including it. This is similar to the post-it note idea, but it gives your students a bit more structure and encourages them to think about the reasoning behind their concept. Reflecting on their chosen classroom rule helps children to think about what’s important to them and what they value, especially in the classroom.

How to Display and Teach Basic Classroom Rules

A lot of the time, teachers make the mistake of simply announcing their list. This is fine, but you risk it going in one ear and out of the other.

Ensure you’re teaching the rules, not just reading them at the start of the year.

There are many ways you can make the rules stick without feeling like Miss Trunchbull.

1. Poster

Your first port of call is to stick a poster up. After that, it’s easy to communicate the rules to everyone in your class.

Don’t just create a black-and-white list where no one will see it. Instead, try to make it visible and include exciting shapes and colors.

2. PowerPoint

A more engaging way to teach your class is to do a presentation. It can be at the start of the year when the children are just settling in or whenever you feel they need a reminder.

3. Chart

It’s a good idea to make children aware of how well they’re behaving. A chart is an excellent opportunity to reward positive behavior or remind them if they’re not following the rules correctly.

4. Template

Looking to create your own rules from scratch?

You can fill in the 30 ideas mentioned earlier or work with your class to create the perfect list.

5. Game

Playing a game is another excellent way to make your rules stick.

You could try a sorting game, where children must decide whether the behavior is good or unacceptable.

Classroom Rules and Consequences

If the rules aren’t followed, there should be a consequence. There should be a balance between sanction and reward, which should be consistent.

Here are some examples of the consequences of poor behavior:

• Verbal warning
• Remove from the situation
• Contact parent
• Loss of break time or golden time
• Isolation

On the flip side, here are some ways you can reward well-behaving students:

• Student of the week award
• A small gift (pencil or rubber)
• Compliment
• Contact parents
• Report to SLT

However, there’s no need to sanction unnecessarily. Professor Anna Sullivan argues that punishing children can make behavior worse.

Instead, she vouches for an educational approach to behavior management. But, first, it would help if you taught students what good and bad behavior looks like.

Throughout the year, it’s a good idea to communicate with your class about the what, why, and how.

• What: Remind them what the rules are. Point to a poster or go through a PowerPoint.
• Why: Explain why the rules are essential. For example, to make sure everyone can learn without disruptions.
• How: Show them how they can follow the rules. When a situation arises, explain how they should act to ensure everyone is happy.

Creating basic classroom rules doesn’t have to feel like a burden. If you collaborate with your class, involve them in discussions, and set clear boundaries, you’re likely to get a list that pleases everyone.

When poor behavior crops up, or you feel like they need a refresher, you can always refer back to the classroom rules and remind students why they’re so important.

By working with the children, you’ll be able to help rules stick and create a happier classroom for all.

Emotive Language

Emotive language means using specific word choices to evoke an emotional reaction from the reader. It’s a common technique used in novels, poetry, and other forms of literature. However, emotive language is also used in non-fiction writing, including newspaper articles.

What is Emotive Language in English?

Emotive language is used when word choices evoke an emotional response in the reader.

This language often aims to convince the reader or listener to share the writer or speaker’s POV, using language explicitly chosen to stimulate an emotional reaction.

Uses of Emotive Language

Since we now know the answer to ‘what is emotive language in English?’, let’s explore how writers might use it.

Emotive language can be used in several ways. You’ll find examples of emotive language in spoken language, such as:

• speeches
• spoken word performances
• public addresses
• debates
• everyday conversation

It’s also often used in creative or fictional writing to give the reader a dynamic and engaging experience. This technique is common in:

• novels
• poetry
• short stories
• plays

Emotive language can also be used in non-fiction writing, such as:

• biographies
• newspaper articles
• opinion pieces
• personal blogs

Examples of Emotive Language

To help us to answer the question of ‘what is emotive language in English?’ in a bit more detail, we need the help of a few examples. First, the following is taken from a speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs:

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of formerly enslaved people and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

This speech includes some examples of emotive language. For instance:

• The phrase ‘I have a dream uses personal pronouns, inviting those listening to share in King’s vision of a better world. This phrase is repeated emphatically throughout the speech.

• ‘Brotherhood’ is an abstract noun – a word describing an idea or concept. King uses this emotive phrase to appeal to the audience’s desire for the things that ‘brotherhood’ represents – acceptance, equality, and community.
• King also uses metaphorical language, describing the state of Mississippi as ‘sweltering’ with injustice and describing the calm ‘oasis’ of freedom that it could be. Using sensory descriptions of heat helps to illustrate the difficulty of the struggle for civil rights, as well as reminding his audience what they are striving for. This section of the speech is intended to motivate civil rights activists to keep protesting for their rights.

Just from this one short extract, we can see how specific word choices contribute to the overall meaning of the speech and encourage people to embrace his message.

Emotive Words

But now that we know the answer to ‘what is emotive language in English?’, we must understand which words and adjectives have an emotional impact. Some words evoke a strong emotional reaction in most readers or listeners. They hold a certain weight that is hard to ignore.

• Adjectives – appalling, wonderful, magical, and tragic.
• Abstract Nouns – freedom, pride, justice, love, and terror.
• Verbs – destroyed, vindicated, saved, betrayed, and adored.
• Emotive Adverbs – angrily, defiantly, proudly, and beautifully.

Emotive Adverbs

Adverbs are words that modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb. They can be used to describe how something was said or how an action was done, which makes them valuable tools within emotive language.

Adverbs can also describe the specifics of action, such as adverbs of degree, which tell the reader how strongly something had happened, or adverbs of frequency, which depict how often something was done.

• Lazily.
• Brilliantly.
• Happily.
• Proudly.
• Stupidly.
• Completely.
• Wholly.

Wordiness and the problem with emotive adverbs

One crucial qualifier with adverbs is that they can sometimes be redundant. For example, which of these sentences do you think is more emotive?

• ‘James ran quickly home.’
• ‘James raced home.’

Although emotive adverbs easily inject emotion into writing, one word can sometimes be more punchy!

Tone Within Writing

These emotive adverbs can drastically alter the tone of writing, as they will make the opinions and perspectives of the writer clear to the reader.

Tone can also be affected by the use of low or high-modality words. For example, the phrase ‘you will never be a singer’ is much more impactful than saying ‘you might not be a singer’. Once again, the use of emotive adverbs, adjectives, and verbs can make a massive difference to the meaning of a piece of writing.

Collective Noun

A collective noun is a type of noun (identifying word) used to show a group of people, animals, or objects. Some collective nouns are general and can refer to many things, such as ‘group’, but also some with specific uses. For instance, ‘flock’ refers to a group of birds.

What is a Collective Noun?

For starters, what is a collective noun?

When we think of the word ‘collective’, we think of more than one thing or person. Therefore, a collective noun must be a noun that is used to represent a group of people, animals, or objects!

They are sometimes called grouped nouns, representing a number or a collection of things. Common examples of collective nouns are ” government, ” “family,” and ” team.”

Collective nouns are typically plural but can also be singular in some cases. An example is ‘family’, which can be described individually or collectively as one unit.

Collective nouns can also vary depending on whether British English or American English is used. For instance, the word ‘government’ is treated as singular in American English but as plural in British English!

What are some examples of collective nouns?

Now that we’ve answered the question of ‘what is a collective noun?’, let’s expand our knowledge with a few examples. Read on to find practical examples of collective nouns that express groups of animals, people, or even things.

1) Collective nouns for animals:

You’ve probably heard collective nouns used to describe animals, like a pack of wolves or a herd of sheep. You might not know that most leading animal groups have collective nouns, and some of them can be pretty bizarre. Here are a few of our favorites:

Singular	Collective
Dolphin	A pod
Bat	A colony
Elephant	A parade
Duck	A brace
Hippos	A bloat
Leopard	A leap
Otter	A raft
Pig	A drove
Frog	An army
Lemur	A conspiracy
Kangaroos	A mob
Ravens	An unkindness
Shark	A shiver

Top of Form
We need to note that, in many cases, people might not be familiar with some of these fun but very specific collective nouns. In this case, they might indicate a group of animals using more general collective nouns like ‘group’.

2) Collective nouns for people:

We know the answer to ‘what is a collective noun?’, but what are some nouns that we can use to refer to organizations or groups of people? Here are a few examples:

• Team
• Group
• Collective
• Crowd
• Squad
• Posse
• Cohort

You might challenge your pupils to see if they can add a collective noun to this list.

3) Collective nouns for objects:

Finally, there are also some collective nouns that we can use to refer to things or inanimate objects. Here are a few examples of them:

Singular	Collective
Shoe	Pair
Hay	Bale
Banana	Bunch
Stick	Bundle
Island	Chain
Ship	Fleet
Apartment	Block
Tool	Set

How do you use collective nouns in a sentence?

We’ve learned ‘what is a collective noun?’ and seen some examples, but how do you use them? Here are some tips on how you and your learners could incorporate these nouns into your writing:

• Singular and plural:

It can be tricky to know whether a collective noun should be treated as singular or plural. Generally, collective nouns are treated as singular, but there might be instances where we want to refer to them as plural. Here are some examples:

The team was in high spirits after winning the game.

The crew was all working at their stations.

In this second example, the ‘crew’ is treated as plural. Despite being a group of people, we can assume that it’s made up of individuals with their jobs to do. In this case, it is acceptable to refer to the collective noun as plural.

• Avoid using the incorrect collective nouns:

Using an inappropriate collective noun is an easy trap to fall into, but it can affect how our writing looks to the reader. Here are some examples:

A flock of wolves.

A punnet of screwdrivers.

• Experiment with collective nouns:

At the same time, don’t be afraid to experiment and try our collective nouns in places they might not usually go. Sometimes, an unexpected use of a collective noun can add unique meaning to a sentence.

For instance, the correct collective noun for piranhas is shoal. However, saying ‘a swarm of deadly piranhas’ still makes sense and can have a powerful impact on your writing.

• Pigeons are very intelligent and one of the few to have passed the ‘mirror test’ of self-recognition.

• There is one quadrillion (one million billion) ants on Earth! That’s 1,000,000,000,000,000! To put it into even more perspective, that’s over 1,000,000 ants for every human.
• The blue whale is an enormous creature that ever lived on Earth and can reach over 100 feet. The longest blue whale recorded is a female, measured at 110 feet 17 inches in 1909. The heaviest blue whale was another female hunted in 1947. At 189,999.865 kg (190 tons), the creature weighed the equivalent of around 2,500 people!
• Pigeons are very intelligent and one of the few to have passed the ‘mirror test’ of self-recognition.

Doris the Loris

Doris, the loris, has a story for everyone, from adventure to silly stories. But will she be able to come up with a way for her animal friends to enjoy her stories wherever they are? Set in the Sumatran rainforest, this story is full of exciting wildlife, and the plot and themes of the tale make it great for reluctant readers.

• The giant Pacific octopus has three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood. 2 hearts pump blood to the gills, while a big heart circulates blood to the rest of the body; a central brain controls the nervous system, while there’s a tiny brain in each of the creature’s eight arms. Blue blood is rich in protein that improves the animal’s ability to transport oxygen in cold environments.
• Animals with smaller bodies and faster metabolism, such as flies, chipmunks, and squirrels, see in slow motion. It allows them to see more information in one second than a larger animal like an elephant.

A squirrel

• At birth, a panda is smaller than a mouse and weighs about four ounces.
• The bears are brilliant. They have better navigation skills than humans, their memories are excellent, they have a sizeable brain-to-body ratio, and they even use tools for play and hunting. However, when separated from their mothers, cubs can cry for weeks, and grieving is typical among the animals.

The Bear Who Came to Babysit

Arno and Bibi are in for a surprise when their babysitter turns out to be a bear! The story follows their daily routine as ordinary events are infused with chaos and humor. Hilariously throughout, the story features stunning illustrations that will make children laugh out loud.

• Animals have complex dreams and can retain and recall sequences of events while they’re asleep. Research by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showed that firing patterns of a collection of individual cells in a rat showed that it was dreaming and that its dreams were connected to actual experiences.
• Houseflies hum in the key of F major! They flap their wings around 190 times per second, which the human ear interprets as a pitch along the F major scale.

A housefly

• Sea otters hold hands while sleeping, so they don’t drift apart. When a baby is too small to hold hands, it rests on the mother, and when the mother has to go hunting, she wraps her pups in seaweed to stop them from floating away.
• African grey parrots voluntarily help each other to obtain food and perform selfless acts, even to individuals they’re not ‘friendly’ with.
• Even if a pig could fly, other pigs would not be able to witness it, as they’re incapable of looking up! The anatomy of their neck muscles and spine limits the movement of their head, so they can’t look upwards.

Wake-Up Time on Bumble Farm

When the rooster fails to wake up Farmer Faye, chaos unfolds on Bumble Farm! The story features a range of farm animals and their animal sounds and is an excellent way for children to practice reading out loud. With repeated refrains, a fun narrative, and humorous illustrations, the story is perfect for inspiring learning on farm animals.

• Prairie dogs touch their front teeth to identify one another, giving the appearance of kissing. Some scientists even believe that the creatures do this
• Mantis shrimps can punch at 50 miles per hour, an acceleration that’s faster than a .22-caliber bullet!
• Female lions do 90 percent of the hunting, while males protect their pride.
• Wild barn owls eat around four small mammals every night – that’s 1,460 yearly! They usually swallow their food whole before regurgitating bits of fur and bone as an owl pellet.

A Tale of Two Feathers

When two birds find mystery feathers, they realize that some animals come out at night while others are more active during the day. Perfect for teaching about nocturnal and diurnal animals, the story features repeated refrains and alliteration, making it fun to read aloud.

• A narwhal’s tusk is a tooth built inside out. This tooth is almost like a piece of skin with sensory nerve endings.
• The oldest known domesticated dog dates back to 329 BC! Ancient Egyptians revered Saluki dogs and were even mummified after they died. Plus, there are carvings in present-day Iraq resembling a Saluki, which date back to 7000 BC.
• A study by Florida’s Dolphin Communication Project that observed bottlenose dolphins’ feeding habits showed that they turned to their left side 99.44% of the time. As this places the dolphins’ right side and right eye close to the ocean floor as they hunt, it suggests that the creatures have an even higher right-side bias than humans (between 70 and 95% of humans are right-handed).

Bottlenose dolphins

• Farmers can protect cows from being bitten by flies by painting them with zebra-like stripes. The stripes cause a kind of motion camouflage that’s akin to an optical illusion for flies.
• While it’s wildly believed that magpies have a compulsive urge to steal shiny things, they may be nervous about such objects. In one study by Exeter University, magpies picked up a shiny object twice out of 64 tests!

The Messy Magpie

Morris the Magpie thinks he’s lucky when humans drop shiny gifts in the forest. However, they may not be the gifts that he first thought of! Exploring themes like teamwork, recycling, and the impact of litter on wildlife, the story is a fun resource to inspire learning on looking after the environment.

• Sperm whales communicate through clicks called codas. One study of sperm whales in the Caribbean identified codas unique to their regional groups, suggesting that they may identify individuals and family or social groups.
• A grizzly bear’s bite is so strong that it can crush a bowling ball; the creatures have a bite force of over 8,000,000 pascals!

A grizzly bear

• Reindeer’s eyes change color with the Arctic seasons. In the summer, the tapetum lucidum (TL) in a reindeer’s eye is gold to reflect most light directly through the retina. However, by the time winter has come around, the TL has changed to a deep blue, which reflects less light out of the eye.
• A sea lion was the first non-human mammal to demonstrate that it can move to the rhythms of a song. In 2013, Ronan the sea lion moved to Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘Boogie Wonderland’ at the University of California Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Laboratory!
• Starfish eat inside out. To catch their prey, they use tiny suction cups to grab hold of their food; their stomach exits their mouth to digest the food before re-entering the body when they’re done eating!

Starry-Eyed Stan

Stan is the most talented singing starfish in the bay, but will his talent be enough when danger strikes? This underwater story is full of beautiful illustrations of ocean wildlife and explores themes like friendship and teamwork in a way children will find engaging.

• To catch prey, humpback whales work together, swimming in an upward spiral and blowing bubbles underwater, forming a ‘bubble-net’ – a spiral of bubbles that’s difficult for fish to escape!
• In New Zealand, ducks surf waves to catch prey or move through the water more quickly.

A duck

• Wild chimpanzees in Guinea have been observed consuming fermented palm sap, making them tipsy!
• The first thing a caterpillar eats is its eggshell. Once it hatches, the creature consumes the remainder of the protein-rich outer layer of the egg, called the chorion.

The Cautious Caterpillar

Cody the Caterpillar is nervous about becoming a butterfly. She’ll need support from her minibeast friends to embrace her exciting transformation! As well as teaching children about the lifecycle of a butterfly, this story is excellent for encouraging discussions about transitions and changes in life.

• Frogs undergo repeated freeze-thaw cycles without dying. As they’re cold-blooded, their body temperature takes on the temperature of the environment around them. So during their winter hibernation, frogs can freeze over themselves when temperatures drop below freezing.
• A group of ferrets is called a business.
• A 2013 study published in PNAS found that bottlenose dolphins have specific whistles for one another.
• A giraffe’s tongue is black! Scientists think that this is, so they don’t get sunburnt while they eat.

A giraffe

• Bees can beat their wings around 200 times a second, allowing them to move the same amount of air as a pair of more enormous, more slowly beating wings, such as those of a bird.
• Emperor penguins leap into the air while swimming, a move known as ‘porpoising’. While this action coats them in micro air bubbles that help reduce underwater friction, scientists think it’s also a form of play!

The Runaway Iceberg

Gaspar and Rossi find themselves on an unintended adventure when the ice breaks as they float away at sea. They’ll need the support of some extraordinary animal friends to make it home. Fantastic for a topic on polar regions, this story features stunning illustrations throughout to bring the events to life.

• It can take a month for a sloth to digest a single leaf, and most only have a bowel movement once a week!
• Alligators can grow for more than 30 years and often don’t hit their full size until they’re 33!

An alligator

• Snow leopards’ vocal cords are less developed than other large cats, meaning they can’t roar. Instead, they make a sound that resembles a purr, known as a puff.
• Hedgehogs have between 5000 and 7000 spines on their back. They raise and lower them to respond to threatening situations; each spine lasts for about a year before it falls out and is replaced.

Don’t Hog the Hedge!

Hattie, the hedgehog, wants everything ready for her Big Sleep, but she may need the help of some unexpected visitors to discover what makes for a happy hibernation! The autumn story is perfect for teaching children about hibernation.

• Unlike most amphibians, axolotls don’t develop lungs and remain in the water for their lives. As a result, they can rebuild their jaws, spines, and even their brains without scarring, while they can grow to maturity without undergoing metamorphosis.
• Naked mole rats have an incredible resistance to cancer thanks to unique conditions in their bodies that prevent cancer cells from multiplying. As a result, the creatures can live for up to 37 years.
• While rhinos are generally solitary creatures, they spend much time with oxpeckers, also known as ‘tick birds’. Oxpeckers perch on the back of rhinos and live off the parasitic insects in the rhinos’ thick skin. The birds’ loud cries can even alert rhinos of potential danger.

Ronald the Rhino

Ronald the Rhino starts to feel down when he thinks about the other animals in the Javan forest. They all seem to be unique, and he feels inadequate. However, some animal friends are around to help him see how special he is. The rhyming story explores themes like friendship and self-confidence, making it great to inspire discussions.

• Researchers from the University of Guelph found that squirrels take in the orphaned pups of their late family members, which is peculiar considering how solitary and territorial red squirrels are.
• Pangolins dig burrows for sleeping and nesting that contain large circular chambers; some are so big that they can stand up in them.

A pangolin

• African bullfrogs produce mucus membranes that solidify into cocoons to stop their skin from drying out in the heat. The creatures can survive in the cocoons for up to seven years while they wait for rain.
• Cats may be one of the few animals that can’t taste sweet things. However, while they lack the receptor for sweetness, cats can taste something that we humans can’t, for instance, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the compound that supplies the energy in every living cell.

Harold’s Worst Nightmare

Harold lives a pampered life, but when a new kitten arrives in the house, his world is turned upside down! How will he cope? And will he find a way to get along with Muffin, his owners’ new pet? This story is a great way to discuss sibling relationships.

• Kangaroo rats can survive without drinking water, as they get all the moisture they need from seeds in the desert environment.
• Giant anteater’s tongues are two feet long – the longest of any known mammal.
• When a male moth catches the scent of a female moth, he’ll travel miles to find her based solely on the smell.

A moth

• A study by researchers at the University of Northampton found that when cows were separated from their preferred partner, their heart rates increased as a sign of stress.
• When bunnies feel worried, they clench their facial muscles and change their body position.

Formidable Sid

It’s Pet Day in Willow Class, and the children can’t wait to bring their animals into class. However, one pet seems to stand out as they talk about their pets. Read the story to discover if Sid is the violent monster Violet makes him out to be.

• Crocodiles can live to 100.
• Ravens are intelligent enough to play tricks on one another. For example, if one raven knows another is watching it hide its food, it will pretend to put the food in one place but hide it in another. They’ve also been known to push rocks on people to prevent them from climbing to their nests and play dead beside a beaver carcass to scare other ravens away from the food, while they can even imitate human speech.
• Rats laugh when being tickled.
• Tigers have striped skin and fur, and each tiger’s stripes are unique.

A tiger

• Flamingos can only eat with their heads upside down and are one of the few animals that can move their top jaw while eating. Plus, their pink color comes entirely from the pigment in their food!
• A dog’s sense of smell is about 100 000 times stronger than a human’s! They have 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to our six million, while the part of their brain responsible for analyzing smells is 40 times stronger than ours, proportionally speaking. However, dogs have only one-sixth of our number of taste buds.

The Pack of Pompeii

Learn about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD with this imaginative retelling, told from the perspective of three dogs! The story is educational and engaging for a history or volcanoes topic.

• Butterflies have taste receptors in their feet which are 200 times stronger than human taste buds. When they land on plants, they use these sensors to see if the plant is edible.
• Spur-winged geese are poisonous thanks to their diet of blister beetles.
• When vampire bats bite their prey, their saliva functions as an anticoagulant, preventing their victim’s blood from clotting and allowing the blood to flow freely when they feed.

Spur-winged geese

• Once an anaconda has found its prey, it suffocates its victim. Next, it opens its mouth wide, with stretchy ligaments allowing it to swallow its prey whole. It can range from large fish and rodents to caiman (relatives of crocodiles) to jaguars!

Rainforest Calling

Daisy can’t wait to log onto South American webcams and learn about the rainforest. However, she doesn’t expect to find Pedro the potoo trying to get through to the humans destroying his home! Will Daisy be able to help the animals? This story explores pertinent issues like habitat destruction and climate change.

• To ensure their dominance, queen mole rats can produce a substance in their urine that makes other females infertile.
• When dragonflies and damselflies mate, they form a heart with their tails.
• A female peacock is called a peahen.

A peacock

• Cats don’t meow to communicate with one another but rather to get attention from humans.
• Elephants have developed a human-specific alarm call. While the low rumble may be an emotional response to the threat that other elephants pick up on, it’s possible that elephants voluntarily make the calls to warn others about specific dangers.

The Zoo Vet

Many animals are unwell, and the vet is having a busy week. Will he be able to find the proper treatment for a variety of animals? The fun story encourages children to discuss what’s wrong with each patient and is a chance for children to enjoy lots of familiar animals.

• All clownfish are born male. While they can switch their sex, they will only do so to become the dominant female of a group, and this change is irreversible.
• Hartebeest run in zigzag patterns to decade predators.
• Anteaters don’t have teeth, but their long tongues allow them to eat 35,000 ants and termites daily.

An anteater

• A polar bear’s fur isn’t white – it’s see-through! Instead, they have black skin underneath the hollow and transparent hair that allows them to absorb as much heat as possible from the Sun.
• Koalas get their name from an Aboriginal term, ‘ no drink’. Koalas get nearly all their moisture from leaves and rarely drink water

Part of the Party

Karri Koala wants to go to the Mummy and Daughter Disco, but she has two dads. So after calling a meeting to see who else feels left out by the event, she comes up with a way to ensure all her friends and their families can be part of the party! The story is excellent for inspiring discussions about inclusion and diversity.

What is the most incredible animal on the planet?

With millions of species to choose from, it isn’t easy to narrow the list down to a few of the most interesting! However, the list below features ten of the most incredible animals based on appearance, cuteness, and behavior.

• Bearded vulture – This creature’s phoenix-like appearance makes it beautiful.
• Goblin shark – The last representative of sharks that lived around 125 million years ago, the goblin shark can grow up to more than 13 feet in length and has been caught in every central ocean.
• Blobfish – With a density only slightly above that of water, the blobfish has a relatively simple hunting technique, simply floating along and waiting for creatures to wander into its mouth.
• Snow leopard- Perhaps the most beautiful of the big cats, snow leopards are solitary creatures who primarily rest near cliffs and ridges.

A snow leopard

• Narwhal – Often called ‘sea unicorns’, a narwhal’s tusk makes it look like a mythical creature.
• Seahorses – Male seahorses have pouches on their stomach, which the female deposits her eggs in, meaning the male ultimately gives birth!
• Great white shark – This fear-inducing predator can smell blood from three miles away.
• Assassin bugs – Assassin bugs hunt ants before turning their victims’ exoskeletons into outerwear, which they wear to confuse future predators.
• Bengal tigers – The ultimate meat-eaters, Bengal tigers can consume up to 60 pounds of meat in one meal, and whatever they don’t eat, they bury in the ground and eat later.
• Cheetah – The fastest animal in the world, cheetahs can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than three seconds.

A great white shark

What are some weird things animals do?

• The horror frog breaks its bones to produce claws that puncture their way through the frog’s toe pads! It is likely to be a defense mechanism.
• Rats urinate on their food to mark it and ensure it’s safe.

A horror frog

• Sea cucumbers squirt their internal organs out of their bottoms to protect themselves against predators. Eventually, their organs grow back.
• Pandas aren’t fussy about where they sleep and will fall asleep wherever.
• Sloths live in trees, but once a week, they make the slow, tiresome journey to the ground to go to the toilet.

A sloth

Weird animal anatomy facts:

• Fish have four nostrils.
• Deadly box jellyfish have advanced eyes that can create shadows, shapes, and motion.
• When frogs swallow, their eyeballs move inside their mouth to push the food down.
• A tick’s eyes are on its back.
• Sperm whales don’t have upper teeth.

A sperm whale’s skeleton

Amazing animal abilities:

• Bats shoot out high-pitched sound waves into the night and use the echoes to pinpoint the location of their prey.
• With a running start, pumas can leap over 12 meters.

A puma

• Hummingbirds can fly upside down.
• Dung beetles can pull weights 1,141 times heavier than their body weight, making them the strongest animal on the planet!
• The alpine ibex can walk on steep, nearly vertical walls.

An alpine ibex

What is the most random animal?

Pink fairy armadillo

The fairy armadillos are elusive and rarely seen by humans. However, they’re local to central Argentina, and their two large sets of claws that allow them to dig quickly have earned them the nickname ‘sand-swimmers’.

Japanese spider crab

The Japanese spider crab has the largest leg span of any arthropod in the world, reaching up to 3.8 m in length! While the creature weighs around 19 kg, it’s just 15 inches long. It has eight legs and two arms – which it uses for feeding. Each feeding arm is about 1.5 m long.

Dumbo octopus

Dumbo octopuses live at least 4,000 m below the surface, making them the deepest-living genus of all known octopuses. Its ear-like fins have earned it the name ‘Dumbo’, after the elephant character in the Disney film. Dumbo octopuses don’t have an ink sac, as they’re unlikely to encounter predators in the deep sea.

Naked mole-rat

Naked mole rats can move all of their front teeth separately. They don’t drink water; they get hydration from their plant-based diet. A single colony can make tunnels that are 2.5 miles long,

Dugong

Dugongs are herbivorous marine mammals that exist on a diet solely of seagrass. Their closest land relative is the elephant, and you can estimate their age by how many rings they have on their tusks. The creatures communicate with barks, chirps, squeaks, and trills.

Babirusa

Babirusas are found in rainforests of Indonesian islands. While they’re members of the pig family, they differ from normal pigs in several ways: their snouts are less specialized, and they have two-chambered stomachs like sheep and other ruminants. In addition, they’re omnivorous and eat almost anything.

Aye-aye

The aye-aye is a long-fingered lemur that’s local to Madagascar. It has rodent-like teeth that grow perpetually and a specialized thin finger that it uses to pull grubs out of wood. It’s the largest nocturnal primate, and its eyes change color as it ages.

Maned wolf

Maned wolves are found in central and eastern South America, including northern Argentina, South and Central Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Peru. Their thick red coat makes them distinctive, and genetic studies show that they’re neither a fox nor a true wolf; the maned wolf is a distinct species – the only member of its genus.

Creature trivia to share with your friends and family

Why not test friends and family with some of the questions below?

1. What is a group of crows called?
2. Lemurs are only local to one country – what is it?
3. Which breed of dog has the best sense of smell?
4. Which mammal has the most powerful bite in the world?
5. What animals are included in the ‘big five’ in Africa?

Answers

1. A murder of crows
2. Madagascar
3. The bloodhound
4. The Hippopotamus
5. Lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and the cape buffalo

A bloodhound

What animals have no blood?

Flatworms, nematodes, and cnidarians (jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals) don’t have a circulatory system and, therefore, do not have blood.

What are the most intelligent animals?

• Chimpanzees
• Goats
• Elephants
• Dolphins
• Crows
• Bees
• Octopuses

Christianity and Islam are the two largest religions worldwide and share many similarities and differences. Read on to find out more!

People who follow the Islamic faith are called Muslims, and there are around 2 billion Muslims in the

world today.

People who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ are called Christians, and there are around 2.4 billion Christians today.

What are the similarities between Christianity and Islam?

At first, it seems that the two religions are very different, but there are many similarities between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have a similar place of origin – the Middle East. Christians believe Jesus, the son of God, was born in the Middle East in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Muslims believe Islam was founded over 1400 years ago in Mekkah, known today as Saudi Arabia.

Christians and Muslims believe that there is only one God (unlike religions such as Hinduism). Muslims and Christians also believe that all humans are children of God. Both religions are monotheistic – meaning one God. Christians and Muslims believe that the word of their God was revealed to them through prophets; both believe that Jesus was a prophet who performed miracles!

Other similarities between Christianity and Islam are:

• They both believe practicing their religion is good for them because it creates harmony and peace.
• They believe that Satan is real and tries to tempt people away from God and commit sins.
• They believe that paradise/heaven and hell are real literal places.
• Christians and Muslims believe that the body is sacred and should be treated respectfully.
• They also believe that Jesus was born to Mary, a virgin.
• They both believe that family is the foundation of their beliefs, and it dramatically impacts society.
• Muslims and Christians believe that obeying God creates peace and harmony among people and brings blessings in life after death.
• Both faiths believe that Jesus will return from Heaven.
• Both faiths also believe in the afterlife.
• Both religions believe that humans will have a day of judgment and will be judged for the lives they lead on earth. For Christians, it determines whether they will go to Heaven or Hell for the rest of eternity. Muslims, refer to the afterlife as Akhirah – they will stay in their graves until the end of the world when they have their day of judgment. Then, they will come before Allah (God), and if they have lived a good life, they will go to Jannah (Heaven); if they have lived a bad life, they will go to Jahannam (Hell).

What are the differences between Christianity and Islam?

There are differences between the two religions. Here you can find the main differences:

• A key difference is that Christianity is founded on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and those who follow this are called Christians. Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad shares the word of God and the teachings of Islam (Peace Be Upon Him). Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is believed to be the final prophet who taught Allah’s law and revealed the Islamic faith through the angel Gabriel.
• Islam views Jesus as a messiah, sent to guide the children of Israel and a messenger of God, not the son of God. At the same time, Christians believe Jesus to be the messiah of the Hebrew scripture (a religious text) and the son of God. Muslims believe that Allah (God) passes messages down to earth through prophets like Jesus and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and all prophets should be respected but not worshipped. The vital difference here is that Muslims view Jesus as a human prophet and do not believe Jesus is divine.
• Christianity and Islam have different scriptures, another word for a religious text. For example, Muslims follow the Quran, but Christians follow the Bible.
• Religions have differing beliefs about the Holy Spirit. For example, Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is God, but Muslims believe the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel.
• Similarly, Christians believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity; God exists simultaneously as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. In Islam, the plurality of God would be seen as a denial of the belief in one God – Allah.

CVC Words

A CVC word is a single-syllable three-phoneme (sound) word that follows the pattern of consonant sound, vowel sound, and consonant sound. While some are three-letter words, not all CVC words have only three letters. Read through this teaching wiki to learn all about CVC words.

What are CVC words?

CVC words are single-syllable three-phoneme words that follow the pattern of consonant sound, vowel sound, and consonant sound. Learning about CVC words is essential in phonics as it can help kids read, write, and rhyme three-phoneme words.

CVC words help introduce kids to reading by first learning the sounds of the individual letters, digraphs, or trigraphs and blending those three sounds into a whole word. Digraphs are two letters that make one sound. Trigraphs are three letters that make one sound.

Some CVC words may contain four or more letters but only have three phonemes (sounds). Examples of CVC words include:

• pet
• log
• bark
• beep
• shop
• thing
• night

‘Bark’, ‘beep’, and ‘shop’ have four letters but only three sounds; ‘b-ar-k’, ‘b-ee-p’, and ‘sh-o-p’. ‘Thing’ and ‘night’ have five letters but only three sounds: ‘th-i-ng’ and ‘n-igh-t’.

These words are great for introducing younger pupils to phonemic awareness, the ability to hear and manipulate the sound in words.

Children working within Phase 2 or Level 2 will only have been taught the digraphs ‘ck’, ‘ff’, ‘ss’, ‘ll’. Therefore, a suitable CVC word for a child working within Phase 2 or Level 2 could be three single letters or a combination of single letters and digraphs, ‘ck’, ‘ff’, ‘ss’, or ‘ll’.

You could use CVC words: sip, bun, cuff, and mess.

How Can I Teach CVC Words?

Spending time to secure oral blending and segmenting of CVC words is crucial to developing the reading and writing of CVC words. In addition, CVC words will be decodable at different levels or phases depending on which graphemes are used, so CVC words can be used for reading and spelling as new graphemes are introduced.

Teachers can use a few different activities to help facilitate learning and understanding of CVC words. This could include:

• Using sound buttons to support children as they decode and read decodable words.
• Experimenting with replacing the consonants at the beginning and ends of the word to help them become more familiar with rhyming and similar-sounding words.
• Using phoneme frames to support writing CVC words.

What Is Decoding?

Pupils begin to learn about CVC words by ‘decoding’ the words. Decoding is when a pupil sounds out each letter in a word and blends those sounds to make the sound of one three-letter word.

What Is A Word Family?

A word family is a group of words with a joint base with different prefixes and suffixes. For example, in the case of a CVC word, a word family could be a cat, bat, tat, or dot, got, and rot.