Writing

Activity 7: Grammar & Sentence Work
a. Pattern of three:
Fisher uses the pattern of three actions in a sentence to advance the action
and inject a sense of pace into her writing. This helps to balance
description, action and dialogue. e.g.
• The keeper hung his lantern on a nail, took the key from a dirty
string around his neck, and fitted it into the keyhole.
• With both hands he turned the key, then tugged out the red
chain in a shower of rust and pushed the door.
• He stepped well back, handed the stranger the lantern, and
jerked his head.
★ Can you come up with three of your own sentences using this skill?

b. Semicolon for independent clauses
A semicolon can be used between independent clauses that are closely
related in theme. In the following sentences, Catherine Fisher chooses to
use semicolons in both of these sentences rather than using a joining word
(conjunction) like because.
• The keeper grinned; he knew fear when he heard it.
• He had no tongue to speak with; she’d made sure he kept her
secrets.

★ Can you write three sentences of your own that illustrate the
power of the semicolon over the use of a conjunction?

c. Adverbs – roving reporters
In the sentences below, the adverb ‘slowly’ is used to describe how the man
enters the room. Adverbs are like roving reporters – they can be moved
around the sentence, e.g.
a. The man went in, slowly
b. Slowly, the man went in.
c. The man went slowly in.
d. The man slowly went in.
By changing the position of the adverb, we can often either alter the
meaning or add emphasis to a sentence. In this instance, by placing the
slowly at the end, we infer that the character has a heightened awareness
of the situation they are in and therefore deliberately enters with caution.

★ Try playing around with the adverb position in the following sentences.
Consider how it alters the meaning and where the emphasis is best
placed.

1. Cautiously, Samantha crept towards the door that stood
before her.
2. Sadly, the boy stared out of the window.

★ Now try this out with two sentences of your own.

Arithmetic

Complete Mental Maths Quiz 6:7. Answers on Monday!

Maths No Problem

Answers to Chapter 12 Lesson 12 textbook pages 156/157  and workbook page 123:

Today’s task: Chapter 12 Review on Workbook pages 125 – 128.

You must have a go at questions 3,4,5,6 & 8.

The other questions are more of a challenge and are optional.

Question hints:

3. Triangle JLK is isosceles.

4. Remember: All the angles add up to 360 degrees. The angles you don’t know when added to the ones you are given add up to 360. One of the two angles you don’t know is 4 times bigger than the other. 

5. Much easier than it looks if you remember what the angles in a rectangle add up to and you find out what the angles in a hexagon add up to. 

6. Triangle OYZ is isosceles.