Message in a bottle - a message in a bottle

English home language

Message in a bottle

Educator section

Memorandum

To the educator:

Read through the story and make flashcards of any new sight words. Read through with the class, discussing any new concepts.

• Look at the map again. Get the learners to examine the writing on the note.

• Prepare the comprehension with the children and then let them answer the questions. You may decide that they need not answer in full sentences, as the aim of the task is the comprehension.

Who is Lisa? Child or adult? Why do they say so? What is wrong with it?

Discuss the punctuation. On folio they can correct the message remembering the capitals for the beginning of a sentence, the use of I, and for a name of a person or place. Give a few other sentences for the learners to practise. They can also make sentences with their phonic words. Remind them to use the correct punctuation each time. (LO 4)

In a later task, when they write their own message, remind them again of the correct use of punctuation.

• When doing the phonics, the learners can also make a list of the words to practise at home.

• Let them read the information about rock pools. This would be what fascinated Susan. It is also an exercise in non-fiction writing. Introduce the term to them.

Then read the following poem. Ask them which 'story' they could believe. What 'clues' are there to show that the poem is fiction?

Discuss the vocabulary, especially unusual words, e.g. 'knackered' (very tired); 'encore' (French for more); 'rave' (slang for ‘party’.

Discuss what they think they might find if they went down a tunnel and ended up deep under the sea.

• Let the learners work in groups to brainstorm ideas for their lists or even compile the lists. Remind them of the factors they must take into consideration. What will they need if they have to go away for two days? How much food do they need for two days? What are the “right clothes”? These are listed for them and serve to remind them what they must take and as a checklist against which they will evaluate their lists when they have finished.

They must also remember that a list is concise. They must only write sentences if they have thought of something special that they think has not been included as a basic requirement and which needs the reason for its inclusion, as stated in the task.

When the list is complete they must evaluate their own work in terms of the stipulated requirements. If they remembered that whatever they took had to last two days, e.g. they are prepared to spend the night away, then they tick the smiley face. If they haven’t remembered this, then they need to tick the sad face. If they have remembered a torch or matches, they will tick the smiley face next to “It will get dark”.

When the lists are shared with the class, they will realise that different items could have been included. Let them re-evaluate their lists in terms of their “new” knowledge.

When writing the note to their parents in the next task, remind them that this is only a story, therefore they children can wander off on “Mission Impossible”. However, they must still try to allay parents’ fears and explain where they are going so that the parents needn’t be too concerned.