8542RB Reading for Me Level 5 Part A

Foreword

Reading for Me is a series of workbooks designed to support the development of children’s

literacy skills while also building a sense of enjoyment and confidence in their independent

reading at home.

There are six levels in the series, each containing a Part A (printed paperback format) and B

(digital online format). Each part contains 60 original texts that cover three different text types

(factual, imaginative and persuasive), which are indicated on the upper left-hand corner of the

text page. Each text is accompanied by a worksheet containing six questions based on literal,

inferential, evaluative and vocabulary understandings.

Texts advance in difficulty throughout the book, so teachers and parents can be assured that

reading skills are developed as children progress through the series. Children will also be

encouraged by visualising their progress on the progression bar at the top right-hand corner of

the text pages.

This series uses a dyslexia-friendly font to make texts more accessible for children and to help

foster a love of reading.

Contents

Like a Dragon I Be................ 2

My Friend Fern’s

Fabulous Fruit Cakes............ 4

A Play.................................. 6

All About Tapirs ................. 8

A New School Year.............10

Swimming.............................12

Trip to the Library...............14

Looking After My

Guinea Pigs.........................16

Sally’s Surfing Club............18

How to Make a Delicious

Banana Dessert...................20

The Test..............................22

An Interview with a

Teacher................................24

Just Out of this World........26

The Mystery of the Lost

Elephant..............................28

The Berry Hunt....................30

Pick Up Rubbish...................32

The New Restaurant ..........34

Horrid Homework.................36

The Sumptuous

Sandwich.............................38

Nits.....................................40

Colour-changing Celery ......42

Herbs in the Kitchen ..........44

My Cat................................46

The Weather Forecast.........48

Solids, Liquids and Gases....50

The Great Uniform

Debate.................................52

Let’s Use Less ...................54

About Pangolins .................56

Hot Dinners or

Packed Lunches?..................58

Online Safety......................60

Mountain Biking...................62

A Pixelated Poem/

The Gamer...........................64

Sustainable Transport..........66

Mr Dream’s Magnificent

Sock-folding Machine..........68

No Rules at School!............70

The Journey ........................72

Safety in the Sun................74

How to Make a Tiger

Costume..............................76

The Painter..........................78

Plastic Packaging.................80

The Problem with

Plastic Bags........................82

Please Can I Have a Pet?...84

Making a Splash ...............86

My Disastrous Camping

Trip......................................88

The Old Station..................90

Musical Moments

Workshops...........................92

River Side............................94

Should the School Day

Be Extended? .....................96

Off on an Adventure............98

A New Skatepark ............. 100

An Art Review ................. 102

An Advertisement for a

New Chocolate Bar .......... 104

Roller Skating .................. 106

The Kids’ Hotel................. 108

A Trip to Rome................. 110

Time to Game ................... 112

Rainbow Smoothie............. 114

All Before Breakfast

for a Farmer...................... 116

The Eventful Hockey

Match ............................. 118

A Cool Couscous Salad ... 120

Answers............................. 122

R.I.C. Publications ® Prim-Ed Publishing Reading for Me Level 5 (Part A) 978-1-922843-64-7 i

Imaginative

Like a Dragon I Be

On my walk today, over the fields and far away,

The grass is crispy, and the cobwebs wispy.

Icicles that hang on the gate shine in the light,

Spiky shards of grass gleaming bright white,

Crunching under my feet, past other walkers we meet,

My breath I can see, like a dragon I be.

Creating clouds of puff, up the hill I huff,

My hands are frozen and so are my toes.

The frosty mist disperses in the air from my mouth,

A quick look at the map, next we’ll head south.

The leaves are hard and brittle,

The sun peeks through just a little.

Old footprints in the mud, over them and on I thud,

Frost covers the ground, a frozen puddle I have found.

Like layers of glass upon the water the ice is afloat,

I’m glad I’m wrapped up warm in my fluffy emerald coat.

My woolly hat upon my head and my gloves that are red,

My breath I can see, like a dragon I be.

2 Reading for Me Level 5 (Part A) 978-1-922843-64-7 R.I.C. Publications ® Prim-Ed Publishing

Questions

1 What colour is the walker’s coat?

2 What noun does the poet compare the ice on the puddles to?

3 What evidence is there in the text, that the person has gone on a

long walk?

4 Explain why the walker compares herself to a dragon.

5 Which is your favourite line of the poem? Explain why.

6 What synonyms could you use instead of the word shards?

R.I.C. Publications ® Prim-Ed Publishing Reading for Me Level 5 (Part A) 978-1-922843-64-7 3

Factual

My Friend Fern’s

Fabulous Fruit Cakes

The all-important ingredients:

• 175 g creamy soft butter • 175 g light brown sugar

• 175 g self-raising flour • 50 g demerara sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 40 g dried cranberries

• 40 g glacé cherries • 40 g sultanas

Always ask an

adult to

help when you

are cooking

or baking.

• 40 g raisins

Method:

1. Ask an adult to turn on the oven.

(Gas mark 3/170 °C approximately.)

2. Line a cupcake tray with cake

cases.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together

the butter and light brown sugar

with a wooden spoon until fluffy.

4. Add the eggs one at a time and carefully

mix with a spoonful of the flour.

5. Gently fold in the remaining flour until the

mixture is combined.

6. Pour in all the fruits and stir.

7. Fill each cake case ¾ full with the cake

mixture.

8. Sprinkle a little demerara sugar on each

cupcake before asking an adult to place the

tray in the oven.

9. Bake for 12–15 minutes. Ask an adult to

remove the cakes from the oven and put

onto a cooling rack.

10. Once the cakes have cooled, enjoy them

with friends.

Makes 12 cupcakes.


Questions

1 How much sugar is needed in this recipe?

2 Which different dried fruits are used in the recipe?

3 Why do you think it is important to ask an adult to help when cooking

or baking?

4 The recipe instructs you to fill the cake cases to ¾ full. Why do you

think this is?

5 The recipe is called ‘My Friend Fern’s Fabulous Fruit Cakes’. Do you

think this is an effective title choice? Explain your answer.

6 What does the word glacémean?


Imaginative

A Play

Scene 1: Twins Maria and Luke are wearing headsets and are sitting on beanbags in

front of a jumbo TV screen, playing a virtual reality racing game. Mum is folding clean

towels and sheets at the side of the room. Their dog, Benji, is curled up on the couch.

Suddenly, there is a ‘bang’ as Maria’s car crashes and she pulls off her headset.

Maria: I wish I could buy a new virtual reality game. I’m so bored of this one. All

we do is race around the track—it’s so predictable and monotonous.

Maria replaces her headset and they start another race. Their mum watches

thoughtfully as the twins moan while continuing to steer and press buttons.

Luke:

We see the same trees, the same buildings, the same spectators in the

stands ... I know exactly when I’m going to see the man in the orange shirt

holding the ‘Keep driving’ sign.

Maria: I know, if I see the billboards advertising one more time I think I may scream.

Mum:

Why don’t you do some chores to earn money? That’s how kids usually

earn money to buy any items that are a want, not a need.

Luke and Maria stop steering and press a button to pause the game, remove their

headsets and stare at each other, considering that Mum’s idea just might be decent.

Luke:

Mum:

Luke:

Mum:

That’s an awesome idea—what sort of tasks did you have in mind? We

could ride to the shops to get milk and bread, or whatever you need, or

take Benji for a walk!

Nice ideas but let’s stick to home—nothing that requires you to go off on

an adventure. You could clean the windows, do some weeding, scrub the

bathroom or wash the car. There is always something that needs doing.

How much money would I get for washing the car? Will you buy us the game?

That depends on how well you wash it and how hard you try.

Maria: That’s not fair, I wanted to wash the car. You can clean the windows,

Luke—you’re taller than I am and will be able to reach further.

Maria pokes her tongue out at Luke. He folds his arms in annoyance.

Mum:

Don’t argue, you can wash the car together to practise your teamwork and

co-operation. Then maybe you’ll be better at your computer racing game.

Luke and Maria: Mum, it’s a virtual reality racing game—you’re so old!

Scene 2: Maria and Luke are on the driveway, cleaning the car.

Luke:

You do that side and I’ll do this side. Race you. Go!

Maria: Hey, I’m not ready yet! I can’t find the soft yellow sponge that gets the

dirt off.

Mum:

It’s in the crimson bucket, Maria, under the overflowing bubbles.

Maria: Got it. This is so much more entertaining than playing the game.

Luke:

Yeah, it sure is. But wow, this car is so dusty and covered in grime. It’s

like Mum has been off-road driving on the wilderness track in the game.

Maria: Oh yeah. Eww, there are bugs squashed on the windscreen and number

plate. It’ll be spotless and bug-free by the time we’ve finished with it—

even shinier than the expensive race cars we pretend to drive.

Luke:

Now if only we had a car like that ... just imagine all the cool places we

could go.


Questions

1 What do the twins want to buy?

2 Who suggests washing the car and why?

3 This text is a playscript. What three features of a playscript are used?

4 Do you think it is a good idea for children to earn pocket money by

doing chores around the house? Why or why not?

5 Write a suitable title for this play.

6 What does the word chores mean?


Factual

All About Tapirs

Have you ever heard of a tapir? Read on to find out about these

endangered animals, that have been around for thousands of years.

What is a tapir?

A tapir is a mammal about the size

of a fully grown pig.

What do they look like?

Imagine a very large pig with a

short, elephant-like trunk, which is

a really useful tool; that’s what a

tapir looks like. They look extremely

bizarre! There are several different

species of tapir and they come in

different colours including brown,

black and grey.

How big are they?

Tapirs are around 75 cm ( 3 / 4

of

a metre) to 100 cm (one metre)

tall—about the height of a toddler

but much heavier! Tapirs weigh

approximately 200 kg to 350 kg.

What do tapirs eat?

As herbivores, these animals feast

on fruits, leaves and branches

of trees, and they use their

exceptionally useful trunks to help

themselves to food.

What about their offspring?

Baby tapirs have a fabulous pattern

on their skin which helps to protect

them by providing camouflage.

Why are they endangered?

Humans are probably the biggest

risk to tapirs, due to habitat

destruction and hunting for their

meat.

Where do tapirs live?

Tapirs are mainly found in Central

and South America, where they

roam forest areas and grasslands,

but can also be found in the

mountains.

Did you know?

Tapirs are great swimmers!


Questions

1 Can tapirs swim?

2 What do tapirs eat?

3 What more well-known animal does a tapir look like?

4 Describe the tapirs’ habitat.

5 How do you think tapirs could be protected?

6 What does the word endangered mean?


Imaginative

A New School Year

Back to school after the holidays and a very long break,

Back to routines and schedules; how long will that take?

Smart new uniform, water bottle, backpack and pencil cases,

Rigid, uncomfortable shoes; can I remember how to tie my laces?

Soaking up facts, seeking information and expanding my brain.

Most of all, I can’t wait to see my friends and classmates again.

New teacher, a different chair, exploring the classroom,

And at lunchtime, like rockets, around the playground we zoom.

Computer studies, geography and handwriting,

Science, maths and times tables as quick as lightning.

Tuck shops, hot dinners and packed lunches,

Plaits, buns, ponytails and hair in bunches.

Whole-school assembly, music lesson and a spelling test ...

I’m exhausted and fatigued! Time for home, time for a rest!


Questions

1 What is the child looking forward to the most?

2 What did the child describe as ‘smart’?

3 Do you think the child likes their school shoes? Explain why or why

not.

4 What similes are used in the poem?

5 How do you feel when starting a new school year?

6 What does the word fatigued mean?


Factual

Swimming

Effortlessly, she glides through the water; there is hardly a ripple or a

splash in sight. Stroke after stroke, up and down and up and down. The

timer is ticking and the stopwatch is on. Water bottles are lined up along

the edge of the pool, broken goggles discarded on the floor and stacks

of floats line the wall. It’s so repetitive and boring. I have

nothing to do as I sit watching my sister swim—it’s the same

every week. I brought a book to read but I have finished it

already. I tried some colouring. The picture was a pelican—

my favourite bird—but I didn’t have a black marker in my

pencil case.

There is a strong smell of chemicals that are used to

keep the water clean. Voices echo all around. I watch the

swimmers go through backstroke, front crawl, butterfly

then breaststroke. It’s hot and humid and the back of

my thighs are sticking to the plastic spectator’s chair.

I dip my toe in a puddle of water that has leaked

over the tiles. My hair is wet and flat against my

face—I have already had my swimming lesson. I hope

she finishes soon. I can’t wait for dinner: my tummy

is rumbling and I can almost taste the spicy noodles I

know are waiting for me at home. At least she doesn’t

need to dry her hair this week as she is wearing a

sparkling silver swimming cap that matches her costume.

The only interesting bit happens at the very end

when they practise diving—and a couple of

painful-looking bellyflops! Finally I

can go home and shower all of

the chlorine out of my hair

and off my skin. There’s

nothing better than

the feeling of

freshly washed

hair, snuggly

pyjamas and

fluffy slippers.


Questions

1 Where is the story set?

2 Which family member is in the pool?

3 Does the protagonist wear a swimming cap?

4 Why couldn’t the protagonist finish her colouring?

5 Does the description mention all five senses? Give examples.

6 What does the word discarded mean?


Imaginative

Trip to the Library

‘Shhhh!’ hissed the librarian fiercely, who had a bright blue checked hat

perched on top of his bald head, as we entered the silent library.

‘I don’t want to read a boring book!’ shouted my little cousin crossly. The

stern librarian glared at us with pursed lips and shook his head but didn’t

say anything. Defiantly, my cousin stamped his feet and folded his arms.

‘It will be fun, I promise,’ I whispered to him, ‘come here and I’ll read to

you.’

‘No!’ my cousin bellowed so loudly that I had to cover my ears. Then he

sat down on the floor and refused to move. I could feel my neck and face

turning red with embarrassment; it felt like everyone in the library had

turned to look at us. I even spotted one of my classmates, so I tried to

shrink down inside my shirt hoping they hadn’t seen it was me.

‘There are lots of lovely books you will like over here,’ said my aunty,

attempting to encourage my cousin as she wandered towards the picture

books. ‘How about this one with these beautiful illustrations, it’s about

fire engines?’

‘Nee naw, nee naw,’ my cousin shocked us, as he leapt up and sprinted

around the library pretending to be a brave firefighter answering an

emergency call in a fire engine.

Quickly, my aunty suggested something different. ‘Maybe this one about

dinosaurs!’

‘Roar, roar, roar!’ my cousin stomped around amongst the bookshelves,

pretending to be an enormous green dinosaur.

‘Perhaps this one about a little bear cub?’ tried my aunty, looking around

desperately.

‘Growl, growl, growl,’ said the little bear (otherwise known as my cousin)

crawling around the piles of books.

‘Let’s try this story about a crocodile,’ I joined in the hunt for a suitable

book.

‘Snap, snap, snap,’ my cousin slid across the cold

library floor, when suddenly he spotted something

out of the corner of his eye. There was a tiny

baby being rocked in his dad’s arms.

‘Shhhh! There’s a baby sleeping,’ said my cousin

and, quick as a flash, he sat down quietly to

read a book.

BEARS

By A. Grizzly

Grrrrr

!


Questions

1 Name four things the younger cousin

pretends to be.

BEARS

By A Grizzly

2 What type of books is the aunty looking at?

3 Why is the older cousin feeling embarrassed?

4 What caused the younger cousin to sit quietly?

5 How realistic do you think this story is? Why?

6 What is a definition of the word bellowed?


Factual

Looking After My Guinea Pigs

Happily scampering around and exploring their run are my two beautiful,

fluffy guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can make wonderful pets but you need to

look after them! Here are some of the tasks involved in caring for these

delightful creatures.

Food:

Every day, my pets need plenty of

hay (dried grass), a bowl full of

dried guinea pig nuggets and some

fresh vegetables. Their favourite

vegetables to chomp on are the

brassicas—kale and broccoli.

Water:

Their water is also checked

and changed daily. The guinea

pigs drink from a water bottle

attached to their hutch.

Sometimes, they are cheeky and

knock their water bottle off.

Cleaning:

I clean the guinea pig hutch

out regularly by removing

all the soiled wood shavings

and replacing them with

fresh, clean bedding.

Exercise:

Guinea pigs like to play by

moving around their enclosure

and travelling through their

tunnel. Guinea pigs need

loads of space to run around

in and explore.


Questions

1 What do the guinea pigs drink?

2 What are these guinea pigs’ favourite vegetables?

3 What type of bedding do these guinea pigs have?

4 What do the guinea pigs need plenty of?

5 Do you think guinea pigs are hard to look after? Why or why not?

6 What synonyms can you think of for the word enclosure?


Persuasive

Sally’s Surfing Club

Looking for a new hobby? Want to try

something new?

Give surfing a go with Sally.

Surfing is a terrific activity.

It is great exercise, as you will use your whole

body and lots of different muscles—such as your

core, for balance.

You will learn new skills or expand and develop

your existing ones. You will gain further

knowledge on the sport and equipment needed.

Surfing makes you feel fantastic! You are out in

the fresh air, learning something new and

practising skills. You will enjoy the feel of the

cool seawater on your skin and the unique sound

of the waves crashing onto the sand, and you

will smell the magnificent ocean aroma of salt

and seaweed.

You’ll meet new friends, enjoy interesting

conversations and have lots of fun!

So, what are you waiting for? Give surfing a go

with Sally and her team. Join our club each week

with professional, highly-experienced instructors

and assistant coaches to guide you. We offer

small group sessions so you can develop and

learn at your own pace. All equipment is

provided including wetsuits, beach shoes,

surfboards and helmets if required.

*The ocean can be dangerous. You must be

able to swim confidently and should only

enter the water with a qualified instructor

to support you. It is important to learn

about tides, currents and beach safety

before surfing.


Questions

1 What equipment is provided by Sally’s Surfing Club?

2 What must you be able to do before surfing with the club?

3 What is the benefit of small group sizes?

4 How often does the club meet?

5 What features of a persuasive text does the advert use?

6 What does the word aroma mean?


Factual

How to Make a Delicious

Banana Dessert

Are you still feeling hungry after your main meal? Or do you need to

create a quick and easy but impressive-looking dessert? Then look no

further than this amazing recipe for a banana split! A banana split is

a pudding that most likely originated in the United States of America,

although there are lots of variations. These instructions include lots of

luxurious fruit to make it extra delicious!

Ingredients:

• One medium-sized banana

• Handful of juicy blackberries

• Dollop of cream

• Three different flavours of ice cream

• Six strawberries, cut into

quarters

• Plump raspberries

• Chocolate sauce

• Colourful sprinkles (optional)

Method:

1. With adult assistance, split the banana in half lengthways, but not all

the way through. Place the banana into a bowl, opening it out.

2. Fill the gap between the two sides of the banana with generous scoops

of ice cream.

3. Pile on the fresh fruit before dolloping on the cream and pouring a layer

of chocolate sauce.

4. Decorate with sprinkles (optional).

*Remember to always cook with an adult and

be careful with kitchen utensils.


Questions

1 What is the main ingredient for this dessert?

2 What flavour sauce is used in the recipe?

3 How many pieces should each strawberry be cut into?

4 Why should you always cook with an adult?

5 Would you like to try this banana dessert? Explain why or why not.

6 What does the word dollop mean?


Imaginative

The Test

I’ve got a challenge tomorrow—a test!

I know I just need to do my best.

But what if I haven’t done enough revision?

Should I have practised more questions on division?

Plagued by the thought of failing the exam,

But frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.

Butterflies circle around in my tummy,

I can’t eat, even though food looks so yummy.

I’ve learned multiply, divide, add and take-away,

All the facts in my head, I hope they will stay.

Ruler and pencil; I’m definitely prepared,

So I’ll keep telling myself there is no need to be scared.

A

B

120

283?

C

D

45

+ 35

%

55

1/ 2


Questions

1 What pieces of equipment is the child taking to the exam?

2 Which word in the poem rhymes with scared?

3 What subject is the child’s test in?

4 How is the child feeling?

5 Do you think the child should have eaten? Why or why not?

6 What does the word plagued mean?

cm

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15


Factual

An Interview with a Teacher

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a teacher? Or what

your teacher actually does? Do they eat cake in the staffroom? Do

they watch films on the interactive whiteboards once their classes have

gone home? Well, we are going to find out. Check out our interview with

Mr Brown, a Year 5 teacher at a local school, to find out about his day.

What time does your day start?

My alarm goes off at 6.30 am.

Sometimes I put it on snooze,

especially in the winter when it’s

cold and dark, but then my dog tells

me off. Yep, even teachers get told

off occasionally! My first task of

the day is to walk my very bouncy,

beautiful golden Labrador, even if

it is raining. Then I need to make

my packed lunch and grab some

breakfast, which is usually yoghurt

and fruit, or maybe toast.

How do you get to school?

I zoom to school in my intergalactic

spaceship, which travels at the

speed of light, in invisibility mode.

Only joking, unfortunately. I don’t

have a spaceship so I cycle on my

bike which has a slightly rusty chain

and a tear in the saddle, but it

works. I like to get to school early

so I can make sure the classroom is

set up for the day.

What is it like in the staffroom?

I couldn’t possibly disclose that

information, it’s top secret! But

what I can say is, contrary to

popular belief, we don’t eat cake all

day—only if it’s someone’s birthday,

a special occasion, if it’s been a

tough day, it’s a Friday or we are

hungry.

What’s the best thing about being a

teacher?

That’s easy. Without a doubt, the

best thing about being a teacher is

the privilege of helping my class to

achieve their goals and aspirations.

It’s the best feeling when a child

gets the score they wanted in a

test or plucks up the courage to

audition for the school play.

What’s the worst thing about being

a teacher?

Being on duty at lunchtime in winter

when I have forgotten my gloves and

I would rather be drinking tea in the

warmth. Oh, and marking 30 copies

of the same thing!

What do you do at the weekend?

At the weekend, I zoom around in

my silver spaceship with my fellow

aliens … no, not really. Ordinary

things like grocery shopping and

household chores. I usually play

tennis with some friends on a

Sunday.

STAFF

ROOM

*Mr Brown is a fictional character.


Questions

1 What breed of dog does Mr Brown have?

2 What mode of transport does Mr Brown use to travel to school?

3 Do you think Mr Brown likes cake? Explain why or why not.

4 Why do you think Mr Brown doesn’t like lunchtime duty in the winter?

5 What question would you ask Mr Brown about his day or teaching

role?

6 What does the word contrary mean?


Factual

Just Out of this World


Over 380,000 km away, Earth’s

singular moon orbits the planet,

but we can still see the moon from

Earth without using a telescope and

it shines brightly most nights.

Is the moon’s surface flat?

No, because the moon’s surface

has mountains, flat areas

(sometimes called seas although

there is no water in them) and

craters (big dents in the surface).

Has anyone ever been to the

moon?

Neil Armstrong, an American

astronaut, was the first person

to walk on the moon in 1969,

during the Apollo 11 mission.

Why does the moon change shape?

While the moon at times appears to

be different shapes, this is simply

the part of the moon we can see

from Earth as it orbits the planet;

the moon doesn’t change shape.

What makes the

moon so bright?

The moon doesn’t

emit any light itself

but reflects light

from the sun.

How big is the moon?

Did you know the moon

makes the sea move?

The moon’s gravity pulls

on Earth which causes the

sea to move in and out

(this is called the tide).

It’s about a quarter

of the size of Earth

and has a diameter of

over 3400 kilometres.

How long does the moon take to

orbit Earth?

Approximately 27 days.


Questions

1 How many moons does planet Earth have?

2 How long does the moon take to orbit Earth?

3 What year did Apollo 11 land on the moon?

4 Explain why the moon appears to shine.

5 Write a question you would like to ask about the moon.

6 What does the word orbit mean?


Imaginative

The Mystery of the Lost

Elephant

Rosie (Jay’s little sister) was always misplacing everything! Gloves, hats,

toys, shoes, favourite teddies; she had lost, abandoned or dropped them all.

There was the time her welly had fallen off at the park while feeding the

ducks; Jay and his friends had rescued the maroon rubber boot filled with

tangled pondweed, as it floated off down the stream with a family of ducks.

Then there was the time that Rosie had opened the hamster’s cage and the

creature had disappeared for days, to be finally discovered nesting in the soft

(but smelly) lining of Dad’s slipper. Jay’s friends called themselves the ‘Puzzle

Pondering Pals’, since they were always solving puzzles of some sort together.

This afternoon, they all gathered in Jay’s room, armed with sticky notes and

a notebook ready to solve the puzzle of what had happened to Rosie’s toy

elephant. Their page currently read:

• mi

• l i i l

• l l i

‘OK, I think we need to retrace

Rosie’s steps,’ Jay said.

‘But she didn’t make any steps, she

was in her pushchair!’ joked Aaron.

‘Ha ha, very funny,’ said Maria, as she rolled her eyes.

The friends set off to walk the route from Jay’s house to the nursery, which

passed through the park. Just as they were about to give up, Maria spotted a

piece of blue wool in the sandpit and next to it were animal paw prints darting

across the sand.

‘Are those dog prints?’ queried Aaron.

Maria crouched down next to the prints and announced, ‘I’m good with animal

prints, because my dad and I are always looking for signs of nature on our

walks at the weekend, so let me see them.’

‘These are definitely cat prints!’ Maria declared after a few

moments. ‘There are no claws, see?’ she pointed at the prints.

‘Cats can retract their claws but dogs cannot, so they can’t

be dog prints.’

‘Meow!’

‘Did you hear that?’ asked Jay, looking up at the tree behind

them.

‘Yes. That was a blue elephant meowing in the tree!’ laughed Aaron.

There, sat in the tree, was a large grey cat and Rosie’s blue elephant.


Questions

1 What is the item Rosie has lost?

2 Where did the friends find the missing toy?

3 Why did Jay suggest retracing Rosie’s steps?

4 Which friend likes making jokes? Explain what evidence there is of this

in the text.

5 Would you like to be friends with the Puzzle Pondering Pals? Explain

why or why not.

6 What does the word pondering mean?


Imaginative

The Berry Hunt

I leapt around the cave where we lived, excitedly roaring like a cave lion

and trying to dodge the stalactites dangling from the ceiling. My brother

was chasing me with a stick, making nearly as much noise.

‘Would you two stop that,’ requested Father, as he fastened his leather

shoes and picked up his spear. ‘Hunters need to be quiet, you will have to

learn that.’ He was preparing to go hunting for reindeer or wild boar.

‘Please can we come?’ we asked together.

‘You two can go on a berry hunt,’ Mother suggested, handing us a wooden

bowl as Father set off without us.

Together, we searched amongst the leaves by the cave for ripe berries,

and the bowl started to fill up quickly with the berries we picked from

the thorny bush. Then suddenly, something sticky and wet landed on my

cheek. It was a squidgy purple berry! The juice trickled down my face and

I popped the berry into my mouth, the purple juice staining my fingers.

I looked up to find my brother giggling away to himself. After glancing

across at Mother (who was occupied lighting the fire with flint stones), I

threw a soft ripe berry at my brother. Splat! And that was how our berry

fight had begun. Soon all the berries were flying through the air. I tried

to catch some of them with my mouth, which was fun, but it wasn’t long

before Mother spotted us. She wasn’t impressed with the empty bowl, or

the mauve stains on our hands, or the berry splashes on the animal skins

we wore.

‘I think that’s enough berry hunting. Let’s go and collect some firewood

instead and hope your father is more successful with his hunting!’ Mother

proposed.

Later, Mother created a beautiful painting on the cave wall of berries

flying through the air and two boys with purple faces.


Questions

1 At the beginning of the text, the brothers are role-playing a hunting

scene. What animal is the boy pretending to be?

2 While the boys are picking berries what is the mother busy doing?

3 Why do you think the boys are not allowed to go hunting with their

father?

4 Explain why the boy glances at his mother before throwing a berry at

his brother.

5 This short extract is an example of historical fiction. What time period

do you think it is set in? Use evidence from the text to justify your

answer.

6 What synonyms could you use instead of the word proposed?


Persuasive

Pick Up Rubbish

Pick Up Rubbish

Picpapib!

Rubbish, litter, waste—whatever you call it, it looks horrible. It’s

disgusting when rubbish is just discarded on the floor. It’s not nice

stepping over it, in it or trying to walk through it on the streets.

Rubbish spoils the countryside and playgrounds, too.

Don’t just dump your rubbish

or throw your litter on the

ground; discard of it

responsibly. Take it home

with you, put it in your

bag/pocket or find a bin to

place it in—it’s so easy!

Empty packets, used drink

bottles, wrappers, disposable

coffee cups and plastic bags

are some of the items that are

littered so carelessly.

Rubbish not only looks

horrendous, it can be extremely

harmful to the environment as

it destroys and contaminates

animal habitats. It can also kill

wildlife as animals can get

stuck or tangled in litter

causing injuries and illness, too.

An alternative to throwing your rubbish in the bin is to recycle or reuse it.

It’s even better for the planet if you can recycle or reuse your rubbish. Can

that bottle be rinsed and reused tomorrow? What can that empty packet

be transformed into? Could you carry something else in that bag later?

PLEASE PICK UP YOUR RUBBISH RATHER THAN

LEAVE IT BEHIND TO SPOIL THE ENVIRONMENT.

Hele


Questions

1 What is the main message of this poster?

2 What three places can you put your rubbish?

3 How do you think litter could be harmful to animals?

4 What do you think empty packets could be changed into?

5 Do you think this poster would persuade people to pick up their

rubbish? Why or why not?

6 What does the word transformed mean?


Imaginative

The New Restaurant

Excitedly, Matthew prepares to go out. Peering into the mirror, he

attempts to perfect his hairstyle using gloopy gel to stick it in position.

‘Matthew! Come on, we are going to be late and your grandad is waiting

for us,’ his mother’s anxious voice echoes up the staircase.

‘I’m coming, I’m coming,’ Matthew replies as he hops down the stairs

towards his mother, who is waiting by the front door.

‘I don’t think those shoes really go with your outfit, Matthew,’ Mum says.

‘They’re a bit invisible —you should change them.’

Looking down at his bare feet, Matthew smiles. ‘Very funny, do you know

where my boots are?’

‘They’re in the cupboard,’ comes the reply. His mum checks her watch, as

the taxi is due any minute now. They’re off to try out the new restaurant

in the centre of town on its opening night.

Matthew and his mum pile into the taxi and head towards the restaurant.

All their friends and family will be there. His mum is hoping it all goes

well as everyone has worked so hard. Matthew can’t wait—Grandad’s food

is the best ever.

As they arrive,

the outside of

the restaurant

is being

photographed

by the local

newspaper.

Matthew’s

grandad is

standing proudly

at the front in

his red apron

under the red

and orange

bunting (made

by Matthew’s

mum). Matthew

imagines the

headline: ‘Retired

firefighter flamegrills

burgers’.

CC


Questions

1 Where are Matthew and his mum going?

2 Does Matthew think his grandad is a good cook? How do you know?

3 Who do you think the owner of the restaurant is?

4 Why do you think Matthew’s mum is feeling a bit anxious?

5 What do you think will happen next in the story? Do you think the

restaurant will be a success?

6 What does the word anxious mean?


Imaginative

Horrid Homework

I hate having tedious and horrid homework to do,

My teacher always sets it on a Friday for the weekend, too.

I find it so boring, uninteresting and dull,

Endless questions to ponder and mull.

Staring at a screen or book for so long,

On goes the radio so I can listen to the best song.

Maths problems, English comprehension and a spelling task,

Wish I was at the park, but instead I have to make a mask.

‘Are you sure you’re concentrating and focused?’ asks my mum.

‘Sort of!’ I say, but this homework definitely isn’t any fun.

My brother, though, he strongly disagrees,

He is happy researching and finding facts on bees.

He enjoys the assignments and he likes to read,

Not me though, ‘Do I have to do the project?’ I plead.

I want to play cricket, go cycling or swim in the pool,

Really, I have to ask, ‘Don’t we do enough work at school?’


Questions

1 When is the child’s homework set?

2 Which family member enjoys homework?

3 Name one activity the child likes doing.

4 Why does the child think they shouldn’t have homework?

5 Do you think children should have homework? Why or why not?

6 What effect does the prefix ‘un-’ have on the word interesting?


Factual

The Sumptuous Sandwich

Try this extravagant, double-layered sandwich for an indulgent lunchtime

and delicious treat!

Ingredients

• 3 slices of thick, crusty white bread

• 30 g of soft butter

• 4 sweet sun-dried tomatoes

• 20 g of hummus

• A handful of watercress

• Half a ripe avocado, mashed

• 4 pieces of thinly sliced, chargrilled halloumi

Method

1. Wash your hands with warm soapy water, collect the ingredients and

select your favourite plate.

2. Spread the butter over the bread.

3. Add a generous layer of hummus and carefully place the four sun-dried

tomatoes on top.

4. Top with the next slice of bread, which should be pressed down firmly.

5. Slather the avocado across the next slice of bread and arrange the

pieces of chargrilled halloumi on top of the avocado.

6. Sprinkle the handful of watercress on top of the chargrilled halloumi

and gently press it down.

7. Top with the final slice of bread.

8. Enjoy your sumptuous sandwich!

*Always make sure an adult is with you when cooking, baking or preparing

food.


Questions

1 What type of bread is used for this sandwich?

2 How many pieces of halloumi are needed?

3 Why is this sandwich ‘double-layered’?

4 Why do you think the first task is to wash your hands?

5 Do you think this sandwich would make a tasty lunchtime treat?

Why or why not?

6 What does the word indulgent mean?


Imaginative

Nits

Someone mentioned the dreaded ‘nits’ at school,

I thought of the head lice beginning to crawl.

It made my head itchy, it made me want to scratch,

I couldn’t stop thinking of those eggs starting to hatch.

Straight away the teachers all sent an email home,

Advising us to check our hair with a special comb:

‘Please, if you can, tie back your hair,

And have someone else check it with care.

Head lice travel and move from head to head,

Try not to scratch or your skin will go all red.

They can move around the classroom, quick as a flash,

So be careful not to let your hair dangle or heads clash.’

Someone mentioned the dreaded ‘nits’ at school,

I thought of the head lice beginning to crawl.

It made my head itchy, it made me want to scratch,

I couldn’t stop thinking of those eggs starting to hatch.


Questions

1 Who sent an email and why?

2 What made the child itchy?

3 Why do you think the email asks the children to tie up their hair if

they can?

4 Where do head lice live?

5 What other words can you think of to rhyme with head?

6 What does the word advising mean?


Factual

Colour-changing Celery

Hypothesis:

I predict that the pieces of celery will change colour to match the

food colouring because the celery will suck up the water.

Equipment:

• Food colouring (red, blue and yellow)

• 450 ml cold water

• 3 sticks of celery with leaves • Goggles

• 3 clear vases, measuring cylinders or test tubes

• Pipette • Measuring jug • Apron

Method:

1. Put your goggles and apron on.

2. Pour 150 ml of cold water into each vase.

3. Use the pipette to add precisely three drops of food colouring to

each vase, making sure to use a different colour for each vase.

4. Add a stick of celery to each vase and wait for an hour or more—

the longer, the better.

5. Observe what has happened to the celery.

Results:

Conclusion:

The yellow food colouring is not a strong enough colour, so it is

difficult to see a change. The celery leaves in the red- and bluecoloured

water have changed colour, showing how the water has

travelled to all parts of the plant.

Next time I would like to try different colours, such as purple.


Questions

1 What is the pipette used for?

2 Which three colours are used in the experiment?

3 Explain why goggles and an apron are important.

4 What was the experiment to show?

5 Why do you think headings were used?

6 What is a hypothesis?


Factual

Herbs in the Kitchen

On my kitchen windowsill there is a long, narrow,

grey wooden box with fresh herbs growing in it. It’s

really handy because herbs can be used in lots of

different recipes and often enhance different meals.

Herbs taste delicious; they add lots of flavour to a

wide variety of dishes and smell wonderful. They are

easy to grow in small spaces, although you need to

keep them in a sunny spot and remember to water

them regularly.

Let’s take a look at a few herbs that are

useful in the kitchen.

Basil

Basil is used in lots of Italian dishes; it

tastes delicious with tomatoes. Try pasta

smothered in tomato and basil sauce, or

maybe a tomato and basil salad.

Cress

Cress grows quickly. It is delicious with egg

in sandwiches. Cress also makes a super

salad garnish.

Coriander

Coriander is tasty and aromatic. You can use

the fresh leaves, dried seeds and also ground

coriander in recipes. Carrot and coriander

soup is a popular flavour combination.

Coriander is also used in lots of curry

recipes.

Chives

Chives have a mild onion flavour. They are

long and thin and look a bit like green grass.

Chives taste delicious in omelettes or mixed

into cream cheese and spread onto a toasted

bagel.

What brilliant fresh ingredients to have in

your kitchen!


Questions

1 Which herb is often used with egg in a sandwich?

2 Which herb is commonly combined with carrots in soup?

3 What two things does the article mention herbs need in order to

grow?

4 Explain why the kitchen windowsill is a good place to grow herbs.

5 Which meal (featuring herbs) would you most like to try and why?

6 What does the word aromatic mean?


Imaginative

My Cat

Tiger prowls the garden. He marks out his

territory and makes it his own. He stalks

along the brick wall. He paces along the

wooden fence. Every day, up and down the

boundaries Tiger creeps, his long stripy

tail swishing from side to side and his

fluffy face held high. His fur has large

black and tan stripes.

Tiger likes to stretch out his long body

and bask in the morning sun on top of the

garden shed. Then in the afternoon (as the

sun moves round), he lazes on the patio

slabs—unless we are in the pool, in

which case he will hide under the

trampoline. Tiger doesn’t like to get wet.

If we are playing and splashing around,

as soon as a drop of water comes near,

Tiger is off to find shelter.

He loves it when we come home from

school and fuss over him. He lies in our

laps while we stroke his big, round belly.

Tiger likes to think he rules the garden,

but whilst other cats don’t dare come

near, the birds like to tease poor Tiger

and flutter high over his head. He can’t

jump very high any more. He is such a

lazy old cat, long gone are the days when

he used to chase the mice then drag them

in the house and proudly show us his

catch. His favourite food is tuna, which

he munches happily from his bowl by the

back door.


Questions

1 Where does Tiger like to relax in the morning?

2 What doesn’t Tiger like?

3 Why do you think the cat is called Tiger?

4 Why do you think Tiger can’t jump high any more?

5 Would you describe Tiger as a friendly cat? Why or why not?

6 Write three synonyms for the word prowl.


Factual

The Weather Forecast

Tara is training as a meteorologist.

She aspires to be a weather forecast

presenter, who reports the weather on

television.

METEOROLOGY

Here is Tara’s weather outlook for the

week ahead.

Monday

The week begins with sunny spells.

However, the temperature will be low so

you will need a warm coat if you’re out

and about.

Tuesday

Today, the weather will be overcast with

dull grey skies. It will be mainly dry with

a small chance of precipitation. Expect a

gentle breeze that will gradually increase

into the afternoon. Temperatures will be

lower than average for this time of year.

Wednesday

As we move into the middle of the week,

there is more cold weather on the way.

There is also a high risk of heavy rain with

potential for sleet.

Thursday

There is a chance of snow today and

bitterly cold winds are anticipated.

There may be disruption to travel, caused

by snow in some areas, while roads are

likely to be slippery. Please take extra

care and allow plenty of time for any

essential travel.

Friday

It will be much brighter today, with just

a few patches of cloud. Temperatures will

begin to rise sharply, which will cause any

snow to melt quickly.


Questions

1 On which day of the week is snow forecast?

2 What job does Tara want once her training has been completed?

3 On which day are you most likely to need an umbrella?

4 Which season do you think Tara is giving the weather forecast for?

5 Do you think that Tara has explained the weather clearly? Explain your

answer.

6 What does the word essential mean?

METEOROLOGY


Factual

Solids, Liquids and Gases

Hi, my name is Jack. I love science! In

science lessons at school this week, I

have been investigating states of

matter called solids, liquids and gases,

and this is what I found out.

First, I categorised items I found at school and around my house into

solids, liquids and gases; I made this chart.

pe

SOLIDS LIQUIDS GASES

wa

a

ss

bo m

se

bo

T-s ju

This made me consider two questions: What exactly are solids, liquids and

gases and what characteristics do they have? This is what I discovered:

• Solids (such as metal, wood and plastic) stay in one place and keep their

shape.

• Liquids are runny, can be measured and take on the shape of the

container they are in.

• Gases spread out, fill up a space, and although many gases (such as air)

are invisible, we know they are there.

My teacher asked me a challenging question:

Is sugar a solid, liquid or gas?

This is tricky because we can pour sugar like a liquid but each individual

grain of sugar is a solid.


Questions

1 What has Jack been investigating in science lessons this week?

2 Which category does milk fit into?

3 Where did Jack find the items he has listed in the chart?

4 Which state of matter do you think was most difficult to find? Explain

why.

5 Which category do you think salt would go into? Explain why.

6 What does the word consider mean?


Persuasive

The Great Uniform Debate

Mrs Evans’ class is discussing whether they should have to wear a uniform

to school or if they should be allowed to choose what to wear. They have

created a table of their ideas, listing reasons for and against uniforms.

Next, they are going to have a class vote.

Reasons to wear uniform

Reasons not to wear uniform

• It looks smart, professional and

formal.

• A uniform ensures that you

feel part of the community and

a team.

• It is practical for school

activities and easy to wash.

• No one is made fun of because

of their clothes; it deters

bullying.

• Wearing a uniform means you

don’t have the difficult decision

of deciding what to wear each

morning.

• Uniform is uncomfortable,

restricting and extremely itchy.

• Uniform doesn’t allow you

to express yourself or your

personality.

• Everyone looks the same in

uniform which is very boring.

• The school uniform is a

disgusting colour and very oldfashioned.

• It is much easier to focus and

enjoy lessons when wearing

clothes you are comfortable in.


Questions

1 How has the class presented their argument?

2 Do the children like the colour of the school uniform? Why or why

not?

3 Do you think Mrs Evans’ class has considered both sides of the

argument fairly? Explain your answer.

4 The children argue that the uniform ‘deters bullying’. What do you

think they mean by this?

5 Would you vote for or against uniform? Explain your choice.

6 What does the word restricting mean?


Persuasive

Let’s Use Less

Reduce your waste!

Our planet is in danger! We are using up all of its valuable resources,

such as oil, to make plastics and other materials that are often used only

once and then thrown away. This rubbish then pollutes our world by piling

up in landfill or swamping our oceans, endangering the creatures that

inhabit these environments.

Let’s use less. Here are some ideas to

get started …

Plastic bags:

Instead of using plastic bags when you

go shopping take a reusable fabric bag

instead! This simple swap can have a

huge positive impact on the environment.

Plastic bottles:

Try to avoid purchasing drinks in singleuse

bottles by taking a refillable water

bottle with you. Refillable bottles have

the added benefit of keeping your drinks

cool. Many have creative patterns and

styles.

Encourage adults to invest in a reusable

coffee cup. Think of all the waste

created by people buying a single-use

coffee cup every day.

Clothes:

A great deal of resources, time and

energy is used to produce clothing,

yet sometimes it is hardly worn before

been thrown out. Next time you sort

through your wardrobe, consider taking

any unwanted clothes to a charity shop

or organising a clothes swap with your

family and friends. You could find your

next pair of jeans for a bargain in a

charity shop or second-hand store.


Questions

1 What does the article suggest doing with your unwanted clothes?

2 What can you use instead of a plastic bag?

3 What are the benefits of refillable water bottles?

4 What are the benefits of second-hand clothes?

5 Why do you think clothes are thrown out when they have been hardly

worn?

6

What does the word valuable mean?


Factual

About Pangolins

Have you ever heard of a

pangolin?

A pangolin is a very unusual

mammal, of which there are eight

different species.

What do they look like?

Pangolins are small brown

creatures, approximately the size

of a cat or small dog. Their most

unique feature is the scales which

cover their body and tail, which

is unusual for a mammal.

How do they live?

Pangolins live in a range of different

habitats, from desert surroundings

to forest environments, and can be

found in parts of Africa and Asia.

Pangolins are solitary and mostly

nocturnal animals, spending most of

their time alone. When threatened

or in danger they roll into a tight

ball.

What do they eat?

Pangolins don’t have any teeth, and

use their long, thin tongue to eat

ants, and occasionally other insects.

Why are they endangered?

Pangolins are endangered largely

due to illegal hunting and trafficking

for their meat and scales, which are

used for a wide variety of products.


Questions

1 How many different species of pangolin are there?

2 What do pangolins eat?

3 Why do you think it is uncommon to see pangolins?

4 What makes this small mammal unusual?

5 What else would you like to find out about pangolins?

6 What does the word endangered mean?


Persuasive

Hot Dinners or

Packed Lunches?

A big part of the school day for many children is lunchtime! Morning

lessons are complete and it is time for a well-deserved break. You can

stretch your legs, run around outside, play games and chat with friends.

Most importantly, lunchtime is a chance to eat!

Cooked school meals can provide a hot lunch. The meals are usually

nutritious and healthy. It can be convenient and much easier to purchase

a school meal than having to remember to make and bring a packed lunch.

A school meal will also be freshly prepared, whereas packed lunches often

have to be made hours before you eat them, which can cause them to be

soggy or otherwise unappealing.

However, packed lunches can be more flexible and ensure a wider choice.

You can bring your favourite things for lunch. A packed lunch is individual

to you and can be tailored to your preferences. It is easy to cater for any

allergies or dietary requirements; for example, vegan or vegetarian. Packed

lunches could include sandwiches, salads, wraps, vegetables and dip or

anything really—you can be quite creative.

Would you prefer to have hot school meals or take a packed lunch? Which

is best?


Questions

1 What two options are there for eating at lunchtime?

2 According to the article, what activities take place at lunchtime?

3 Why do you think the article says you can be creative with packed

lunches?

4 Why do you think lunchtime is described as a well-deserved break?

5 What do you like to eat for lunch?

6 What does the word nutritious mean?


Imaginative

Online Safety

ONLINE SAFETY

ONLINE SAFETY

We use the internet constantly. A person’s average

screen time is creeping up and up. Using the internet is

fully integrated into regular life and seeps into all

aspects of our day. We shop, research, organise, bank,

work, educate, play and communicate online. There are

so many different devices, from computers, laptops

and tablets to watches, phones and games consoles.

Here are some tips to help keep safe:

Keep personal information such as your date of birth, address,

telephone number, bank details and the name of your school

to yourself.

Make sure your passwords remain a secret.

Only use passwords that others will not be able to guess

(not your favourite sports team).

Always be polite and kind online (just like you would if in

person).

Once pictures or messages have been shared you lose control

over them, so only share if you are happy for everyone to see,

read or hear.

Watch out for scams on text messages, emails and websites.

Check your settings are private and age appropriate.

Remember, not everything on the internet is true or as it

seems; check where information comes from.

Always talk to an adult you trust if you are unsure or worried

about something.


Questions

1 What does the poster tell you to watch out for?

2 Who should you talk to if you are unsure or worried about something?

3 Why would the name of your favourite sports team not be a good

choice for a password?

4 Why do you think average screen time is creeping up?

5 Do you think the poster is helpful? Why or why not?

6 What does the word communicate mean?


Factual

Mountain Biking

Dear Diary

Today, I went mountain biking with my friend which was totally awesome;

we had the best day ever! We set off early, as we were meeting at 10

o’clock and it’s a long drive. First, we had to load the bikes onto the

car. They go on roof racks and are clipped in. I wore mountain bike shorts

which have padding inside to make sitting on the bike seat all day more

comfortable. I also wore a cycling top and a hoodie for the journey. I

packed jelly sweets (these are really good to put in your pocket to give

you extra energy when cycling and are also my favourite treat, especially

the red ones!), my helmet, knee pads, shin guards, a bike pump and a

puncture repair kit. We also took a first aid kit but hopefully we will

never need to use that!

It was really busy when we arrived at the bike park but we found a

space to park the car and got ready to go. Once our helmets and other

protective gear were on, and the bikes checked, we were ready to set off.

Eagerly, we started on the skills area to get warmed up and practised a

few berms and jumps. I’ve been trying to improve the path I take through

the berms and get more air on the jumps.

Then we headed off to tackle the first downhill blue run of the day.

Slowly, we peddled up the meandering hillside to the top, it’s really steep

in places and full of twists and turns. Once at the top of the trail, the

real fun begins; it feels so fast—like you are going to take off and fly

through the air. Down through the forest, past the trees, and over ramps

and roots and bumps. Around the berms and flying off the jumps, my tyres

leaving tracks in the soil.

At the end, we headed to the café for a refreshing cold drink and a snack.


Questions

1 What sweet is the person’s favourite?

2 What time had the person planned to meet their friend?

3 Why do they go to the skills area first?

4 Why do you think they take a first aid kit if they are hoping not to

use it?

5 Do you think this person enjoys mountain biking? Explain how you

know.

6 What does the word meandering mean?


Imaginative

A Pixelated Poem/

The Gamer

My fingers press at speed; my thumbs expertly

manipulate.

The digital pixelated world rapidly enfolds before me.

Characters run, duck, dive, create, make, jump and

hide.

I sit but I am far from still, as one may assume.

My muscles are all tense and my eyes frantically flicker,

My mind whirls as I solve problems and embark on

quests.

Forwards, backwards, up and down, then press the space

bar.

Online instructions to read and friends relay requests in

my ear,

Through the headphones we connect, a virtual team on

the screen.


Questions

1 What activity is the poem about?

2 Is the gamer playing alone?

3 Why are the gamer’s eyes flickering?

4 Which words show the gamer is playing a quick game?

5 Do you think the gamer plays regularly? Why or why not?

6 What does the word frantically mean?


Factual

Sustainable Transport

Sustainable transport

Petrol vehicles, including cars, buses and vans, all produce harmful gases

that pollute the air. This is not only dangerous for humans and wildlife but

also contributes to climate change. We use these vehicles on a daily basis

to get to school, work and leisure facilities, and to visit friends and family.

Is it really necessary to use these vehicles, which create congestion in

cities and contaminate air? Is there an alternative?

Other forms of transport include:

Bikes – cycling can

be a great form of

transport for short

journeys.

Trains – catching a

train is effective for

longer journeys.

Buses/trams –

hopping on a bus can

be useful to travel

around the local

area quickly.

Walk –

walking is a

good form

of exercise.

Electric cars – some

cars can be powered

by electricity so do not

directly release fumes.

They do use electricity

but this could be

created using

renewable energy.

Car-share – while

the car will still emit

fumes, it’s much

better to use one car

rather than two or

three if you are

doing the same

journey. It’s also

more cost-effective.

Which is your preferred

form of transportation?


Questions

1 What are four alternative forms of transport suggested in the text?

2 Which form of transport does the report suggest is effective for

longer journeys?

3 What are the benefits of car-sharing?

4 What are the pros and cons of walking as a form of transport?

5 Which mode of transport do you like to use to travel and why?

6 What does the word alternative mean?


Imaginative

Mr Dream’s Magnificent

Sock-folding Machine

‘Wouldn’t it be marvellous if there

was a machine to fold your socks for

you?’ pondered Mr Dream one Monday

morning, whilst folding up his socks.

That simple idea led Mr Dream to set to

work designing his very own sock-folding

machine! And what’s more ... he built it!

The splendid machine not only folds the

socks for you, but colour codes and orders

your socks. Amazingly, the whole process

takes a matter of seconds, so you don’t have

to waste your time!

Here’s how it works:

First, the bright orange lever begins the

clever process by turning the machine on.

You then put the clean socks fresh from

the washing machine into the large funnel

at the top. A round dial adjusts the air

temperature. Watch in astonishment as

the machine methodically blow-dries the

socks and separates them onto a tray.

They then move along the conveyer belt to

be individually analysed by the computer.

Each sock is scanned and then they are

sorted into piles according to the style,

purpose and colour of the sock. After

this, they whizz down blue corrugated

tubes and then, the super clever bit …

robot-style arms fold the sock in pairs! Finally,

the socks are ordered, sorted and delivered into a

small wicker basket.

You can watch every element of the procedure. Just in

case of an emergency, such as the socks landing on the

tray before they are fully dried or socks becoming tangled in a tube, there

is a huge red ‘Stop’ button that pauses the whole system. It really is a

wondrous invention. Mr Dream is an amazing inventor!

SCAN

COMPLETE


Questions

1 How long does the machine take to fold the socks?

2 Who invented this machine?

3 In what type of emergency might you need to press the button to

pause the machine?

4 Write two questions you would ask Mr Dream about how the machine

works.

5 Do you think a sock-folding machine would be useful? Explain why or

why not.

6 What synonyms could you use to replace the word pondered?


Persuasive

No Rules at School!


Questions

1 What is the purpose of rules at school?

2 Why is the school holding a ‘No Rules at School’ Day?

3 What do children at this school usually have for snack?

4 Why do you think the children at this school aren’t normally allowed

to play football on the playground?

5 Which rule would you choose to ignore and why?

6 What synonyms could you use to replace the word annoys?


Imaginative

The Journey

The journey went on and on and on forever,

The back of my thighs stuck to the seats of leather,

The scorching sun beat through the window,

The journey went on and was extremely slow.

The radio was blaring and the air-con had broken,

It was miles and miles since anyone had spoken,

My brother on his phone and my sister reading a book,

I had nothing to do but out of the window look.

Whilst holding my breath to not be travel sick,

I dreamed of cold fizzy drinks and ice creams to lick,

Heading across country to a holiday house,

Taking everything with us, even our pet mouse.

The heat was a haze rising off the long road,

The suitcases weighing us down a load,

The journey went on and on and on forever,

To our holiday place in the summer weather.

The journey went on and on forever.


Questions

1 Where is the child going?

2 What type of vehicle is the child in?

3 Why is it so hot inside the vehicle?

4 Why do you think the child isn’t reading or using their phone like their

siblings?

5 How do you think the child will feel when they arrive at their

destination? Explain why.

6 (a) Which word rhymes with house?

(b) What other words rhyme with house?


Persuasive

Safety in the Sun

Bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine beaming down is fantastic for

fun outdoor activities, such as relaxing in the park, playing sports and

games, surfing or bodyboarding and spending time with family and friends.

But you need to be prepared and careful: the sun’s rays can be harmful

and damaging for our skin and health. Too much sun can cause sunburn,

sunstroke and dehydration, as well as having long-term effects.

How

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Questions

1 What type of hat does the article suggest wearing?

2 What two things does the article suggest checking your sunscreen for?

3 Why do you think you should never look directly at the sun?

4 Why should you drink plenty of water when out in the sun?

5 Do you think the use of bullet points in this text is effective? Why or

why not?

6 How does the prefix ‘de-’ change the meaning of the word hydrated?


Factual

How to Make a Tiger

Costume

Do you go into a panic when you see ‘fancy dress’ on a party invitation or

school event? Don’t despair! Here is a simple but fun and effective costume

you can make. Bonus—it is a generic idea so will be appropriate for many

different themes. Here’s how to be a tiger in quick and easy steps!

Materials:

• orange and black face paints (including a sponge and brush to apply

them)

• bright orange T-shirt

• black fabric pen

• old pair of black tights

• stick-on velcro tape

• black headband

• thick orange cardboard

• sticky tape

• newspaper (ensure the owner has finished reading it first)

Method:

1. For the tiger body, use the black fabric pen to draw widely-spaced

stripes onto the T-shirt.

2. To create a long tail, take one leg off the tights and stuff with

crumpled balls of newspaper. Use the stick-on velcro tape to secure

the tail to the base of the T-shirt.

3. To construct a pair of tiger ears, carefully cut two triangles out of the

orange card and sticky tape them to the black headband.

4. Apply orange face paint to the whole face using the sponge. Once the

orange base coat has dried fully, paint on a black nose, whiskers and

add black stripes.

5. Wear your costume with black trousers of your choice. Now you are

ready to become a tiger! (Have you practised your roar?)

*Always ask an adult for assistance. Ensure you are not allergic to the

face paints by testing a small patch of skin first. Follow the instructions

for the face paints.


Questions

1 What type of stripes do the instructions say to draw onto the

T-shirt?

2 What shape of card do you need to cut for the ears?

3 What is used to make the tail?

4 Why should you test the face paints on a small patch of skin first?

5 What different themes would a tiger costume be appropriate fancy

dress for?

6 What does the word generic mean?


Imaginative

The Painter

Tammy was passionate about painting and being creative! She could think

of nothing better than painting all day. Unfortunately, she also had to

go to school and do other homework. In her free time, Tammy painted

all sorts of things, from animals and landscapes to abstract creations,

depending on her mood at the time.

Her long brown plaits often had different coloured tips where they had

dipped into her paint pots. Her tatty old jeans not only had holes but a

variety of different coloured paint smudges. So did most of her

T-shirts. Tammy painted everywhere; at her kitchen table, in

the garden and at the park. Her favourite place to paint

was the beach. She had an emerald-coloured satchel (in

which she keep a palette, selection of paintbrushes, a

notebook and a tin of watercolour paints). She would

sling the bag over her shoulder and run to the beach

with it.

Sometimes, her friends would paint with her or

just sit and chat whilst Tammy painted. But the

majority of the time she was happy painting

alone. At the beach, Tammy would

collect pebbles and pieces of driftwood

she could paint too. When she was

out and about Tammy painted with

watercolours (because they were

easy to transport), but when she

was at home Tammy would use

all sorts of different paints.

She also experimented using

pastels, charcoal and pencil

crayons.


Questions

1 Where was Tammy’s favourite place to paint?

2 What colour was Tammy’s bag?

3 What stopped Tammy from painting all the time?

4 Explain why Tammy’s hair often had coloured tips.

5 Would you like to be friends with Tammy? Explain why or why not.

6 What does the word majority mean?


Persuasive

Plastic Packaging

Should plastic packaging of fruits and vegetables be allowed?

Many fruits and vegetables we purchase (from supermarkets in particular)

are wrapped in plastic packaging; cucumbers often come tightly wrapped

in plastic, apples in groups within a plastic bag, banana bunches placed in

plastic pockets and soft fruits such as strawberries or raspberries are sold

in plastic punnets.

Plastic is hygienic and clean, shielding its contents from dirt and germs.

It also protects the fruits and vegetables from being squashed, crushed

and destroyed before they reach the customer.

Unfortunately, all this plastic is bad for the environment. Is there an

alternative? Is this use of plastic necessary?

The biggest problem with plastic is it creates so much waste and fills

up landfill sites. Plastic doesn’t decompose. It has a big impact on our

planet. It is harmful to wildlife and pollutes our oceans.

There are other options, such as paper bags, nets and cardboard boxes, to

store and transport groceries. Some people may even argue that fruits and

vegetables should be sold loose in no container at all.

What do you think?

Does that cauliflower really

require a plastic sleeve?


Questions

1 Identify two soft fruits mentioned in the text.

2 Give two reasons why fruits and vegetables are sometimes sold in

plastic wrapping or containers.

3 What are two problems caused by too much plastic?

4 What would be a more environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic

punnets?

5 Do you think plastic packaging should be allowed? Give a reason for

your answer.

6 What does the word decompose mean?


Imaginative

The Problem with Plastic Bags

Scene 1: At the supermarket checkout, Ella and Tom

are helping Gran do her weekly shop.

Shopkeeper:

How many plastic bags do you want

for your shopping today? There is a

marginal fee for each one you have used, so I need to include the

charge with your shopping bill.

Gran:

Ella:

Could I purchase five of the bags please, and I hope they have nice strong

handles on them because we are on the bus today.

Tom and I can pack the shopping for you Gran, and we will help carry the

bags home too—we may as well be useful while we are here.

Ella, Tom and Gran pack the shopping into the bags and stroll out to the bus stop

together, each carrying a plastic bag or two of shopping.

Scene 2: Ella, Tom and Gran are sat on the bus, on their way home, with the

shopping bags at their feet. Ella and Tom explain why plastic bags are damaging

the environment and the three of them consider how they can be kinder to the

environment.

Gran:

Ella:

Gran:

Tom:

Ella:

Gran:

Tom:

I don’t understand why we have to pay for the plastic bags now; we never

used to do so.

Gran, it’s because they are so terrible for the environment and cause

irreversible harm to our planet. Subsequently, there is now a charge for

the bags to dissuade their single use.

Oh, I see, I didn’t understand they were so bad for the environment.

Plastic bags are often used once and then thrown away. They usually end

up in landfill sites and last for thousands of years!

These plastic bags use lots of resources to make—they are detrimental to

our world. Instead of putting them in the bin, let’s reuse them. We can

store them safely and use them next time we go to the supermarket or

shopping.

Great idea! Shall we put the bags in my handbag once we have unpacked

so we don’t forget them on our next shopping trip?

Fantastic plan, Gran! Oh, I think this is our stop just here.

Scene 3: Ella, Tom and Gran are walking back to the house. During their walk, they

observe plastic bags littering the street. Upsettingly, they then watch plastic bags

floating in the river.

Tom:

Ella:

Gran:

These plastic bags are extremely harmful to wildlife, I hate seeing them

discarded in the river like this.

Plastic bags often end up in the ocean too, destroying the habitat, putting

the poor defenceless animals in unnecessary danger. It’s so heartbreaking.

Well, I’ve definitely made up my mind to reuse bags where I can!


Questions

1 Where were Gran, Ella and Tom shopping?

2 How many plastic bags does Gran use for her shopping?

3 What does Ella want to do with the plastic bags that Gran bought?

4 How do Ella, Tom and Gran feel when they see plastic bags in the

river?

5 Do you think Gran has a good relationship with her grandchildren?

Why or why not?

6 What does the word dissuade mean?


Persuasive

Please Can I Have a Pet?

To my wonderful, caring and understanding parents

I am writing to ask if you could kindly agree to allow me to have a pet. I

really don’t mind what type of pet; for example, it could be a dog, a cat,

a hamster, a horse or even a gecko. Although I appreciate that you have

already said no, I fear you have been too hasty in your decision. There are

so many reasons why I should be allowed to have a pet of my very own.

Firstly, a pet teaches responsibility which is a hugely valuable life skill

that I need. I promise that I will clean (yes, even the stinky poo), feed,

exercise and care for my pet regularly. You won’t need to lift a finger.

Being nearly ten, I am fully capable of remembering to feed my pet and

check they have clean water daily. However, just in case, I can also set

myself an alarm on my watch to remind me.

Next, I wish to inform you of the positive impact a pet can have on my

well-being. Pets provide unconditional love and a calming influence on

their owners. A pet (such as a beautiful fish to gaze at or a guinea pig to

cuddle) would ensure I always have a companion to keep me company and I

would never be bored.

Finally, if I was allowed to have a dog or even a horse then I would be

getting lots of exercise, which is great, right? I would definitely walk the

dog every day and take the dog to training lessons. I bet I could even

teach it tricks!

As you can see, it really is extremely

beneficial for me to have a pet of my

own. Please reconsider.

Yours sincerely

Your very responsible,

loving and currently

pet-less son.

P.S. Just a fish

would be

fine!


Questions

1 What type of pet does the boy want?

2 How will the boy remember to feed his pet daily?

3 Which task involved in looking after a pet do you think the boy will

find most challenging? Use evidence from the text to support your

answer.

4 What pet would you choose for the boy and why?

5 Do you think the letter will persuade the boy’s parents to let him have

a pet? Why or why not?

6 What does the word beneficial mean?


Imaginative

Making a Splash

Yesterday, I visited the recently renovated Whizz Waterfall Water Park.

Wow! What a dramatic upgrade! Not only are there fantastic new slides

and rides, but the whole venue has undergone a radical upgrade. The

tourist attraction has arrived into the digital age with a bang!

On arrival, the automated ticket machine and robotic system discharges

your electronic bands, which provide entry to the building. They also give

personalised barcodes, to give access to free lockers where you can safely

store your belongings. Escalators ensure a smooth ride to the changing

facilities. The whole environment is fresh, modern and futuristic. There

are plenty of showers, individual changing rooms, mirrors and hairdryers.

Whatever you need, it is there.

I loved the rainforest theme used throughout the park. The temperature

was tropical both in and out of the water—no goosebumps in sight. The

music floated out of the digitalised sound system, creating a calm and

relaxing atmosphere.

There is so much to do! There are wave machines, floating pools,

waterfalls, hot tubs, bubble pools and slides—so many awesome new

slides. Those who wish to relax can chill out in the bubble zones and hot

tubs, whilst people seeking more excitement can head for the thrilling

slides and water rides.

My favourite new slide is the ‘Tiger Trail’, boasting a bright orange and

black-stripe tube. First, you are issued with an inflatable ring. Then the

ride starts with a shocking drop and jets of water. There are then a series

of speedy twists and turns through the dark tunnel. It finally spits you

out into a deep pool of sparkling water. Other fun attractions include the

‘Wishing Waterfall’ ride and the ‘Snake Slide’.

It was a super experience for the whole family.


Questions

1 What tourist attraction is being reviewed?

2 What is the name of the writer’s favourite slide?

3 What evidence is there that the water park is high-tech?

4 Why does the writer say there were ‘no goosebumps in sight’?

5 Would you like to visit the water park? Why or why not?

6 What synonyms could you use instead of the word futuristic?

Tigi

Thi


Factual

My Disastrous Camping Trip

Friday

The weather has been glorious for weeks, with beautiful sunshine and

bright blue skies while we have been stuck inside a classroom at boring

school. Finally, the holidays are here! Tomorrow, we are going camping

and I can’t wait. I’ve packed my bag with shorts, T-shirts, sunscreen, my

sunglasses, a book, a torch and shoes. My parents are sorting the camping

stuff. We have borrowed my uncle’s fancy tent

with inflatable poles, two bedroom compartments

and a central area. We also have a camping

stove, cosy sleeping bags and airbeds.

Saturday

I was rudely awakened this morning by my

irritating younger sister but I didn’t mind too

much. My parents had already loaded the car

and the bikes were fitted onto the roof. We weren’t allowed to take

our phones or tablets camping, which was a bit annoying, but I was still

excited. We finally set off …

Suddenly, we came to a halt because the traffic was at a standstill. We

were going nowhere. Impatiently, people honked their horns and drivers

shouted at each other. It took three hours to get through the roadworks.

There was nothing to do, I was so bored. I couldn’t believe our parents

hadn’t allowed us to bring our tablets.

We cheered when we slowly began to set off again. Then the torrential

rain started. The sky turned black and thunderous-looking clouds rolled

overhead. Rain pounded the windows, bulbous drops slid down the glass

and I was wishing I had packed a waterproof coat.

Finally, we arrived at the campsite but it didn’t look quite like the

brochure. Surprisingly, the entrance gate was broken and the pitches

looked like a sea of brown sludge with just the odd spike of green grass

poking through. We were allotted a space right next to the bathroom

facilities, which were extraordinarily stinky. I had to hold my nose as I got

out of the car and promptly lost my shoe in the mud. Unbelievably, my

parents managed to erect the tent in the drizzling rain. I was so frozen I

couldn’t get into my sleeping bag fast enough!

Sunday

What a disastrous night! A barking dog kept us awake and I just couldn’t

get warm in my sleeping bag. Unfortunately, the inflatable poles didn’t

hold up and the tent deflated and collapsed in the middle of the night. By

5 am we were back in the car and heading home.


Questions

1 Whose tent did the family borrow?

2 What had kept the family awake all night?

3 Explain why the packing was inadequate.

4 What was disastrous about the camping trip?

5 Do you think the family should have abandoned their camping trip so

quickly? Why or why not?

6 What effect does the prefix ‘un-’ have on the word fortunately?


Imaginative

The Old Station

Olivia walked down the long narrow

lane, which had tufts of grass

growing in the middle of it, towards

the old railway track. She could feel

the warm breeze on her skin as the sun

set in the distance. It was so quiet she

could hear the sound of her footsteps on

the crumbly concrete. The hedges on either

side of the lane were overgrown and Olivia

felt as if they were closing in on her; as if they

were narrowing the lane as she progressed. The

brambles were leaning into her path and a couple

of times she caught her arm on a spiky thorn that

scratched her.

The ancient station loomed up ahead and appeared to

leap out of the shadows. The dark bricks were starting

to disintegrate and the wooden window frames had rotted

around broken glass planes. There were tiles missing from the roof. It felt

eerie and sad. The tracks that ran in front of the station were rusty and

cracked. Plants creeped from under the old door and flakes of blue paint

were peeling off.

Surely no-one has ever lived here, she thought, but the letter clearly bore

this address.


Questions

1 What did Olivia scratch her arm on while walking to the station?

2 What had happened to the railway tracks?

3 Why do you think Olivia was walking to the station?

4 How do you think Olivia was feeling?

5 What genre do you think this story is? Explain why.

6 What does eerie mean?


Persuasive

Mus Moms Wsos

Musical Moments Workshops

Come and learn about music with Musical Moments workshops.

Experience music lessons with a difference; an explosion of musical

experiences all in one place!

Here, we provide opportunities

to immerse yourself in a

variety of music styles. There

are different workshops run

throughout the building—you

can drop in and move around

as you wish.

People can explore and try out

a range of instruments including

woodwind, string and percussion.

We have a wide selection of

digital equipment and use different

devices to enhance our learning

experience.

Music is explored as a group

rather than individually. Everyone

is included and valued, no matter

what your previous encounters

have been.

You can have a go at writing a song

or a rap, be part of a band, compose

your own piece of music or become

a DJ for an hour. You can practise

reading music or take part in an

African drumming workshop.

Throughout the sessions, we

celebrate and enjoy all kinds

of music. We listen to music

from all different eras and from

around the world.

Sessions take place on a Saturday morning and each week you

will find a wealth of different opportunities to immerse yourself

in. All ages and abilities welcomed.


Questions

1 What is being advertised?

2 When do the sessions take place?

3 Why do they use digital equipment?

4 Briefly explain how you think these music sessions might be different

to other music lessons.

5 Do the music workshops sound fun to you? Why or why not?

6 What does the word immerse mean?


Imaginative

River Side

The afternoon sun felt warm on Annabel’s face as she sat on the boat

wearing a bright yellow life jacket, ready to set off on her very first trip

down the river. The river sparkled in the sunlight. It looked like a pane of

glass, smooth and transparent. The tall trees lining the waterway cast fun

shadows on the water. The gravel and small stones of the path crunched

under the tyres of the bicycles peddling along. Dogs barked and people

out walking waved to each other. The river boats, full of holidaymakers,

navigated the tricky bends. Patiently, people fishing sat on small stools

with tents and boxes full of bait and hooks. Two graceful swans rippled

the water as they swam along with their cygnets following. Paddleboards

glided along (or in some cases wobbled) and excited children fed the

ducks. Annabel smiled.


Questions

1 What was making shadows on the water?

2 Who was feeding the ducks?

3 Why do you think Annabel was wearing a life jacket?

4 Do you think Annabel is looking forward to her boat trip? Why or why

not?

5 Describe the atmosphere created by the description.

6 Which word in the text is the name for a baby swan?


Persuasive

Should the School Day

Be Extended?

What would you think if the government proposed to extend the school

day? Yes, the government has suggested making the school day even

longer!

Personally, I think that six hours at school is more than enough each day

as it is. I cannot think of anything worse than staying at school for more

time. School is really boring and you have to sit at a desk for hours. I

would much rather be chilling out at home or playing sports.

The government argues that the extra time will be used to provide fun,

enjoyable activities. Activities such as skateboarding, woodwork, first

aid, cooking sessions and computer coding. Apparently, by extending the

school day they can improve the curriculum and deliver a wider range of

opportunities and skill sets. We would be able to access and develop key

life skills.

Furthermore, my parents believe

that lengthening the school day

is a great idea as they will not

need to worry about childcare.

The average working day starts

earlier and ends after the school

day, causing logistical issues.

If parents could drop us safely

at school before heading off

to work and then collect us

afterwards without having to

rush, life would be easier for

them.

However, going to school is

exhausting as it is. Imagine how

tired we would be if we had to

go in earlier and leave later.

Although I like skateboarding

and cooking, I would much

rather be able to experience this

in my free time without it being

structured and formal. I need

time to relax. I really hope they

don’t extend the school day.


Questions

1 What has the government proposed?

2 Which adults agree the school day should be extended?

3 What does the child not like about school?

4 Explain what the difference between doing an activity at home and

doing the same activity at school might be.

5 Do you think the school day should be extended? Why or why not?

6 What does the word exhausting mean?


Imaginative

Off on an Adventure

Tony had always dreamed of going into space. He would spend hours

reading books and watching videos. Tony and his best friend Rosie, who

lived across the street but didn’t go to his school, would camp in the

garden on warm evenings and stare up at the stars from their sleeping

bags. Rosie could name all the constellations.

For ‘World Book Day’ Tony knew straightaway he wanted to dress up as

an astronaut. Rosie and Tony made his costume together. They collected

cardboard boxes and painted them white. Tony practised walking like he

was on the moon, which was harder than he thought—he kept bumping into

the living room furniture as he had trouble seeing out of his cardboard

costume. In the end, Rosie adapted the helmet to avoid any injuries.

You’re wondering what Rosie went as, aren’t you? Perhaps an astronaut

too, or a shooting star? Well, Rosie’s school had decided that instead of

the children dressing as book characters that year, they could all come to

school in their pyjamas. Rosie was happy about this—she had the perfect

pyjamas that were covered in planets and stars.

The evening before ‘World Book Day’, Tony was snuggling into bed when

he heard a strange beeping outside his window. Cautiously, Tony crept

out of bed and over to his window to peep around the curtains. He

couldn’t believe his eyes! There, in the middle of the lawn, was a gigantic

spaceship glowing bright blue. Quickly, he searched under his bed for the

walkie-talkie he and Rosie often used to communicate and radioed across

to his friend.


Questions

1 Who is Tony’s best friend?

2 What did Tony and Rosie use to make Tony’s astronaut costume?

3 Do you think Rosie is interested in space, like Tony? Why or why not?

4 Why didn’t Rosie have an astronaut costume for World Book Day?

5 What do you think happened next in the story?

6 What does the word adapted mean?


Persuasive

A New Skatepark

People have gathered in the town hall to discuss their opinions on a

proposal to build a new skatepark. There are varying views, with some

people strongly disagreeing and others in favour. Let’s take a look at some

of the arguments.

I object to a new skatepark

being built, due to concerns

regarding antisocial behaviour.

I am really worried that the

skatepark would be a concrete

monstrosity in the middle of

a beautiful green landscape,

because at the moment the

park is beautiful and full of

trees and greenery, not horrible

concrete blocks.

A skatepark is a

fantastic idea because

it would provide the

community with a place

to exercise, have fun and

socialise. It would be an

invaluable leisure facility

for the area and attract

tourists to the region.

People (young and old) could gain important life skills at the

skatepark. Skating is not only great fun, it helps develop

determination, perseverance, confidence and courage. Lifelong

friendships can be established in a supportive, friendly environment.

It is a sport that will support people’s physical and mental health.

I disagree with the proposal

to build a skatepark. They can

be really dangerous. People

might hurt themselves.

The skatepark would be

enjoyed by families, groups

of friends and individuals. It

would be a facility where you

can skateboard, rollerblade,

scoot or cycle. People could

practise new skills and enjoy

the sport.


Questions

1 What are the people discussing?

2 What life skills can be developed at a skatepark?

3 What would the skatepark be made of?

4 Why might attracting tourists be a positive thing for the community?

5 Do you think a skatepark should be built? Why or why not?

6 What does the word invaluable mean?


Factual

An Art Review

Georges Seurat was a French painter who was born in Paris in 1859. He

died at the young age of thirty-one. A Sunday on La Grande Jatte is one of

his famous paintings.

Looking at the scene, I get a real sense of the island. It is a busy and

lively setting with lots going on, there are people relaxing on the grass,

children playing, families and friends chatting and characters accompanied

by their dogs. On the water, a team of rowers can be seen amongst

other boats enjoying leisure activities. There is a feeling of happiness and

enjoyment.

The sunshine radiates from the picture, with the light captured in the

bright colours and use of shadows. In the painting, people are holding

parasols to shade themselves from the sun’s rays.

To me, it feels as if a moment in time has been captured by the artist.

There are little clues to the era of the painting, evident in the clothes

people are wearing. There are men in top hats and ladies in long, corseted

dresses. A pet monkey can also be seen in the foreground.

Georges Seurat used a clever technique called pointillism. His paintings

were created using tiny little dots or brush strokes of paint in vibrant

colours. Our eyes blend the colours together so blue and yellow dots

next to each other are seen as green. It can take an incredibly long

time to produce pieces of artwork in this way so he must have been very

persistent. But it can also be calming and relaxing to generate pictures

using minuscule flecks of colour. Why don't you try it? What images can

you make using dots?


Questions

1 What is the name of the artist?

2 Where was the painter from?

3 How do we know the work was painted in the 19th century?

4 How do we know it is a sunny day in the painting?

5 Do you like the technique used to create the painting? Why or why

not?

6 What does persistent mean?


Persuasive

An Advertisement for a

New Chocolate Bar

FRUIT

FOUNTAIN

CHOCOLATE

BAR

Av t

t

B

s t

Wt n

s s

st t

t s

t t b

s t

flv

A chocolate bar

version of the

simple but classic

forest fruits and

cream dessert.

compacted into a

handy chocolate

bar ready to eat,

on the go, any

time of day!

The Fabulous Fruit Fountain

chocolate bar—it’s so

refreshingly different.

A t

s s

b ts s

d ds b

nn t

A p t

sn d t

n

flv t n ss

Cn s t tt t


Questions

1 What is in the centre of this new chocolate bar?

2 What dessert is the chocolate bar compared to?

3 (a) What rhetorical question does the author ask?

(b) What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?

4 Would you buy this chocolate bar? Explain why or why not.

5 Do you think the name ‘Fruit Fountain’ is a good choice for this

chocolate bar? Explain why or why not.

6 What does the word encasing mean?

FRUIT

FOUNTAIN

CHOCOLATE

BAR


Factual

Roller Skating

My favourite hobby is roller skating. Roller skating is lots of fun but can

be dangerous, so you need to check your equipment carefully. Here is some

of the equipment I use when I roller skate:

Helmet

A helmet helps to protect your head if you fall over.

Make sure the strap under your chin is done up and

the helmet fits your head securely. Most helmets are

adjustable so you can tighten or loosen them to fit. If

you drop your helmet or you have an accident, you should

replace the helmet straight away.

Pads

You can wear pads to shield your knees. The velcro

straps make sure they stay in position and the hard

shell cushions your knees if you land on them.

Wrist guards support your wrists if you put out your

arm to break a fall.

Elbow pads can reduce the risk of injury to your elbows.

Boots

Roller skates have four wheels arranged in a

quadrilateral. Make sure the laces are tied up tightly;

you don’t want to get in a tangle while skating.

Rollerblades have the wheels in a row down the centre

of the boot.


Questions

1 What is the purpose of wrist guards?

2 Which piece of equipment can reduce the risk of injury to your elbows?

3 Why should you replace your helmet if it is dropped?

4 Why should you ensure your laces are tied up tightly?

5 Why do you think the subheadings were used?

6 What does the word protect mean?


Persuasive

The Kids’ Hotel

The Kids’ Hotel

Come to The Kids’ Hotel for a fabulous

holiday! This hotel is designed with the

whole family in mind, with a particular

focus on the kids.

At The Kids’ Hotel it is all about

having fun! There are fabulous themed

bedrooms, free gaming consoles with a

wide range of games, and the biggest

indoor playground you have ever seen!

Enjoy a cosy cinema complete with

bouncy chairs, plus a roller skating rink

and a perfect pool with a sensational

splash pad.

You won’t find boring stairs here to climb. Instead, to transport

you around the hotel from one brilliant area to another, there are

exciting slides, twisting tunnels, cargo nets and escalators!

Does all that make you feel hungry?

Fear not! The Kids’ Hotel has an

extensive range of delicious, mouthwatering

food. What’s more, it’s all

included in the price of the hotel stay!

Simply help yourself to tasty treats

and mesmerising mouthfuls—no need to

scramble around for money!


Questions

1 What type of chairs will you find in The Kids’ Hotel cinema?

2 What is special about the bedrooms at The Kids’ Hotel?

3 Why are there no stairs at the hotel?

4 Why don’t you need money to pay for the food?

5 Would you like to stay at The Kids’ Hotel for a holiday? Explain why

or why not.

6 List three synonyms for the word sensational.


Imaginative

A Trip to Rome

CITY

COLOSSEUM

CAFE

THE

Ben couldn’t believe his luck when the school had announced that they

were running a residential trip to Rome, Italy. He had always been

fascinated by Ancient Rome and the chance to visit the world-famous

Colosseum was something not to be missed. After months of anticipation

he was finally on the bus and waving out the window to his parents.

Unfortunately, before he could set eyes on the impressive oval

amphitheatre, he would have to spend hours on a cramped bus. To make

matters worse, Ben was sat next to a classmate who had already dozed

off. This would have been fine, except he was snoring extremely loudly

whilst drool trickled out the corner of his mouth. However, as far as Ben

was concerned it would be worth it. He couldn’t wait to set foot in Rome

and stand in front of the gigantic arena. He imagined himself exploring the

impressive stone structure.

It wasn’t long before Ben himself drifted off to sleep. Dreams of

gladiators and battles within the Colosseum began to float around Ben’s

head. In his dreams, the arena was full of spectators cheering and shouting

wildly. The Colosseum no longer looked like a ruin. It was as if Ben had

gone back in time and was in Ancient Rome.

Suddenly the bus came to an abrupt stop, jolting Ben awake …


Questions

1 How was Ben travelling to Rome?

2 What period in history had always fascinated Ben?

3 Which part of the trip to Rome do you think Ben was looking forward

to the most?

4 Why was the transport uncomfortable?

5 What do you think happens next?

6 What does the word abrupt mean?


Persuasive

Time to Game

Do you like to play computer games? Computer games are very popular

amongst children and young adults. There are hundreds of different

computer games you can play both online and offline. Also, there are

many different gaming consoles and a wide variety of devices that support

gaming, including phones, tablets, laptops and computers. This means you

can play computer games at home and on the go! But is gaming useful in

the classroom? Should gaming be on the school curriculum? Or is it just a

hobby?

Playing computer games could teach children a wide variety of skills such

as teamwork and cooperation. Multiplayer games require participants to

work together and help each other. These are really useful skills. Other

skills developed include problem-solving and perseverance. In video games

you often have to work out what to do next, where to go or how to tackle

a task.

Many computer games also

require participants to use

and practise other topic

areas such as reading and

mathematics. Computer

games can help children

to engage and enjoy their

learning, while making it

personalised and at an

appropriate level to the

individual.

Then there are also the

computer skills you can

develop through gaming

such as mouse control,

typing and using a range of

applications.

Perhaps playing computer

games could inspire children

to pursue a career in

gaming? Many different

skills are needed to create

computer games, including

animation and writing.


Questions

1 Where does the article argue computer games should be played?

2 Write two skills that multiplayer games develop.

3 What are two skills used to create computer games?

4 How do you think computer games develop perseverance?

5 Do you think computer games should be used in the classroom?

Why or why not?

6 What does the word cooperation mean?


Factual

Rainbow Smoothie

Brighten your day with this magnificent rainbow smoothie. This healthy

treat contains fruits of every colour, carefully blended together. This

smoothie is imaginative and fun with flexible ingredients. You can whip up

a delicious treat at any time with the fruits or vegetables you have in the

fridge or cupboard. The only requirement is that it contains all the colours

of the rainbow; so if you have no strawberries, simply replace them with

cherries, raspberries or redcurrants.

Example Ingredients:

• A handful of large strawberries

• A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice

• 1 banana (peeled and sliced)

• 1 green apple (peeled, cored and chopped)

• A couple of plump blueberries

Always get an

adult to help you

in the kitchen. Be

careful with sharp

knives and cooking

utensils!

• A few juicy blackberries

Method:

Recipes don’t get

much simpler than

this one! Simply

get an adult to add

all the ingredients

into a blender and

whizz until smooth.

If the mixture is

too thick, pour in a

splash of cold water

until the smoothie is

the consistency you

prefer. Decant the

fusion of fruits into a

tall glass. Enjoy your

rainbow smoothie!

Don’

No p o n

pip

Yum


Questions

1 What does the recipe suggest adding if your mixture is too thick?

2 Which red ingredients does the recipe suggest as an alternative to

strawberries?

3 Explain why this is called a rainbow smoothie.

4 What makes this recipe flexible?

5 What six fruits would you choose for a rainbow smoothie?

6 Which word in the text means ‘to empty out’?


Factual

All Before Breakfast

for a Farmer

Dear Diary

My alarm rudely awoke me at four o’clock this morning before the sun

had risen. It felt like my head had only just hit the pillow and my eyelids

softly closed for a moment or two when my alarm went off. I hit the

snooze button, which meant I then experienced the whole dreadful event

again. Twice was definitely enough, so I dragged my body out of the warm

cosy bed into the cold air. I quickly threw on my jeans, a thick jumper and

some warm woolly socks. Once downstairs, I popped the kettle on.

After enjoying a hot cup of tea and fussing over Molly, my excitable

border collie, I pulled on my boots and put my head torch on. It was still

completely dark outside. The air was cold but it wasn’t raining.

In the yard, I could hear the black and white Friesian cows’ hooves on the

concrete floor, their gentle mooing and the water tank refilling itself. I

started up the noisy milking machine in the parlour and flicked on the radio

and the lights. Next, I checked the huge cooling tank in the dairy.

I put on my apron and gloves before letting in the first six cows on the

right-hand side of the parlour for milking. The cow feed rattled down the

pipes into the feeding trays. First, I washed the cows’ udders to remove

any mud. Then I started to put the clusters onto the cows. The milk

gushed into the glass jars and through the system before going into the

cooling tank. Once all six cows had the milking clusters on, I let the next

six cows in on the left-hand side.

One hundred and twenty-four cows later and it was time to wash down. I

used the pressure washer to clean the floors. The water flushed through

the jars while the milk cooled in the tank. The cows were back in the yard.

By this time it was light outside but the skies were grey.

After breakfast, it will be time to clean the barns and put in the hay. The

tanker will arrive mid-morning to collect the milk. But for now it’s time

for a well-earned breakfast—my favourite, scrambled eggs on toast.


Questions

Questions

1 What type of cows does the farmer have?

2 How many cows does the farmer milk?

3 Why do you think the farmer wears an apron and gloves?

4 Do you think the farmer likes getting up so early? Use evidence from

the text to explain your answer.

5 Do you agree the farmer’s breakfast was well-earned? Explain why or

why not.

6 What does the word flushed mean?


Imaginative

The Eventful Hockey Match

The goalkeeper from the blue team bounced up and down in the goal area,

anxiously waiting for the match to start. The referee blew the whistle

and suddenly they were off. Player number four on the blue team skilfully

dribbled the ball down the pitch, dodging in and out of the opposition

players with ease, and took a shot at the goal. The red team’s goalkeeper

did a tremendous dive and stopped the ball just in time. Huge cheers

erupted from the red team’s spectators (parents, grandparents, siblings

and friends of the players). Not to be deterred, the blue team fought

on, determinedly moving and passing amongst themselves. They held the

majority of the possession for the first half. However, the reds defended

well and no goals were conceded. By half time, neither team had scored.

Both teams looked a little deflated beginning the second half. They

trudged onto the pitch with their heads down. Nevertheless, the whistle

went and the players set off. Then, unexpectedly, the referee slipped and

landed face down in a puddle of mud! The players froze and didn’t know

what to do; the spectators held their breath until the referee stood up

laughing. Everyone else started laughing and the spectators clapped. The

game continued once more.

Abruptly, the whistle went again and the players stopped—now there was a

fluffy white dog running around the pitch with his lead dragging behind him.

He ran in circles around each child on the pitch and then went straight

for the ball, taking off with it around the park! The spectators gasped and

shouted, ‘Stop that dog!’ The players fell about laughing.

Finally, the owner of the dog was discovered and

reunited with their dog. A new ball was found and

the game continued. The final score was nil all, but

although the score was rather uneventful the game

definitely hadn’t been!


Questions

1 What colour is each team’s kit?

2 Describe the dog.

3 Explain what made the game eventful.

4 How did the players feel about the dog stealing the ball?

5 Do you think the players enjoyed the hockey match? Explain your

answer.

6 What effect does the prefix ‘un-’ have on the word expectedly?


Factual

A Cool Couscous Salad

Are you tired of soggy, uninspiring sandwiches for lunch?

Does your heart sink when you open your lunch box

only to find a boring, dried-out sandwich, the same as

yesterday? Then try this delicious couscous salad.

It is wonderfully refreshing!

*Always ask an adult to help you prepare food and

be extra careful with kitchen utensils.

Ingredients

• 75 g couscous

• juice and zest of an unwaxed lemon

• small handful of freshly picked parsley leaves, finely chopped

• some cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves or quarters

• cucumber, cut into tiny chunks

• green pepper, diced

• small carrot, cubed

Method

1. With adult assistance, prepare the couscous according to the packet’s

instructions.

2. Carefully prepare the fresh ingredients as listed above.

3. Place cooled couscous in a large bowl. Add all the remaining

ingredients.

4. Gently mix all the elements together.

5. Pour into a container and secure the lid. Place in your lunch box or

bag.

Alternatively, you can prepare the previous day.

Store in the fridge overnight to avoid a

rush in the morning.

Don’t forget to take a spoon

or fork to eat it with!


Questions

1 What colour pepper does the recipe suggest?

2 What type of lemon is needed?

3 Why do you think you need to ask an adult for help when preparing

food?

4 Why does the recipe suggest preparing the salad the night before?

5 What do you like to eat for lunch and why?

6 What does the word elements mean?


Answers

Answers

Like a Dragon I Be

1. green/emerald green

2. layers of glass

3. The first line states the walker

went ‘far away’, the walker uses

a map which suggests it is a long

distance, and the walker goes over

fields and up a hill.

4. The walker compares herself to a

dragon because she can see her

breath in the cold air. In the cold

air, her breath is like puffs of mist

or clouds, like a dragon with smoke

coming from its mouth.

5. Answers will vary.

6. Example answers: pieces,

fragments, splinters, bits, slices,

sharp pieces, spikes

My Friend Fern’s Fabulous Fruit

Cakes

1. 175 g + 50 g = 225 g sugar in total

2. raisins, sultanas, cranberries,

cherries

3. It is important to ask an adult to

help when cooking or baking as it

can be dangerous. The oven can

be hot and there is a risk of being

burnt.

4. To allow space for the cakes to

rise in the oven while cooking.


6. Glacé mean having a smooth

surface with a high polish or lustre.

A Play

1. a new virtual reality racing game

2. Mum suggests washing the car, to

earn money for a new game and

help with chores around the house.

3. dialogue, stage directions, setting

the scene


5. This is an open-ended question, so

answers will vary. Children should

suggest a suitable title linked to

the content; for example, The Car

Wash or A New Virtual Reality

Game.

6. Chores means jobs, household tasks

and errands.

All About Tapirs

1. Yes, tapirs can swim well.

2. fruits, leaves and branches

3. pig

4. Tapirs live in forests and

grasslands, but can also be found

in mountains.


6. Endangered means in danger of

becoming extinct.

A New School Year

1. seeing friends and classmates again

2. new school uniform

3. No, they describe the new shoes as

rigid and uncomfortable.

4. Like rockets around the playground

we zoom; times tables as quick as

lightning.


6. Fatigued means very tired and

exhausted.


Swimming

1. a swimming pool

2. the sister

3. No, because her hair is wet and

stuck to her face.

4. She needed a black marker and

didn’t have one in her pencil case.

5. Yes:

Sight – the sister swimming, the

movement of the water, the water

bottles, the goggles, the floats,

the swimming cap, the colouring

book and pencil case.

Taste – the spicy noodles.

Hear – the voices echoing, the

tummy rumbling.

Touch – the thighs sticking to

the plastic chair, the toe dipping

into the puddle, the wet hair flat

against the face.

Smell – the chemicals used to

keep the pool clean.

6. Discarded means thrown away or

left.

Trip to the Library

1. a firefighter in a fire engine, a

dinosaur, a bear cub, a crocodile

2. picture books

3. Their younger cousin is too noisy at

the library and everyone, including

a classmate, was looking at them.

4. a sleeping baby

Looking After My Guinea Pigs

1. water

2. brassicas – kale and broccoli

3. wood shavings

4. hay


6. Enclosure means pen, space, fenced

area, area, paddock or run.

Sally’s Surfing Club

1. wetsuits, beach shoes, surfboards

and helmets

2. swim confidently

3. You can develop and learn at your

own pace.

4. weekly/every week

5. The text uses rhetorical questions

and convincing language. It also

provides reasons to learn to surf.

6. Aroma means smell or fragrance.

How to Make a Delicious Banana

Dessert

1. one medium-sized banana

2. chocolate

3. four

4. The kitchen can be dangerous – it

has the cooker which can burn and

sharp knives etc.


6. Dollop means lump, clump, blob,

ball or mound.


6. Bellowed means to shout loudly.


Answers

The Test

1. ruler and pencil

2. prepared

3. mathematics

4. The child is feeling nervous, scared

and worried about their test.


6. Plagued means tormented by,

troubled by, worried by, hounded

and disturbed.

An Interview with a Teacher

1. Labrador

2. a bike

3. Yes, because he hints at rumours

that he eats cake all day. He

lists lots of different occasions or

reasons when he eats cake.

4. He finds it cold, especially if he’s

forgotten his gloves, and he would

much rather be inside drinking tea.


6. Contrary means different, different

to, in contrast with, and opposite

of.


1. one

2. approximately 27 days

3. 1969

4. The moon reflects the light from

the sun.


6. Orbit means to travel around on

course.

The Mystery of the Lost Elephant

1. a toy elephant

2. In a tree with a cat at the park

on the route to nursery from Jay’s

house.

3. Jay thought that would be the

easiest way to find where the

elephant had been lost.

4. Aaron likes making jokes. He jokes

that Rosie didn’t take any steps

in her pushchair and also that the

elephant is meowing in the tree

when it is the cat.


6. Pondering means to think over,

consider or reflect on.

The Berry Hunt

1. a cave lion

2. Mother is using flint stones to

start a fire.

3. It would be too dangerous and the

boys also need to learn to be quiet

first.

4. To check she is not looking, as he

knows he should not really throw

berries and he doesn’t want his

mother to see.

5. This story is set in the stone age.

The evidence in the text includes:

Living in a cave, cave paintings,

hunting with a spear, making a fire

with flint, wearing animal skins, and

animals such as cave lions and wild

boar.

6. Synonyms for proposed are

suggested, planned and

recommended.


Pick Up Rubbish

1. To pick up your litter, not to leave

rubbish behind.

2. Pocket, bag, bin (also accept ‘take

it home’, ‘recycle it’ and ‘reuse

it’).

3. Animals can get stuck or tangled

in litter. Litter can destroy and

contaminate animals’ habitats.

4. Answers will vary. Children should

suggest an item packets could be

made into or another use for a

packet; for example, a blanket, a

watering can, or a bag.


6. Transformed means to change in

some way.

The New Restaurant

1. Out for dinner/a meal at a new

restaurant in the centre of town,

on its opening night.

2. Yes, he says his grandad’s food is

the best ever.

3. Matthew’s grandad

4. Answers will vary. Example

answers: She doesn’t want to be

late. She wants the evening to go

well for Matthew’s grandad.


6. Anxious means worried, concerned

and nervous.

Horrid Homework

1. on a Friday, for the weekend

2. the brother

3. One of the following: going to the

park, playing cricket, cycling or

swimming.

4. The child thinks they do enough

work at school and they like doing

other activities at the weekend.


6. When the prefix is added the word

holds the opposite meaning. It

means not interesting.

Sumptuous Sandwich

1. thick, crusty white

2. four

3. It has two layers of filling with a

piece of bread in between.

4. You need to have clean hands

before preparing food.


6. Indulgent means luxurious,

extravagant and greedy.

Nits

1. The teachers of the school sent an

email to advise parents/guardians/

children how to tackle nits.

2. Just the thought of nits and

hearing someone talk about them

crawling around made the child feel

itchy.

3. Tying up hair reduces the risk of

nits transferring from person to

person.

4. Head lice live in people’s hair.

5. Answers will vary. Example

answers: red, bed, said, fed, dead,

lead.

6. Advising means recommending,

suggesting, requesting, instructing

or warning.


Answers

Colour-changing Celery

1. The pipette is used to put food

colouring into each vase.

2. red, yellow, blue

3. To shield your eyes and protect

clothing from the food colouring.

4. How water travels to different

parts of a plant.

5. To organise the information and to

make it clearer to the reader.

6. A hypothesis is a guess based on

knowledge; a statement to show

what you think will happen.

Herbs in the Kitchen

1. cress

2. coriander

3. water and sun

4. The kitchen windowsill is a good

place because it has sunlight,

is usually close to the sink (for

water) and the herbs can be used

in recipes straight away.


6. Aromatic means fragrant and smells

pleasant.

My Cat

1. on top of the garden shed

2. water—he doesn’t like to get wet

3. Tiger has large black and tan

stripes like a tiger.

4. Tiger is getting old and lazy. He is

also a big cat.


6. Prowl means stalk, creep, lurk,

hunt, walk, strut, sneak or crawl.

The Weather Forecast

1. Thursday

2. weather forecast presenter on TV

3. Wednesday

4. winter/early spring


6. Essential means necessary, vital,

important and needed.

Solids, Liquids and Gases

1. states of matter (solids, liquids

and gases)

2. liquid

3. at school and home

4. Gas, because lots of gases are

invisible. The list of gases is also

shorter than the solids and liquids

lists, which suggests Jack didn’t

find as many.

5. Salt is a solid, because each grain

is a salt although you can pour

them collectively.

6. Consider means to think about or

ponder.

The Great Uniform Debate

1. in a table

2. No, they call it ‘disgusting’.

3. Yes, they have listed arguments

for and against. There is an equal

number of points for and against

provided.

4. If everyone is wearing the same,

people can’t be mean to each other

about what they are wearing.


6. Restricting means limiting, difficult

to move in and controlling.


Let’s Use Less

1. Taking them to a charity shop or

having a clothes swap with friends

and family.

2. reusable fabric bag

3. They keep your drink cool, come

in great patterns and styles and

create less waste.

4. They create less waste and you

can find cheaper clothes.


6. Valuable means important, useful,

beneficial and of value.

About Pangolins

1. eight

2. Mainly ants, occasionally other

insects as well.

3. They are nocturnal animals

and they roll into a ball when

threatened.

4. It is covered in scales.


6. Endangered means threatened and

rare.

Hot Dinners or Packed Lunches?

1. packed lunch or hot dinners

2. chatting with friends, running

around, playing games, stretching

your legs and eating food

3. You don’t have to take sandwiches,

you can take almost anything if

it goes in a box; salad, pasta,

couscous, sausage rolls, pasties,

wraps etc.

4. The children work hard all morning

doing lessons, so they deserve a

break.


6. Nutritious means full of nutrients,

good for you, beneficial and

healthy.

Online Safety

1. scams

2. an adult you trust

3. It might be too easy to guess.

4. Screen time is creeping up because

there is so much you can do on the

internet.


6. Communicate means to speak, talk

or share information with others.

Mountain Biking

1. red jelly sweets

2. 10 o’clock

3. to warm up and practise their

berms and jumps

4. They don’t want to have an

accident and hurt themselves, but

want to be prepared if they do, as

mountain biking can be dangerous.


6. Meandering means winding, twisting

and turning.

The Pixelated Poem/The Gamer

1. gaming/computer gaming

2. No, they are playing with friends

but virtually.

3. They are following the characters

on the screen.

4. speed, rapidly, frantically, whirls


6. Frantically means quickly, hurriedly,

excitedly or desperately.


Answers

Sustainable Transport

1. Any four of: cycling, walking, carsharing,

buses/trams, trains and

electric cars.

2. train

3. Car-sharing saves fuel and costs.

You can still travel by car which is

quick and easier if you have lots of

luggage, but less cars on the road

means less pollution.

4. Pros of walking include:

environmentally friendly and good

exercise. Cons of walking include:

slow, difficult if you have lots of

luggage and not suitable for long

distances.


6. Alternative means a different

option.

Mr Dream’s Magnificent Sockfolding

Machine

1. a few seconds

2. Mr Dream

3. The socks landing on the tray

before they are fully dried, or

the socks becoming tangled in a

tube.

4.-5. Answers will vary.

6. Answers may include considered,

wondered, thought, questioned

and contemplated.

No Rules at School

1. Rules keep children safe and create

a welcoming school community.

2. to raise money for charity

3. something healthy

4. Example answers: To keep everyone

safe. The playground is too small,

too close to windows or has a hard

surface. There is a different area

to play football.


6. Answers will vary; for example,

frustrates, irritates, upsets and

bothers.

The Journey

1. on a road trip to a holiday house

2. a car

3. The scorching sun is shining

through the window and the air

conditioning has broken.

4. It would cause them to be travel

sick.


6. (a) mouse

(b) Other possible rhyming words:

spouse, louse, Laos, grouse,

douse.

Safety in the Sun

1. a wide brimmed hat

2. You should check the use-by date

on your sunscreen and ensure that

it has a high sun protection factor

(SPF).

3. The sun can damage your eyes.

4. to stay hydrated


6. The prefix ‘de-’ in dehydrated

makes the word the opposite,

meaning ‘not hydrated’.

How to Make a Tiger Costume

1. widely-spaced

2. triangles

3. one leg from old tights stuffed

with newspaper

4. to check for a reaction/allergies


6. Generic means non-specific or

general.


The Painter

1. the beach

2. green/emerald

3. She had to go to school and do

homework.

4. Her hair is very long and she dips

it in her paint pots.


6. Majority means most of, a lot of,

greater/greatest amount or larger/

largest amount.

Plastic Packaging

1. strawberries and raspberries

2. Fruits and vegetables are sold

in plastic wrapping or containers

because it is clean and hygienic

and helps protect the food from

getting squashed/damaged.

3. Answers should include two of

the following: plastic is harmful

to the environment, creates a lot

of waste, fills up landfill sites,

doesn’t decompose, is harmful to

wildlife and pollutes the oceans.

4. paper bags, nets and cardboard

boxes


6. Decompose means break down or

decay.

Please Can I Have a Pet?

1. any type, he doesn’t mind

2. He will set an alarm/reminder on

his watch.

3. Cleaning up after the pet and

cleaning the poo because he

mentions it’s really stinky.


6. The word beneficial means

useful, of benefit or helpful.

Making a Splash

1. Whizz Waterfall Water Park

2. Tiger Trail

3. automated ticket machine,

robotic system, electronic bands,

personalised barcodes, digital sound

system

4. The temperature of the water park

and the water is warm/hot/tropical

so everyone is warm. You only get

goosebumps when cold.


6. Synonyms for futuristic could

include, innovative, advanced,

modern and forward-thinking.

The Problem with Plastic Bags

1. at the supermarket

2. five

3. store and reuse them

4. upset


6. Dissuade means to put off and

discourage.


Answers

My Disastrous Camping Trip

1. an uncle’s

2. a barking dog

3. They only packed clothing for hot,

sunny weather when it was cold

and wet.

4. They got stuck in a traffic jam,

then there was torrential rain. The

campsite was not very nice and it

was muddy. They were too close

to the smelly bathroom facilities.

A dog was barking all night, they

were cold in their sleeping bags,

and their tent collapsed.


6. The prefix ‘un-’ changes a word

to have the opposite meaning.

Fortunately means lucky, whereas

unfortunately means not lucky.

The Old Station

1. a spiky thorn on the brambles

2. They were rusty and cracked.

3. She has a letter with the station’s

address on it.


6. Eerie means scary, creepy, strange

and unsettling.

Musical Moments Workshops

1. music workshops

2. Saturday mornings

3. to enhance/improve the learning

experience

4. Answers should include some of

the following: They are taught as

a group rather than individually.

They also cover a wider variety of

musical activities rather than just

learning one instrument. You can

choose which activities you do.


6. Immerse means to become fully

absorbed in something, to submerge

something or fully engage in an

activity.

River Side

1. the tall trees

2. children

3. Annabel was wearing a life

jacket to keep safe on the

water, as she is going on a boat

trip.


6. cygnet

Should the School Day Be

Extended?

1. to extend the school day

2. parents

3. It is boring, exhausting and they

have to sit at a desk for hours.

4. Answers will vary. Example answer:

It might be more of a lesson, you

would have to follow instructions

and rules. It would be more

structured and focused with less

choice and options.


6. Exhausting means extremely tiring.

Off on an Adventure

1. Rosie

2. cardboard boxes and white paint

3. Yes, because she likes looking

at the stars and knows all the

star constellations. She also has

pyjamas with planets and stars on.

4. Rosie’s school had decided that

children should wear pyjamas to

school for the day.


6. Adapted means altered or changed.


A New Skatepark

1. arguments for and against building

a skatepark

2. determination, perseverance,

confidence and courage

3. concrete


Tourists can bring benefits to the

community such as spending money

in their shops and investing in local

businesses. It might make the area

more popular.


6. Invaluable means indispensable, of

extreme use, or very important.

An Art Review

1. Georges Seurat

2. Paris, France

3. Answers may include: the artist

was only alive in the 19th century;

the clothing of the people; having a

monkey as a pet.

4. The use of light in the painting, the

bright colours, the shadows of the

people and the people are holding

parasols.


6. Persistent means continuing with an

action or opinion, despite it being

difficult.

An Advertisement for a New

Chocolate Bar

1. fruit jam/berry jam

2. forest fruits and cream dessert

3. (a) Can you resist this tastetastic

fountain?

(b) To make the reader think.

To persuade the reader to

try the chocolate bar.


6. Encasing means covering, coating,

enclosing and wrapping around.

Roller Skating

1. They protect your wrists in the event

of a fall.

2. elbow pads

3. The helmet could be damaged or

broken and then would not be as

effective at protecting your head.

4. So that you don’t trip over them, so

they don’t get tangled in the wheels,

and so that your feet don’t move

around.


So the reader can navigate the

information easily.

6. Protect means to look after, to shield

and to take care of.

The Kids’ Hotel

1. bouncy chairs

2. They are themed bedrooms.

3. Stairs are boring so have been

replaced with cargo nets, slides,

tunnels and escalators.

4. The food is included in the price of

the stay.


6. Sensational means spectacular,

unbelievable, wonderful, fantastic,

brilliant, amazing and incredible.

A Trip to Rome

1. by bus

2. Ancient Rome

3. visiting the Colosseum

4. The bus was cramped with insufficient

leg room and the classmate next to

him was snoring loudly and drooling.


6. Abrupt means surprisingly quick,

unexpected or sudden.


Answers

Time to Game

1. in the classroom/at school

2. Two of the following: teamwork,

cooperation, problem-solving and

perseverance.

3. animation and writing


You have to keep trying, which

develops perseverance.


6. Cooperation means to cooperate or

to work together.

Rainbow Smoothie

1. a splash of cold water

2. cherries, raspberries or redcurrants

3. The ingredients are the colours of

a rainbow.

4. You can use any ingredients

providing they are the colours of

the rainbow.


6. decant

All Before Breakfast for a Farmer

1. black and white Friesian cows

2. 124

3. to keep clean and dry

4. No, the farmer doesn’t like getting

up early because he says his alarm

‘rudely’ wakes him up, he hits the

snooze button on his alarm and he

calls it a dreadful event.


6. Flushed means to flood with water

for cleaning purposes.

The Eventful Hockey Match

1. One team is red and one team is

blue.

2. white and fluffy

3. The referee falling over in mud and

a dog taking the ball.

4. At first they didn’t know what to

do, but then they found it funny as

they all laughed.


6. The prefix changes it to have the

opposite meaning. Unexpectedly

means you are unaware something

is going to happen but expectedly

means something was likely to

happen.

A Cool Couscous Salad

1. green

2. unwaxed

3. It can be dangerous, as kitchen

utensils can be sharp and boiling

water is needed.

4. To avoid a rush in the morning, as

sometimes people need to leave the

house early before school or work.


6. Elements means ingredients,

components, parts of or bits of.


8542RB Reading for Me Level 5 Part A

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