Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

12.05.20

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

12.05.20

Moles Reading Comprehension 1*

Read “Moles” and answer the following questions in full sentences.

1. Why do many small animals live underground?

2. Where do moles live?

3. What do moles use to dig?

4. What do moles eat?

5. Why does a mole have short fur?

6. Why does a mole have an upright tail?

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4 12.05.20 cont’d

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4 12.05.20

Frog Features Reading Comprehension 2**

Read “Frog Features” and answer the following questions in full sentences.

1. Why are a frog’s back legs so long?

2. Why does a frog need a big mouth?

3. Name two functions of the job of the mucus (slime) on a frog’s skin.

4. What can the shape of a frog’s feet tell you?

5. What special skill does a tree frog have?

6. Why might a frog “creep under rocks and hide under logs”?

7. What sense does a frog use for hunting?

8. How might a frog defend itself if it feels threatened?

9. Is a frog a predator or prey? Explain your answer.

10. In what way is a frog’s body similar to a human’s?

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

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What is a water vole? Remember Ratty in Wind in the Willows? He wasn’t actually a rat as his name suggests, but was in fact a water vole! The name Ratty was probably derived from their other common name, the water rat, even though water voles only superficially resemble rats and are not that closely related to them.

Diet

Water voles are semi-aquatic, which means that they can swim, although they also can move on land. Water voles are always found close to water, and will rarely wander more than a few metres away from the water’s edge. They form burrow systems in the bank edge, preferring to have an exit hole right next to the water, so they can escape from danger very quickly.

Appearance

Water voles are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They eat over 200 different kinds of plants, mainly in the sedge, rush and grass family. They will eat around 80% of their body weight each day, so it is crucial there is plenty of good vegetation present for them to munch on. Water voles do not hibernate, so during the winter they will dig up rhizomes and eat bark to survive as most of the green plants will be too tough for them to eat

Habitat

Water voles are rodents, and look like rats, but there are ways to tell the difference.

Water voles have a rounded face; rats have a pointy face.

Water voles have a shorter, furry tail; rats have a long and scaly tail which is sometimes pink.

Water voles have small, inconspicuous ears. Rats’ ears are large and round.

Water voles will only be found near water. Rats can be found anywhere.

Glossary: Rhizomes: roots of plants – usually in a large mass.

Water voles live near water.

13.05.20

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

14.05.20

Your task:

Watch the Espresso video on paragraphs. https://central.espresso.co.uk/espresso/primary_uk/subject/module/video/item361714/grade2/module305324/

collection361834/section361760/index.html

On the following page, there is a sheet with notes about badgers. You need to

turn the notes into paragraphs, by writing them in full sentences. Each box is a

separate paragraph.

Remember to think about the order of your sentences!

Try to see if you can introduce your paragraph with a topic sentence, and end

it with a concluding sentence.

An example has been done for you below:

Habits

Have you ever seen a badger out with its babies? Badgers have one litter of

babies, or cubs per year. Badger cubs stay underground until they are

around 8 weeks old. Badgers also stay in their burrow during the winter,

although they do not hibernate.Badgers don’t tend to be seen out during the

day, as they are nocturnal animals. So, you are very lucky if you have seen

a badger, and even luckier to have seen their young!

Topic Sentence / Main idea / Concluding sentence

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

Badger Fact-File

Habitat:

Badgers live in burrows or “setts”.

4-12 badgers could live in a sett.

Badgers are sociable animals.

Badgers are often found living in

wooded areas.

Appearance:

Wedge bodies

Long nose/snout

Broad paws with sharp claws. Digs burrows in

the ground.

5 toes on each paw. Badgers leave distinctive

prints.

Black/brown/gold/white

Distinctive striped markings.

Diet:

Omnivores –eat plants and meat.

Food eaten depends on the time of year.

Favourite food is earthworms.

They also eat slugs, snails, bird eggs, fungi

and fruit.

Can eat small mammals like mice, baby

rabbits, etc.

Habits:

Has one litter per year.

Baby badgers called cubs.

Cubs stay underground until around 8

weeks old.

Eat earthworms, slugs, snails, bird eggs

and fruit.

Badgers don’t usually hibernate. Stay in

their burrow during the winter.

Badgers aren’t seen often. Are mostly

nocturnal.

14.05.20

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

15.05.20

Fact-File

Habitat:

Appearance:

Diet:

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4

15.05.20

- Your task:

You are going to gather information and write notes about one of the following Wind in the Wind characters – either Mole, Ratty or Mr Toad.

Use the badger template to see how to write your notes. You don’t need to write full sentences at this point.

Use your imagination to mix information about the character and the real-life animal. An example has been done for you below:

Fact File about Mr Badger

Appearance

Long wedge-shaped body.

Black fur, with white and brown stripes. Likes to wear dressing gown.

Long snout on which he wears half-moon glasses

Wears slippers on his feet when indoors.

Has sharp claws on his paws and feet.

When outside, he leaves 5-toed footprint.

Week 4: 11.05.20 English Resources and Activities Class 4 Answers – 13.05.20

What is a water vole?

Remember Ratty in Wind in the Willows? He wasn’t actually a rat as his name suggests, but was

in fact a water vole! The name Ratty was probably derived from their other common name, the

water rat, even though water voles only superficially resemble rats and are not that closely related

to them.

Appearance

Water voles are rodents, and look like rats, but there are ways to tell the difference.

Water voles have a rounded face; rats have a pointy face.

Water voles have a shorter, furry tail; rats have a long and scaly tail which is sometimes

pink.

Water voles have small,

inconspicuous ears. Rats’

ears are large and round.

Water voles will only be

found near water. Rats

can be found anywhere

Habitat

Water voles are semi-aquatic, which means that they can swim, although they also can move on

land. Water voles are always found close to water, and will rarely wander more than a few metres

away from the water’s edge. They form burrow systems in the bank edge, preferring to have an

exit hole right next to the water, so they can escape from danger very quickly.

Diet

Water voles are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They eat over 200 different kinds of plants,

mainly in the sedge, rush and grass family. They will eat around 80% of their body weight each

day, so it is crucial there is plenty of good vegetation present for

them to munch on. Water voles do not hibernate, so during the

winter they will dig up rhizomes and eat bark to survive as most

of the green plants will be too tough for them to eat.

.

Glossary:

Rhizomes: roots of plants – usually in a large mass.

Water voles live near water.