Note to parents

How do I help my child learn?

You can help your child to enjoy learning by understanding how your child learns best. Different children
have different learning styles, even if they come from the same family or background. Children may
use different learning styles depending on what they are learning and the environment in which they
learn. Learning styles may also change as the child ages. Different learning styles use different parts
of the brain. The more brain we use, the better we learn!

Visual learning Logical learning

• Let your child focus on the pictures and • Draw your child’s attention to how different
drawings on the page and ask comprehension elements of a text are related to each other.
questions: what, who, where, when, how and • Expose your child to more non-fiction texts in
why. (Visual comprehension is an important books, in newspapers and even on the Internet.
aspect of learning and assessment.) Encourage • Ask questions about sequences where your
your child to visualise written information and child gives a step-by-step account of events
draw what she sees. in stories or factual articles, of what they did
• Encourage her to use mind maps with different that day, or how to make or do something.
colours and even pictures to remember This develops the child’s ability to think
information. logically and to use logical connectors such
• Let her play with board games and jigsaw and as first, then, before, and so on.
picture puzzles to develop spatial skills. Let her • Do projects that have a practical purpose and
watch educational DVDs and use interactive explain the purpose of activities to your child
digital books. if she does not understand them.
• Let her use interactive digital books and
Auditory learning play educational computer games, including
• Read aloud together. Scrabble, Soduko, crossword puzzles and other
• Encourage your child to write down word and number games.
or summarise what you read to him. I love working
• Let him listen to a variety of audio books, with others!
music and news programmes, and ask
k in g i n g
comprehension questions, such as Wor rou
ps
“Describe what you are listening to”; Wo r k i n g alone
“Who is speaking? How do they
feel and how do you know this?”
“Where do you think this is set?”,
etc. I learn better when
• Record your child reading I like to know I can do things and
study notes and then let him how things work move around!
and why.
play it back.
• Play word games such as I spy
and do a variety of word puzzles
to develop word association skills Hearing information
and vocabulary. Spelling puzzle and talking about
Pictures, diagrams it helps me to really
answers out loud also reinforces
and colourful mind understand!
visualisation of words and maps help me
improves spelling. to remember!
I work well
on my own!

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 Kinaesthetic learning • Write and draw with your child. Let her draw
• Use objects and gestures to show how pictures, compile a photo album or slide show,
things work. or write down those experiences she really
• Encourage your child to act out his enjoyed or that make her happy.
understanding of ideas through role-play • Keep a diary: Encourage her to also write about
and mime. those things that make her scared or sad in
• Visit a variety of places where your child a diary.
can touch and interact with animals, objects • Visit the library often, join family book clubs,
and people. choose favourite authors and join your child
• Let him carry out experiments or build objects in looking for interesting books.
related to the themes he is learning about.
• Allow your child to move his body and small How can I help my child with homework?
objects when he is concentrating. • Your child should spend at least 20 minutes
• Play sports and games together. on homework every day.
• Talk with your child’s teacher. Know the
Alone or in a group? purpose of the homework, and the class rules.
Some children prefer to work alone and others • Show enthusiasm for school and homework.
prefer to work in groups. It is important that your • Set aside time each day for homework.
child learns to do both. Encourage your child Don’t leave it for just before bedtime, when
to invite one or two classmates over to work on it’s stressful.
projects, study or explore new ways of working • Work on big projects over the weekends,
together over weekends. Arrange excursions to especially if they involve getting together
museums, galleries and natural sites so that your with classmates.
child can explore with a friend. • Break assignments into smaller, more
manageable bits.
How can I make learning English fun? • Provide a quiet study area with paper, markers,
• Read aloud with your child every day. Paired a ruler, pencils and a dictionary.
reading encourages closeness as you sit • Never do your child’s homework! Check
together reading from the same book. with your child’s teacher about correcting
• Let your child see you reading for your work homework.
(e.g. instructions, recipes, emails), for pleasure • Practise spelling difficult words with your child
and for study purposes. every day.
• Find out what your child is interested in and
help her find books in line with her interests How and when should my child do
to read for fun. these tests?
• Talk about what your child is reading – who • There should be a quiet and well-lit area with a
are the main characters in the story, what desk and chair where the child can work. Make
happened to them, why, was this good or bad? sure that there is a ruler, pencils, a sharpener,
• Cook or make things together – read recipes eraser and blue, red and black pens.
and labels together, or compile a family cook • Set aside time when your child will be able to
or craft book. do the test without being interrupted. Choose
• Explore books together – ask questions about a time when your child is well-rested, such as
the book, point out new words and ideas, a weekend morning.
discuss pictures and characters. Ask your child • Set aside about 1 hour 45 minutes:
how she feels about the characters or events Comprehension and language – 1 hour
and relate these to your family’s life. Break – 15 minutes
• Tell stories together. Talk together about your Writing – 30 minutes
family history, and discuss your memories of
your trips together.

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 TEST 1 Date: Time:

Comprehension total: l5 Language total: 30 ÷ 2 = l5 Writing total: l5

My total: My total: ÷2= My total:

Your Grand Score

Read the comprehension carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Buffaloes
1
First light. It was time. Tip-toeing to the door, I kept my boots off until I was at the
threshold. I reached for my scarf that was hanging on the coat rack and did a sort of
dance to wrap the woolly scarf around my neck and pull on the thick, black gumboots
without toppling over.
2
I quietly opened the front door and slipped
outside. I still had to navigate three flights of
stairs in silence before I made it to the garden
and the mighty Hairy Buffalo Thorn Tree. I had
to pass Davey’s door at number 16, Mokgalo’s
at 14 and Ryno’s at 10. All of them had been
eyeing the same prickly casing as I had
been for the last four weeks. “Buffaloes”
is serious stuff in our block and I had
been the veld champion for two seasons
running. The rules were simple – crack
the hard, brown nut of your opponent
in three or less tries. If neither nut
cracked, you would resort to a shoot-
out. I was the Big-Shot of “Buffaloes”
and I did not fancy that changing this year.
3
I was safely past my rivals and into the open ground of the communal garden – a wild
tumble of indigenous trees and shrubs. With dawn just breaking through the grey above,
the tree and its offerings were truly a magnificent sight.

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 4
I began my ascent, wishing I had worn
my takkies. Gumboots are not the best for
climbing Hairy Buffalo trees but they did
offer some protection from the caterpillar-like
barbs that spiked from its branches.
5
And there it was. I inched slowly forward
along the skinny branch towards my prize.
Gripping the stem I said in true Buffaloes tradition:
“Blinkblaar-wag-ʼn-bietjie”. All Buffaloes Big-Shots
spoke to their prickly battalions this way. My dad
told me that even Mr Bosman recited the lucky oath.
And if it brought him good fortune in “Buffaloes” battles,
who was I to tempt fate? So far, so good.

Comprehension
1. Circle the best option to complete the sentence below. (1)

The main character’s name is:

1.1 Davey
1.2 Mokgalo
1.3 Ryno
1.4 Buffalo
1.5 None of the above

2. Is the following statement true or false? (1)

The Buffaloes Big-Shot for the last two seasons climbed a tree. _______________________

3. What is the objective of the game “Buffaloes”? (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

4. What was a Buffaloes Big-Shot expected to say to his prize? (1)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 5. Complete the sentence below by writing one word for the underlined phrase. (1)

The story begins at first light and it therefore starts in the ___________________________.

6. What are the caterpillar-like barbs actually referring to in paragraph 4? (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

7. Why would gumboots be a good defence against them? (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

8. In what season do you think this story takes place? Motivate your answer
from the text. (3)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

9. Why do you think the main character does not want to wake anyone
as he goes outside? (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Language
10. Answer true or false to the following:

10.1 In the sentence I inched slowly forward along the skinny branch towards

my prize, the words I and my are personal pronouns. _____________________ (1)

10.2 The word slowly is an adverb. ________________________ (1)

10.3 The word skinny is a noun that is being described by the

adjective branch. ________________________ (1)

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 11. In the sentence I began my ascent :

11.1 Identify and write down the subject. _____________________________________ (1)

11.2 Identify and write down the object. ______________________________________ (1)

11.3 Identify and write down the verb. ________________________________________ (1)

12. Read the sentence below and answer the questions that follow.

With dawn just breaking through the grey above, the tree and its offerings
were truly a magnificent sight.

12.1 Underline two examples of metaphor. (2)

12.2 Circle the three prepositions. (3)

12.3 Put a line through the articles. (3)

12.4 Rewrite the sentence in the simple present tense. (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

12.5 Rewrite the sentence in the simple future tense. (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

12.6 Write down an antonym for the word magnificent. ________________________ (1)

13. Rewrite the sentence with the correct punctuation. ( 12 × 6)

“even mr bosman spoke to his buffalo nut” said my dad

__________________________________________________________________________________

14. Write down an English word for each of the Afrikaans words below.
Your English word should fit the context in which it is used.

14.1 veld __________________________________ (1)

14.2 takkies __________________________________ (1)

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 15. Read through the score card and then answer the questions.
Contestant Rounds Shoot-out Wins and losses
Mokgalo Coetzee II II II III 1 3
Ryno Juba III III 2 2
Nyati Biffles II II II II 0 2
Jamie Africa II II II II II III 4

15.1 How many contestants are listed on the score card? (1)

__________________________________________________________________________________

15.2 Alphabetise the contestants according to their surnames. (1)

__________________________________________________________________________________

15.3 Which contestant had the most rounds? (1)

__________________________________________________________________________________

15.4 What is confusing about the column entitled Wins and losses? (2)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

15.5 What number should be written in the blank space under the column
entitled Shoot-out? (1)

__________________________________________________________________________________

Writing
16. Complete the following writing assignments.
16.1 Invent five rules for the game of “Buffaloes” that would make it a fun,
safe and challenging game to play. (5)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 16.2 Write out the five-line certificate awarded to the Buffaloes Big-Shot
Champion of the season. (5)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

16.3 Write a five-line acceptance speech of the award of Best Buffaloes

Player of the season. (5)

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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 Answers
Test 1
Comprehension

Question level Skill level Question Similar questions in other tests

numbers
Test 2 Test 3 Test 4

Literal Learner is able to find answers 1, 2 1.1–1.3 1, 3.1 1, 2

in the text

Reorganisation Learner is able to manipulate 3, 4 1.4, 2, 4 2, 4, 5, 7 3, 4, 5, 6

information found in the text

Inference Learner is able to understand 5, 6, 7, 8 3, 5, 6 3.2, 6, 9 7, 8, 10

the text and reason on information

Evaluation Learner is able to make judgements 9 7 8 9, 11

based on evidence from the text

Language

Question level Skill level Question Similar questions in other tests

numbers
Test 2 Test 3 Test 4

Spelling and Word meaning 12.6, 14 8 12.4 16, 14

vocabulary Spelling 15.2

Punctuation Capital letters, commas and full stops 13 9 11.5, 13.1 15

Grammar Parts of speech 10, 12.1–12.3 10, 11, 16 10, 11.4, 12, 13,
13.2–13.3, 17, 19
13.5, 13.7

Writing Parts of sentences 11 12, 13, 14, 11.1–11.3, 18

sentences 15, 17, 18 13.6, 13.4
Tenses 12.4–12.5

Understanding Tallying 15.1, 15.3–15.5 12.1–12.3,

specialised 12.5–12.6
texts

Comprehension 8. The story seems to be set in either winter

1. 1.5 None of the above (1) or autumn, a season which has cooler
2. True (1) temperatures. I would suggest this because
3. The objective of a game of “Buffaloes” the main character wore gumboots and
is to crack your opponent’s nut in three a scarf and the sky was described as
or less tries. (2) being grey. (3)
4. They would have said “Blinkblaar-wag-’n- 9. There seems to have been a lot of interest
bietjie”, as part of tradition. (1) shown by the children who live in the block
5. morning (1) towards the tree’s fruit. They all seem to be
6. Example: They are referring to the prickly after the same bunch. The main character
thorns that are growing on the tree. (2) wants to be the first to get the prickly nut
7. Gumboots are normally made out of thick fruit and claim it for himself for the season’s
rubber and someone wearing that kind of games. (2)
footgear would not feel the prickly thorns
and would therefore be protected from them. (2)

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 Language Writing
10.1 True (1) 16.1 Accept any five relevant, on-topic,
10.2 True (1) grammatically correct sentences. Award one
10.3 False (1) mark for each sentence. Subtract up to two
11.1 I (1) marks for spelling errors. (5)
11.2 my ascent (1) 16.2 and 16.3 Use this rubric to evaluate the
11.3 began (1) written work for both topics. (10)
12.1 to 12.3 With dawn just breaking through
the grey above , the tree and its offerings Criteria Mark allocation
were truly a magnificent sight. (8) 4 to 5 marks
Five relevant, on-topic,
12.4 The dawn just breaks through the grey
grammatically correct
above, the tree and its offerings are a truly
sentences that make up a
magnificent sight. (2)
cohesive unit conveying
12.5 The dawn will break through the grey above,
creativity successfully
the tree and its offerings will be truly a
without punctuation or
magnificent sight. (2)
spelling errors
12.6 Accept any of the following: horrible, terrible,
bad, poor, ugly (1) Five mostly, on-topic 3 to 2 marks
13. “ E ven M r B osman spoke to his B uffalo grammatically correct
nut , ” said my dad . ( 12 × 6) sentences that largely
14.1 Example: grassy area (1) make up a cohesive unit
14.2 Example: lace-up shoes/trainers (1) that generally shows
15.1 There are four contestants listed on the creativity, minimum
score card. (1) spelling and punctuation
15.2 Jamie Africa, Nyati Biffles, Mokgalo Coetzee, errors
Ryno Juba (1) Five sentences 0 –1 mark
15.3 The contestant with the most rounds is grammatically correct but
Jamie Africa. (1) with errors that impinge on
15.4 There is no way of knowing whether the understanding
figures recorded are showing the number
of games won or the number of games lost. (2)
15.5 The number 1 should be written as the scores
suggest that Jamie Africa only had one
shoot-out. (1)

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