Verbs and tenses

Verbs describe actions or feelings. People often call them "doing" words, and they often have "ing" at the end. In our spelling lessons, we found a selection of verbs that we could use in our Unit of Inquiry about finite resources. First, we put them into sentences. Then, we learned how the spelling changes when the tense changes. Here are some examples:

Verb - Past tense - Future tense
Using - Used - Use
Looking - Looked - Look
Running - Ran - Run
Wasting - Wasted - Waste

Make a comment and add another verb with the past tense and future tense.

What makes a good speech?

"If you express your speech and talk loudly then the people will get impressed, interested and pleased with your expression." Meem

"If you want a good speech you will have to talk clearly and loudly, you cant hide behind your book or look at your book and talk." Zahin

"If you want to have a good speech You have to introduce your speech, be confident and don't
be shy, don't hide behind your book." Farzad

Writing Powerful Speeches

In Language Lab for the next two weeks, we're going to be concentrating on how to write powerful speeches. We're going to read, watch and listen to famous speeches and identify what makes them powerful. We're going to practice writing our own speeches, practice delivering them to the class, record them on tape and video them.

At the end of the Unit of Inquiry on Finite Resources, we will use our speech-writing skills to present a speech about our chosen finite resource. We will be persuading our audience that the time has come to think about how to conserve our resources and to think about what we will do when they run out.

Ayesha has found some excellent websites that will help us to learn about writing speeches:

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/links/speakinglinks.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/speech/library.htm
http://www.speeches.com/

What should our next class novel be?

We have nearly finished 'Boy Overboard' and I've got to choose a new class novel. You can help me decide what exact book it should be, or just make some suggestions about what kind of story you would like it to be. Have a browse in the library, go online, speak to other students or adults... and then write a comment to say what you would prefer.

Language Activities on Enchanted Learning

Looking for something to do during Language Lab? There's lots of ideas on the Enchanted Learning website... all sorts of stuff to do. Have a look at it and then chat to Mr. Sherratt about which one you would like to do, then we'll print out what you need.

Here's the website:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/languagearts/