3.9 Planets

English first additional language

Grade 4

What a wonderful world

Module 34

Planets

Activity 1

To read a table for information [lo3.3.4]

a. Study the table above carefully and answer the following questions:

(i) Which planet has the greatest diameter?

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(ii) Which is the longest: a mile or a kilometre?

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(iii) Which planet is closest in size to earth?

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(iv) Which is the second smallest planet?

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b. Arrange the planets from the largest to the smallest:

(i) ………………………………………………………………

(ii) ………………………………………………………………

(iii) ………………………………………………………………

(iv) ………………………………………………………………

1. ………………………………………………………………

(vi) ………………………………………………………………

(vii) ………………………………………………………………

(viii) ………………………………………………………………

1. ……………………………………….

Activity 2

To read and solve puzzles [lo 3.5.3]

Word game

Rearrange the jumbled letters given below to make words that have been used in the passages above, and then match the correct word with the definition or description given here:

byllaul

treemaid

divo

hemry

treesrauc

• straight line from side to side of a figure (used for measurement)
• a little poem
• emptiness, nothingness
• a song sung to an infant to make him/her sleep
• a human being or animal (something that has been created)

Activity 3

To read a simple map [lo 3.3.1]

A Solar Eclipse

Do you know what a solar eclipse is? A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the earth and the sun. When this happens, the light from the sun is blocked. The sky gradually becomes dark as the moon moves in front of the sun. If the moon and the sun are in a perfect line, it is called a total eclipse. This happens very rarely.

This year a total eclipse of the sun will be visible in the northern regions of Limpopo Province. Up to 30 000 visitors from all over the world are expected, as this is an ideal place from which to experience the eclipse.

The eclipse will be visible between 08:18 and 08:21 on Wednesday, 4 December, when the moon will move directly in front of the sun for three minutes and all direct sunlight will be deflected from the earth. The very best place to experience it, is in the “path of totality”, as scientists call it. This will be between Beit Bridge and the Mozambican border in the area north of the Soutpansberg, Thohoyandou and the Shingwedzi Camp in Kruger National Park.

If you should miss this awesome event, you will have to wait until 2030 to see it in Southern Africa.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

Never view the sun with the naked eye or with any optical device such as binoculars. Your eye has a lens that will concentrate the sun’s light onto your retina and cause damage without your feeling any pain while it is happening. Do not use sunglasses. Number 14 welder’s glass is fine.

Consult a map of south africa and find out where the places are that are mentioned in the passage above.

Use your dictionary to find the meanings of the following words:

Write the words and their meanings in your personal dictionary and make sure that you know how to use them.

WRITING

Up to now we have spoken only of one of the elements that are found in most (or all) creation myths, namely the sun. We are now going to take a look at another fascinating element, water.

Without water there could be no life. There are billions of tons of water in the atmosphere, in the oceans and in the crust of the earth. Did you know that our bodies are 64% water?

Some of the simple properties of water are the following:

• It freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C at sea level.
• It is a colourless, odourless and almost tasteless liquid.
• It freezes to ice and boils away to vapour or steam.

Some of the frozen forms of water are icicles, snow and hail. Have you ever seen and touched snow? Did you know that every snowflake is made up of thousands of water crystals, each with its own pattern?

Look at these beautiful snowflake patterns:

Activity 4

To express own opinion in writing [lo 4.1.5]

1. Think of any exciting or pleasant or memorable experience you have had with water. (For example the first time you saw snow, or a visit to the seaside, or how you went canoeing on a river…anything that made an impression on you.)

Now write at least five full sentences about this event. If you have any photographs about it, you can bring them along and show them to your classmates and teacher, while you also tell them a little more about the experiences you had at the time.

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Assessment

Learning outcome 3: reading and viewing

The learner will be able to read and view for information and enjoyment, and to respond critically to the aesthetic, cultural and emotional values in texts.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

3.3 reads for information:

3.3.1 reads simple maps and plans (e.g. follows a route);

• reads diagrams, graphs and charts (e.g. a family tree;

3.5 reads for pleasure and information:

3.5.3 reads and solves puzzles.

Learning outcome 4: writing

The learner will be able to write different kinds of factual and imaginative texts for a wide range of purposes.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

4.1 writes to communicate information:

4.1.5 expresses an opinion in writing (e.g. whether a book was interesting or boring).