Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

Definition: What is a homograph?

• Homographs are two or more words spelled the same but have different meanings and origins.

Some people suggest that homographs also have to sound different and have different pronunciations. The Oxford Guide to Practical Lexicography tries to mitigate this confusion by classifying different types of homographs. For example, a word spelled the same as another but with a different meaning is called a homograph.

How do you identify a homograph?

Remember, homographs are words that can sound different but have the exact spelling. Take a look at these 20 examples of homographs.

• Park – a public play area or to bring a vehicle to a stop and leave it temporarily.
• Bat – a type of sports equipment or an animal.
• Bass – a type of fish or a genre of music.
• Minute – small or a unit of time.
• Crane – a bird or a machine used at construction sites.
• Tear – to rip something or the liquid that flows from the eyes when crying.
• Bow – a weapon for shooting arrows or a formal way of greeting or showing respect.
• Saw – a sharp tool used for cutting hard materials or past tense for the word “see”.
• Pen – an object used for writing or a small area in which animals are kept.
• Lean – thin or to rest against something.
• Skip – a fanciful jump or to miss out on something.
• Close – to be near something or to shut.
• May – you might do something or the month of May.
• Type – how you use a keyboard or a specific class of something.
• Miss – a female title or overlooking.
• Blue – feeling depressed or the color.
• Train – a mode of transport or to coach somebody.
• Fair – a place to enjoy some rides or the act of being reasonable.
• Bag – secure something or a holdall.
• Slip – a fielding position or a fall.

Take a look at these sentences that we can create with homographs:

Cotton candy was popular at the fair as the children enjoyed the rides.

It’s only fair that we all adhere to the rules.

Can you see that the word fair is the homograph here?

Let’s try another couple.

The boys were excited to take the train to see the baseball game.

I need to train to become more skilled at tennis

Our teacher is called Miss. Thomson.

It was the second time she had to miss gym class this week.

What is the difference between Homograph, Homonym, and Homophone?

Homonym – Homographs pronounced the same have their separate classification and are called ‘homonyms’.

Examples of homonyms include the words “bark”, “match”, and “mat.” These are words that can still have different meanings.

Homophone – Homophones are words that share the same pronunciation but have different spellings. The ‘phone’ part in the homophone means sound.

Examples of homophones include the words “write” and “right”, “knight” and “night”, and the terms “see” and “sea.” They sound the same but have very different meanings.

Before looking at the types of words, it’s helpful to go back to what a ‘word’ is. A word is a unit of grammar. It can be selected and moved around relatively independently but can’t easily be split.

Some words can be joined together to make one word. For example, they connect with an apostrophe or a hyphen to create a new adjective.

There are many types of words that your children will learn about in the classroom. Types of words can be described as eight parts of speech in the English language: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. Understanding parts of speech and using the correct English language term.

Why do we need to learn types of words?

It’s also essential that children can correctly identify the different word types when they are analyzing the work of others, whether that is a:

• story
• newspaper article
• poem
• factual report
• play

They will need to be able to use the correct English language terms when discussing why writers have chosen to use certain types of words. For example, an author has used specific adjectives to present a character in a certain way.

Understanding word types can also help pupils improve their writing, as they will be doing so with a greater awareness of the impact of their word choices.

Learning word types is also a vital objective of the national curriculum in the UK. So your child will learn many different types of words to understand, read and write in KS2.

What are the types of words?

There are eight types of words. The English language terms most often used to describe these are ‘word classes’ or ‘parts of speech. These are:

• nouns
• determiners
• pronouns
• verbs
• adjectives
• adverbs
• prepositions

However, some more words fall outside these ‘eight types’.

These are the different types of words in the English language. There are lots of different kinds of words that have a different impact on your pupils’ writing. These can be taught in the classroom to enhance writing to convey tone, description, facts, and emotions. Read on to find out what these words include and mean for your pupils’ writing.

1. Nouns

Nouns are a type of word that function as the name of a specific object or set of things. For example, ‘chair’ is a noun describing an object you sit on. There are also different types of nouns, including collective nouns, compound nouns, plural nouns, common nouns, proper nouns, and abstract nouns.

2. Adjectives

Adjectives are words used to describe a noun to make the writing more descriptive. For example, ‘The family lived in a beautiful cottage’ – here, the adjective ‘beautiful’ is used to create a more descriptive image of the house. An easy way to remember how to use adjectives is that they ‘add’ to the noun.

Example sentence: ‘She chose vibrant yellow shoes to match her coat.’

3. Adverbs

Adverbs are a type of word that modifies an adjective, verb, or another adverb to express how an action is being carried out. They can communicate place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, and degree. For example, quickly, gently, then, there. The easiest way to consciously incorporate adverbs into our writing is to ask when, where, and how an action or event occurs.

4. Verbs

Verbs are also often described as action words. Verbs can be used to convey an action that’s doing something. For example, the term ‘jumping’ or ‘running’. Alternatively, a verb can be used to describe an occurrence. For example, the word ‘became’ in the sentence ‘the caterpillar became a butterfly.

Example sentence: ‘The student ran to the bus stop because he was late for school.’

5. Connectives

Connectives can be defined as ‘connecting’ two clauses in a sentence. Connectives can be conjunctions (but, when, because) or connecting adverbs (however, then, therefore).

Example sentence: ‘The young girl brought me a very long letter from the teacher, and then she quickly disappeared.’

6. Pronouns

Pronouns are a special kind of noun. They’re used to reference a person rather than an object or place. Pronouns are often used in writing to identify a person talking to them or being talked about. They also help to reduce repetition, as we don’t have to refer to the person by name in every sentence.

For example, she, it, he, they, ze, and this.

Example sentence: ‘Ted is my friend. He is coming over later.’

7. Preposition

Prepositions are a kind of word usually used in front of nouns or pronouns. They show the relationship between the noun or pronoun and other terms in a sentence and often indicate a position, location, direction, or time.

Example sentence: An example of a preposition is ‘around’ that can be used in a sentence such as ‘There was a white fence around the house.’

8. Determiner

A determiner is a type of word that introduces a noun. The determiner is always placed in front of the noun. For example, ‘These apples are good.’

9. Modal verb

Modal verbs indicate likelihood, ability, permission, or obligation. These types of verbs indicate possibilities and can be used to direct what could or should happen in a story. For example, the modal verb ‘should’ can be used in the sentence ‘The monster should go away.’

What type of word is ‘this’?

The word ‘this’ can be used in a variety of different ways and different contexts. Depending on the context, it can be used as an adjective, a definite article, a pronoun, or an adverb. So it’s a versatile word that we use all the time.

So when we answer the question ‘what type of word is ‘this’?’, it’s tricky to give one answer. It can’t be pinned down to one type of word.

Here’s how it can be used as different types of words.

1. Adjective

The word ‘this’ can be called an adjective when it describes a noun. It’s most commonly used as an adjective to emphasize the noun being referred to in the sentence.

Example: This bag is mine.

2. Definite Article

‘This’ can be referred to as a definite article when it’s used to identify or indicate a specific noun that the audience knows about already.

Example: I have to take this call.

3. Pronoun

When ‘this’ substitutes a particular thing, such as another pronoun, it can be called a pronoun.

Example: Is this your idea?

The same sentence could be written with the pronoun ‘it’. Is it your idea? ‘This’ takes the place of the pronoun.

4. Adverb

‘This’ functions as an adverb describing an adjective, a verb, or another adverb.

Example: I didn’t know you could get dogs this small.

What about collocations?

Collocation is a fancy way of saying words that go together. This word pair can often only make sense in a particular order. For example, we would usually say ‘back and forth instead of ‘forth and back. It sounds silly the other way around. These words that go together are often picked up from a young age and continue to do so as we grow up; you’ve probably said these without even realizing it!

Here are some examples of words that go together:

• Bed and breakfast
• Knife and fork
• Pen and pencil
• Nice and easy
• Shoes and socks
• Fun and games
• Wait and see
• Pots and pans
• Salt and pepper
• Cup and saucer
• Read and write

What is Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is a day that focuses on celebrating and honoring mothers and maternal figures for all they do. It’s a day that asks people to show gratitude to maternal figures for their effect on our personal lives and work in society.

This celebration changes worldwide depending on which country you are in. But all focus on demonstrating love and appreciation for mothers.

Why are there different dates for Mother’s Day around the world?

Mother’s Day worldwide falls on different dates at different times of the year. Some of them line up, following the official Mother’s Day date set by the United Nations of the second Sunday in May. Others have their traditional holidays and celebrations, also called Mother’s Day.

Many countries and cultures have their traditions to celebrate essential people like mothers. People might refer to these celebrations as ‘Mother’s Day’ worldwide, even if it has different cultural background. But, of course, you’ll find a wealth of traditions relating to these events, too, like International Women’s Day.

Dates of Mother’s Day Around the World:

Date

Country

Second Sunday of February

Norway

8th March

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Vietnam

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Nigeria, United Kingdom

21st March

Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

10th May

Mexico, El Salvador, Guatamala

Second Sunday of May

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia

South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad, and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay, Vietnam, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

26th May

Poland

30th May

Nicaragua

Last Sunday of May

Algeria, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Sweden, Tunisia

12th August

Thailand

15th October

Malawi

How do different countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day?

Most places celebrate Mother’s Day with similar traditions of giving cards, flowers, and gifts to mothers or maternal figures that people want to honor. However, some places and cultures celebrate in different ways with their popular traditions and customs.

Here’s a list of just a few different places that celebrate Mother’s Day and how they put their stamp on the occasion.

United Kingdom

In the UK, Mother’s Day occurs on the same day as the traditional Christian day, Mothering Sunday. It happens on the fourth Sunday during the Christian period of Lent. It used to be a day for people to go and visit the church where they were baptized or their regular church as a child, called their mother church. Mother’s Day date changes every year, even though it is no longer a religious celebration in the mainstream.

Nowadays, Mother’s Day is about celebrating mums and maternal figures who we want to show our gratitude and love for. Often people will send flowers, cards and children will hand make gifts and keepsakes to give their mum as a surprise.

USA

America celebrates Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May, the most popular day worldwide. The modern Mother’s Day, as many people know it originated in America by Anna Jarvis in 1907. She campaigned for a day to celebrate mothers as a tribute to her mother, who passed away in 1905. Her campaign continued until 1911, when Mother’s Day became a recognized holiday across every state in the USA.

Mother’s Day grew in popularity. Soon card companies created greeting cards, and the tradition of buying flowers and presents became a norm. Carnation flowers also became particularly associated with Mother’s Day, as they were Anna Jarvis’ mother’s favorite flower. Anna Jarvis objected to this change, believing that the holiday was becoming more about profit than sentimentality. After working on getting Mother’s Day recognized, she campaigned against this celebration for the rest of her life.

Australia

Mother’s Day in Australia is also celebrated on the second Sunday in May and began being celebrated in 1924. The tradition of gift-giving on Mother’s Day is said to have been started in Australia by Janet Heyden. In the aftermath of World War 1, there were a great many mothers who had lost their husbands and sons. So Janet Heyden began a campaign to give charitable gifts to them to make sure they still felt the love they deserved. It was a hit, and now gift-giving is a staple tradition for Mother’s Day worldwide.

Carnations, however, are less prevalent in Australia as they don’t flower during autumn. So, chrysanthemums are the more traditional Mother’s Day flower for Australians.

Poland

In Poland, Mother’s Day – or Dzień Matki – is always celebrated on the 26th of May every year, not changing date like many other countries. However, it isn’t treated as a public holiday.

Traditional celebrations also include gift and card making and giving. Children will make, decorate and write laurki, which are hand-made cards with paper flowers.

Mexico

Día de las Madres is celebrated on the 10th of May every year in Mexico. It’s a huge event to celebrate mothers and honor them with the love they deserve. Families will come together to celebrate with music, food, and flowers.

People might hire bands and play songs to serenade their mothers, even waking them up with a song to start the day. One of the most famous music choices is Las Mañanitas, sung for birthday celebrations.

The evenings are full of food, bringing plenty of dishes to serve together or going out to eat. It’s the busiest day of the year for restaurants in Mexico!

Nicaragua

In Nicaragua, Mother’s Day is celebrated each year on May 30th. The day is all about ensuring Nicaraguan mums get the recognition they deserve, with many schools and businesses closing for the day to allow families to come together and celebrate their wonderful mums, grandmothers, aunts, and any other motherly figures!

Thailand

In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 12th of August as this is the birthday of their queen – Queen Sirikit. It was first celebrated in 1976, as Queen Sirikit is viewed as the mother of her country. The day celebrates her work to support the people of her country who are in need but also honors mothers all over the country. Because of this, charity is a big part of celebrations. Children will be involved in donating to monks and various charitable deeds to help show their gratitude.

It’s treated as a national holiday, which might include parades, fireworks, and celebrations. In addition, you’ll often see flag decorations and pictures of Queen Sirikit. It’s also traditional for children to gift their mother with jasmine flowers, symbolizing the purity of a mother’s love.

Ethiopia

Unlike other celebrations for Mother’s Day worldwide, in Ethiopia, it lasts for three whole days. Taking place at the end of the rainy season in the autumn, it can happen in October or November, changing with the weather each year. The celebration of Antrosht celebrates mothers in communities and Mother Earth and all that we get from our planet.

It’s celebrated with three days of meals, songs, and dancing.

Malawi

In Malawi, Mother’s Day takes place on the 15th of October every year, and it’s treated as a national holiday. This day is also World Rural Women’s Day and is often commemorated by a public speech by the president about the importance of mothers.

Japan

In Japan, Mother’s Day was initially celebrated on the 6th of March as this was the birthday of Empress Kōjun. However, in 1949 it was changed to the second Sunday in May, aligning with the most common date for Mother’s Day worldwide.

Red carnations are the most popular flower to give on Mother’s Day in Japan.

Russia

In Russia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on two dates across the year! It can be celebrated alongside International Women’s Day on the 8th of March and the last Sunday in November.

March 8th has a long history as a day for activism, kickstarting impactful revolutions in the early 20th century. Women-led protests have had a significant impact on the social and political landscape in Russia and countries across the world. Mother’s Day is a day for celebrating the effects of mothers and maternal figures on our lives and the culture around us. It’s a day for highlighting important issues which affect everyone, regardless of gender.

The Origins of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated in a variety of ways around the world. Although many cultures may celebrate the same holiday, how it’s integrated into society and how it’s viewed will be altered through each country’s cultural lens. However, this difference in celebration may also be because of how the holiday originated in each society, which is different for each country.

In past societies, such as Ancient Greece and Rome, festivals celebrated and honored Rhea and Cybele, the mother goddesses. Modern iterations of holidays to celebrate motherhood are most notably found in the Christian celebration of “Mothering Sunday.” It was formerly a significant tradition in the United Kingdom and certain parts of Europe, but it eventually faded in popularity over time. However, it was brought back to popularity when it was merged with the American Mother’s Day holiday in the mid-20th century.

The origins of Mother’s Day in America are linked to Anna Jarvis, who is seen as the creator of the modern Mother’s Day holiday. Initially, her mother put together a women’s group to promote health and friendship. Then, following her mother’s death in 1907, Jarvis held a memorial service at her mother’s church. However, this celebration didn’t stop at this church, and within five years, it had become a popular holiday until, in 1914, President Wilson made it a national holiday. This holiday is celebrated by wearing a pink carnation as a tribute to one’s maternal figure. Over time, sending gifts and cards was incorporated, as was celebrating a wider variety of women in the family, such as grandmothers and aunts.

However, due to the mass commercialization of this holiday, Jarvis spent the latter years of her life attempting to abolish the holiday.

In Australia, the holiday was first celebrated in 1924. A Sydney woman, Janet Heyden, frequented a hospital, and there she discovered many elderly, lonely mothers. Heyden sought to help them and gift them with tokens of thanks and celebration of their role as mothers. To do this, Heyden invited various schools and businesses to donate gifts to these women. It was a sensitive issue that many agreed to help with as many of these women had lost their sons and husbands in World War I or, as a consequence of the war, had never been a wife or mothers.

Because of the actions of Janet Heyden, Mother’s Day is typically celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Although it’s not recognized as an official holiday, many still celebrate it with their maternal figures.

What does ascending order mean?

In maths, ascending order means placing the smallest to largest numbers from left to the right.

It can also mean arranging letters or words alphabetically from A to Z.

Ascending means going up, so ascending order means the numbers are going up. So it is a way of ordering numbers.

Children can imagine what ascending order means by thinking about climbing a staircase. The first step is number 1, and the steps get higher just as the number of steps rises. So when arranging numbers in ascending order, they can think about which order they would go in if they were on a staircase.

A number line is a great visual aid to help children understand ascending order.

How to arrange numbers in ascending order

To arrange numbers in any order, we need to compare them. Then, we can order them.

When children start learning how to order numbers, it can be helpful to have countered with the numbers on them so they can move them around.

Integers

• Count the number of digits that there are in each number.
• The number with the least digits is the smallest, so you can write it first.
• The number with the most digits is the most significant, so it goes last.
• If numbers have the same amount of digits, start by comparing the digit on the left (in the thousands, hundreds, or tens column).
• Then, keep moving across the number from left to right to compare the digits. Keep writing them down from smallest to biggest.
• Continue until no numbers are left, and they have all been ordered.

Negative numbers

It might seem a little confusing at first glance, but arranging negative numbers in ascending order isn’t that different from placing positive numbers.

The higher the number after the negative sign, the smaller the value of the number. So, for example, -73 is smaller than -5.

If you arranged them in ascending order, those two numbers would read like this: -73, -5.

Fractions

Ordering fractions into ascending order is easy. The fraction with the smaller numerator goes first for fractions with the same denominator. When fractions have the same numerator, the ones with the largest denominator are the smallest.

When fractions have the same numerator, the fraction with the higher denominator is the smallest. The higher the denominator, the smaller the parts of the whole. For example, ⅕ is smaller than ½. You can help children to understand this concept by looking at a fractions wall.

To order fractions with different numerators and denominators, you must convert them to have the same common denominator. Then you can compare and order them.

Decimals

First, see if there is a whole number as part of the decimal. The number with the smallest whole number is the smallest.

If the whole number is the same, compare the decimal parts after the decimal point just as you would compare whole numbers.

What is an example of ascending order?

Let’s say you have these numbers: 87, 3, 47, 150, 1743, 574.

You first need to look for the shortest number to order those numbers. This will be the smallest. In this case, the smallest number is 3.

Then, you need to look for the biggest number, the longest number. In this case, that is 1743.

Then, you need to find the following smallest number. You can see that it is either 47 or 87 because those numbers are the shortest from the ones remaining on the list. 47 is smaller than 87, so our list looks like this: 3, 47, 87, X, X, 1743.

Then we have two numbers remaining. These are 150 and 574. Looking at the digit in the hundreds column shows us that 150 is smaller than 574. It means that we can slot them into the list correctly.

The final list in ascending order is 3, 47, 87, 150, 574, 1743.

What does descending order mean?

Descending order means the opposite of ascending order. It means arranging numbers to go from the largest to the smallest. Descending means “going down”, so descending order means that the numbers are going down.

Children can think about going down a staircase to conceptualize descending order.

The process for arranging numbers in descending order is the same as placing them in ascending order, except that the smallest number goes on the right-hand side, and the largest number goes on the left-hand side.

Base 10

Base 10 refers to the place value number system that uses decimal numbers and is commonly used worldwide. It is the basis of a place value number system called the decimal or denary system.

What is base-10?

Have you used numbers 0 – 9 to count? Then without even realizing it, you’ve used base-10!

Base 10 is a method of assigning a place value to numbers. It’s also known as the place value number system or decimal system, as the numerical value of a number relies on where the decimal point sits. In base 10, each digit in a place of a number can have an integer value ranging from 0 to 9. This system uses ten as its base number, which is why it is called the base-10 system. Base-10 blocks help children experiment with essential addition and subtraction within the realms of base-10.

Base 10 describes how much value each digit has in a whole number.

Each number = 10x the value to its right. For example:

345,862.127

Within this large number, each digit has a value of:

3 has a place value of 300,000 (three hundred thousand)

4 has a value of 40,000 (forty thousand)

5 has a value of 5,000 (five thousand)

8 has a value of 800 (eight hundred)

6 has a value of 60 (sixty)

2 has a value of 2 (two)

1 has a value of 1/10th (one-tenth)

2 has a value of 2/100th (two one-hundredths)

5 has a value of 5/1000th (five one-thousandths)

Why do we use base-10?

Numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9 are the digits before 10, a number with more than one digit to define it. Using extra digits at the end of a number represents how many times we have run out of that particular digit. It is known as the place value number system.

Numbers that are bigger than 1 and are on the left side of a decimal point will fit into the following place values:

• Ones (1).
• Tens (10).
• Hundreds (100).
• Thousands (1000).
• Ten thousand (10,000).
• Hundred thousand etc. (100,000).

If they are to the right of a decimal point, the place value appears differently:

• Tenths (10th).
• Hundredths (100th).
• Thousandths (1000th).
• Ten Thousandths (10,000th).
• Hundred thousandths etc. (100,000th).

The creation of base-10:

The use of Base-10 goes back to ancient civilizations. 10 was the best number to use as a base for counting, as humans have ten fingers. Counting using fingers has been a method of simplifying counting for thousands and thousands of years. In Ancient Egypt, a decimal system was prominent. Still, the Ancient Greeks and Romans took this knowledge and developed it into a base-5 system, which allowed mathematicians to count using only one hand.

Other countries previously used base-20 (using all fingers and toes to count). It is where base-10 developed and why it’s taught globally to help

Compound Sentence

A compound sentence is a phrase we use in English when connecting two clauses to create a complex sentence.

What is a compound sentence?

To answer ‘what is a compound sentence’, we can examine how to construct one. A compound sentence comprises two independent clauses (clauses that make sense on their own), and a coordinating conjunction will connect these clauses.

Most of the time, a compound sentence is used to join two related sentences together into a single idea. Using a compound sentence can help the writer to bring complex ideas together and make your writing smoother.

How do you make a compound sentence?

Now that we have established a compound sentence, we can look at how to make one when writing. Firstly, we need two independent clauses. For example:

• I baked cookies.
• I baked cupcakes.

These two clauses make perfect sense on their own. Although the ideas presented in them are also related to each other (they are both about baking). We can connect them using a coordinating conjunction to make a compound sentence. For example:

• I baked cookies, and I baked cupcakes.

You may have noticed that when you read these two examples, the second example (the compound sentence) flows more smoothly, as you don’t pause for the full stop! That’s how compound sentences can help writing at a faster pace.

Examples of Compound Sentences

As we have covered, we require a coordinating conjunction to connect two independent clauses and create a compound sentence. Let’s look at a few examples of compound sentences using different coordinating conjunctions.

• I’m going to the shop, for I have run out of milk.
• I like swimming, and I enjoy running.
• I have never been to France, nor have I been to Australia.
• She doesn’t like apples, but she loves bananas.
• Eat up your dinner, or you won’t have any pudding.
• He has a dog, yet he wants a cat too.
• It’s my friend’s birthday soon, so I’ll get them a present.

Conjunctions in compound sentences

Conjunctions are one of the essential parts of compound sentences. They’re needed to bring the independent clauses together and glue compound sentences. So, a solid understanding of conjunctions in compound sentences is definitely in order!

What are conjunctions?

Conjunctions are connecting words that bring together two or more clauses. They often show the relation between the two clauses of ideas, for example, showing one to be a result of the other or despising the other. They’re a fundamental building brick in any language. Without them, we would only talk in lots of short sentences, which would sound silly!

Examples of conjunctions in compound sentences

Next time you build a compound sentence, check out some of the conjunctions you could use to insert them.

And

Therefore

however

but

yet

although

Despite

For

either/or

neither/nor

in case

due to

by the time

in as much

until

since

because

supposing

provided that

When

furthermore

accordingly

meanwhile

subsequently

As you can see, the different conjunctions point to other links between the two clauses. The conjunction in a compound sentence is a simple and vital way to add meaning to your speech or writing.

Common Compound Sentence Mistakes

The most common mistake children (and adults!) make when writing compound sentences is accidentally creating a comma splice.

A comma splice is when two independent clauses are connected with a comma independently rather than coordinating conjunction.

Here’s an example of a comma splice:

• I went to the park today; it was loads of fun

The comma between the two clauses should be changed to a coordinating conjunction or a full stop to split them into two sentences.

• I went to the park today, and it was loads of fun.
• I went to the park today. It was loads of fun.

To avoid making comma splices, think about whether you could replace the comma with a complete stop and have the two sentences make sense. If so, something needs to change!

National Animal of the USA

The national bird of the USA is the bald eagle, and the national mammal of the USA is the American bison. So get ready to explore these critical animal symbols of the United States!

A Tale of Two Creatures: National Animals of the USA

What animal represents the US?

Did you know that the United States has two national animals to its name?

These are the bald eagle and the American bison. They were chosen as the national bird and the national mammal, respectively.

Here you can learn about these two creatures and why they were picked to represent the spirit of the nation. It’s excellent for exploring the history of the United States in social studies or finding out information about two all-American creatures.

What will children learn about the national animals of the USA?

Keep reading to find out answers to the following questions:

• When was the bald eagle chosen as the national bird of the USA?
• When did the American bison become a national animal?
• What do the national animals symbolize?
• What are fun facts about the bald eagle and the American bison?
• Where can I find teaching resources on the national animals of the USA?

The Bald Eagle – National Bird of the United States

When was the bald eagle chosen as the national bird of the USA?

The bald eagle was selected as the national bird of the USA back in 1782 when America’s independence was new, exciting, and on everyone’s minds.

It was placed on the Great Seal, used for government institutions, official documents, and the president’s flag, to name just a few places where you can see the bald eagle symbol in action. It’s one of the leading national symbols of the country, if not the main one.

Once hunted into near-extinction by farmers and fishermen, the bald eagle was under official government protection by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which came into effect in 1940.

It prevented the extinction of the bald eagles, preserving them as our national emblem and as an essential part of wildlife in North America!

What does the bald eagle symbolize?

The bald eagle symbolizes strength and freedom, not just of the United States as a nation but of the American people.

Eagles, in general, feature as a national symbol of many countries. They are often chosen because they represent strength, courage, freedom, and immortality – to name just a few.

The bald eagle is especially significant because it is found only in North America. It makes it the perfect animal to represent the United States!

What are five fun facts about the bald eagle symbol?

1. Bald eagles were once endangered, but because of laws passed to conserve them and ban pesticides that harmed them, they’ve made a serious comeback.
2. Bald eagles can live up to 35 years in the wild and up to 50 in captivity.
3. Here’s a love story for the ages: bald eagles mate for life, with both the mother and the father taking care of the young chicks.
4. Bald eagles are only found on the continent of North America. They can be found up in Alaska and down in Mexico.
5. The wingspan of a bald eagle is between 5 ft 11 in and 7 ft 7 in. That’s longer than the height of the average American!

The American Bison – National Mammal of the USA

When did the American bison become a national animal?

The National Bison Legacy Act, which selected the bison as our national mammal, was passed on May 9, 2016.

It means that it’s a relatively new development. For example, the bald eagle has been the national bird since 1782, so the bison has a long way to go before it becomes the go-to answer for, “What is the national animal of the USA?”

What does the American bison symbolize?

As migratory beasts, bison are said to represent freedom. They travel widely across the United States, grazing as they go. In Yellowstone, bison can travel up to 1,000 miles, leaving and returning to fertile lands with excellent greens.

They also symbolize strength and might. Bison are terrifyingly strong creatures – you certainly don’t want to make one of these gentle giants angry.

Ultimately, they’re viewed as a symbol of the self-determination of the American people, which is why they’ve been chosen as the national mammal of the United States.

What are five fun facts about American bison?

1. In the 1800s, American settlers hunted the bison and massively depleted their numbers. As a result, the bison nearly went extinct!
2. Bison are commonly called “buffalo,” but they’re not buffalo! The only buffalo species live in Africa and Asia.
3. Bison can eat 30 pounds of prairie grass every day. As ruminants, their digestive systems are specially adapted to digesting it.
4. Bison is officially the largest mammal in North America, weighing up to 2,000 pounds (for bulls) or 1,000 pounds (for cows).
5. President Theodore Roosevelt once hunted bison, but he contributed to the movement to conserve and preserve this essential American species. What a turnaround!

More National Symbols of the USA

Anthem: “The Star-Spangled Banner”

Floral Emblem: Rose

Tree: Oaktree

Motto: “In God we trust.”

Flag: The American flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, among other names.

Mind Map

A mind map is a visual diagram that organizes data or information around a single concept or topic. It is a great memorization tool and useful for revision.

A mind map is hierarchical, meaning information is organized based on importance. The main topic is usually in the center of the mind map, with links or branches to associated sub-topics and then further branches, or twigs, to ideas, themes, images, and more. A completed mind map will show the relationships and connections between these sets of information and how they form part of a whole concept.

Mind maps are helpful, as they can be drawn by hand and used as a more visual form of note-taking. For example, a type of spider diagram, a mind map, can be color coordinated and include images, drawings, and charts to help aid learning and memory. Mind maps are great for different types of learners and can be used across all subjects.

You can easily add information to your mind map without worrying about the order in which you add it. Add another branch or twig as necessary. You can organize information however you like and try out many different minds maps styles to find one that works best for you.

How to make a mind map

1. Write your topic or theme in the center of the page
2. Think of the sub-topics you want to add and start adding branches to these from the central topic
3. Add twigs to sub-topics as you think of more ideas and relevant information

Here are some things to remember

• Use short phrases or single words where possible. It will help you to recall information more easily
• Add colors, images, diagrams, and more to help you remember and revise certain information
• Get creative! Using a mind map can help you with note-taking, revision, and learning new concepts

What is the Life Cycle of a Frog?

Frogs can live in water and on land, making them amphibians. Before they become adult frogs, they go through a series of life stages, all of which happen underwater. The life cycle of a frog can appear complex for kids. However, we can break it down into four stages.

What are the four stages of the frog cycle?

Stage 1: Egg

Eggs are laid in a group in the water by the frog. These then hatch into tadpoles. A female frog can lay up to 4,000 eggs at any one time! These eggs float on the water in ponds, lakes, and rivers and look like a large mass of jelly. These eggs are known as frogspawn and will hatch into tadpoles.

Stage 2: Tadpole

When the eggs hatch, tadpoles emerge. These are the larvae of the frog. They don’t move very much for the first two weeks after emerging and will spend time absorbing the remaining yolk from their egg for nutrients.

The tadpole then spends time eating and growing. When tadpoles are young, they look much more like fish than frogs. They also have gills to allow them to breathe underwater. Tadpoles feed on algae and other plant life in the water to give them energy.

As the tadpole grows, hind limbs emerge like tiny frogs with tails. They also develop lungs to breathe out of the water while on land.

Stage 3: Young Frog

The juvenile frog grows front legs, and its tail gradually becomes shorter until it is no longer there. It is because there are nutrients within its tail that it absorbs as food. This young froglet is then ready to jump out of the water to experience life on land.

Stage 4: Adult Frog

As the frog develops into an adult, it will eat insects rather than vegetation. It can take up to four years before the frog becomes fully mature. Once it is, the frog can then lay eggs or fertilize them, and the life cycle of a frog can start all over again!

Our beautifully illustrated Frog Life Cycle Posters can adorn your classroom to remind your children of the importance of each stage.

What is frogspawn?

The eggs that frogs lay are called frog spawn. Frogspawn looks like a large clump of jelly. However, it is, in fact, a collection of thousands of frog eggs stuck together. Each egg has a tiny tadpole embryo surrounded by protective jelly that keeps the tadpole safe.

When the frogspawn is laid by the female frog, it will sit partially submerged in the pond water. The tadpoles inside each egg will slowly eat the jelly surrounding them and build their strength. Eventually, once all the jellies are eaten, the tadpoles will hatch.

A frog’s early life is complicated; only 10 of the 4,000 eggs will become adult frogs. It is because most of the frogspawn and tadpoles are often eaten by predators such as birds, fish, and newts.

How can I help take care of tadpoles?

Tadpoles have a high mortality rate, so many don’t grow into fully-fledged frogs. Threats to tadpoles include predators, such as birds, fish, mammals, and turtles, and a lack of oxygen in their water supply. Some scientists claim that tadpoles have a 4% chance of survival, meaning just four tadpoles in every 100 become adult frogs. Scary stuff, right?

Luckily, there are things we can do, as nature lovers, to give the humble tadpole a greater chance of survival. These activities are a great way to introduce young children to the wonders of nature. Why not try them out with your family this weekend?

Add rocks and oxygenating plants to your pond. Rocks provide tadpoles with much-needed shelter from predators, and oxygenating plants improve the quality of their water source. Arrowhead, eelgrass, fanwort, and water sprite are the best oxygenating plants.

Plant a tree near your water source. Ever seen a pond full of green water? That’s algae, which thrives in warm and sunny conditions. Unfortunately, the algae suck up all the oxygen, leaving none for other inhabitants, like tadpoles and frogs. To reduce the algae levels in your pond, plant a tree or shrub next to it to keep the water shaded and cool in the warmer months.

Feed them. Tadpoles feed on dead insects, vegetation, and algae in the wild. You can supplement their natural diet with some of these items: boiled spinach, fish food, boiled eggs, flies, and crickets.

Build an exit ramp. When the tadpoles’ limbs develop, they’ll need a way to get out of the water – a frog freeway, if you will. You can use plants, rocks, or bits of wood to create yours.

Something to bear in mind. Many animals rely on tadpoles to sustain them during the spring. It may seem cruel, but they’re a vital food source for birds, snakes, hedgehogs, newts, and other tadpoles! One main reason frogs lay so many eggs is that they know only a handful will survive. So, even though it’s not great news for the tadpoles, they play a significant role in their ecosystem, and we should be careful not to disrupt this natural balance too much.

To explore the wonderful world of frogs, why not go to a local pond and see whether you can see any frogspawn or tadpoles? It can be the perfect introduction to the life cycle of a frog, and you will get to see these amazing amphibians in their natural habitat!

Getting outdoors can be a great break from the classroom and make learning more meaningful. Seeing a frog in the wild, catching insects, and laying eggs is much more powerful than reading about them in books. Create a simple nature checklist to accompany your trip outside. Can your children spot frogspawn, a froglet, a lily pad, algae, insects, and other flora and fauna while on your mini field trip? Once you have hooked your budding naturalists, they will be eager to learn more about frogs!

Rectangle

A rectangle is a 2D shape that has four sides, four corners, and four right angles. Opposite sides of a rectangle shape are the same length, with one pair being longer than the other. If a rectangle’s sides were the same size, it would be known as a square.

What is a Rectangle?

A rectangle is a 2D shape that has four sides, four corners, and four right angles. Opposite sides of a rectangle shape are the same length, with one pair being longer than the other. If a rectangle’s sides were the same size, it would be known as a square.

The pairs of opposite sides are parallel to one another, which means that rectangles are also a type of parallelogram.

The word “rectangle” comes from the Latin word “rect,” which means “right,” and the Latin word “angulus,” which means “angle.” From those two words, we get “rectangle.” Each corner of a rectangle shape has a right angle of 90º.

A rectangle has two diagonals equal in length and intersects in the middle.

A rectangle is oblong. It has two pairs of parallel sides and four right angles.

A rectangle can also be known as an equiangular quadrilateral. It is because a rectangle is a quadrilateral shape (4-sided) with equal parallel sides, and all four corners have angles that are 90º. Because all the angles are 90º, a rectangle shape can also be called an equiangular quadrilateral.

Rectangle shapes are all around us. For instance, TVs, tablets, envelopes, pillows, towels, exercise books, mobile phones, and measuring rulers can all be rectangle shape.

Can you get children to think of rectangular things they might see daily?

Calculate the perimeter of a rectangle

Calculate the perimeter of a rectangle shape by adding the length and width before multiplying the sum of those two measurements by 2.

Calculate the area of a rectangle

You can calculate the area of a rectangle shape if you know its length and width. Then, multiply the length by the width to get the area.

Using the blue rectangle in the example above, this is the sum to work out the area:

3cm× 4 cm = 12 cm²

Remember to put a small 2 above the cm part to show the area of a shape.

Is a square a rectangle?

It is a question that will always come up or get asked. Is a square a rectangle? Luckily it’s got a pretty easy answer. Yes! A square is a rectangle, by definition. To figure this out, you must look at each shape’s definitions.

A square is a shape that has four equal-length sides and four 90-degree right angles. A rectangle is a shape with four straight sides and four right angles. That means that, by definition, a square can be classed as a rectangle. However, a rectangle cannot be classed as a square.

What is a Syllable?

Syllable

What is a syllable in English? A syllable is a unit of spoken language that forms an entire word or parts of words.

What is a syllable in English? – Examples:

Below are some examples of words with different numbers of syllables:

• ‘Tie’ has one syllable.
• ‘Rescue’ has two syllables – Res + cue
• ‘Alphabet’ has three syllables – Al + pha + bet
• ‘Activity’ has four syllables – Ac + tiv + i + ty
• ‘Electricity’ has five syllables – E + lec + tri + ci + ty

A word with only one syllable can be called monosyllabic. There are names for other syllable amounts in words, too: disyllabic for two, trisyllabic for three, and quadrisyllabic for four. Or, you can refer to them as polysyllabic if they have more than one!

An important thing to note is that the length of the word doesn’t affect the number of syllables it has. Instead, it’s all about the number of vowel sounds.

What are the six types of syllables?

Next up in our journey of learning ‘what is a syllable in English?’, we’ll learn about the different kinds of syllables. While there are two main types of syllables, closed and open, there can also be split into six other classes. Let’s learn a bit about what these are:

1) Closed Syllable

A closed syllable is a word unit with a single vowel that ends with a consonant. These have short sounds such as bat, plant, shop, and rabbit.

2) Open Syllable

An open syllable is a word unit that ends with a single vowel, such as go, me, you, and potato.

There are more types of syllables that you might come across in more advanced grammar, including:

• Magic ‘e’ or vowel-consonant -e;
• R-controlled syllables;
• Diphthong (vowel team);
• And consonant ‘le.’

3) Vowel-consonant-e Syllable (VCE)

These syllables end in a final silent ‘e’ (hence why they’ve nicknamed magic ‘e’ syllables) with a consonant just before the silent ‘e.’ The silent ‘e’ makes the vowel before the consonant have a long sound. Here are some examples:

• line
• cute
• mine
• pine
• mute
• home

This syllable is usually taught after children are familiar with short and long sounds and closed and open syllables. So here’s a teaching tip: to transition from closed syllables to VCE words, try adding a silent ‘E’ to CVC words. For example, ‘hat’ becomes ‘hate,’ and ‘tap’ becomes ‘tape.’

4) R-controlled Syllable (VR)

In r-controlled syllable words, there’s always a vowel followed by an ‘r.’ The ‘r’ gives the word a unique sound. Examples of VR words:

• her
• fur
• ear
• for
• purr

This kind of syllable is taught after open, closed, and VCE syllables.

5) Diphthong (vowel team) Syllable

A diphthong syllable usually has two vowels next to each other which are pronounced together, which is why they’re dubbed ‘vowel teams’ – the vowels work together as a syllable. The vowel combinations are typical:

• ai
• ay
• ow
• oe
• ie
• ee
• oi
• ea
• oa

Here are examples of words with diphthong syllables:

• tail;
• play;
• grow;
• oboe;
• eight;
• meet;
• beat;

For example, many words have the vowel combination ‘io’ in them, such as ‘lion’. With these vowel combinations, you split the syllable between ‘i’ and ‘o’ so that the word has two syllables. These syllables are still known as vowel teams.

6) Consonant ‘le’ Syllable

These syllables have no vowel sound – the silent ‘e’ at the end of the syllable works as the only vowel. You only pronounce the consonant and the ‘l’. Examples of words with the ‘le’ syllable:

• maple
• purple
• turtle
• ripple
• circle
• cycle
• tableTop of Form