English Form 1
English Form 1
Ministry of Education
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
TEACHING MODULE
FORM 1-TERM THREE
i
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Education
Directorate of Curriculum Development
TEACHING MODULE
FORM 1
TERM THREE
ii
Contents
WRITERS ................................................................................................................................................... iv
PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................... vii
ACKOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................................................... viii
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ ix
CHAPTER 1: FINANCIAL EDUCATION......................................................................................................... 1
LISTENING AND SPEAKING ........................................................................................................................ 1
TOPIC: DIRECTIONS ............................................................................................................................... 1
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: GIVING DIRECTIONS ............................................................................................... 1
TOPIC: COMPREHENSION.......................................................................................................................... 4
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: LISTENING COMPREHENSION .................................................................................... 5
COMPOSITION ........................................................................................................................................... 9
TOPIC: DESCRIPTIVE WRITING .................................................................................................................. 9
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: DESCRIBING AN OBJECT ....................................................................................... 10
STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 14
TOPIC: CONTRAST.................................................................................................................................... 14
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: Using ‘But’ and ‘Yet’ to Show Contrast in Sentences ..................................... 15
SUMMARY WRITING ............................................................................................................................... 18
TOPIC: SHORT MESSAGES ................................................................................................................... 18
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: SHORT MESSAGE SYSTEM (SMS)..................................................................... 19
CHAPTER 2: SPECIAL AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ................................................................................ 22
LISTENING AND SPEAKING ...................................................................................................................... 22
TOPIC: FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE .......................................................................................................... 22
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: PROVERBS ........................................................................................................ 23
COMPREHENSION ................................................................................................................................... 27
TOPIC: COMPREHENSION.................................................................................................................... 27
COMPOSITION ......................................................................................................................................... 31
TOPIC: PERSUASIVE WRITING ............................................................................................................. 31
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: An Argumentative Composition ..................................................................... 32
STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 36
TOPIC: CONDITION .............................................................................................................................. 36
SUMMARY WRITING ............................................................................................................................... 42
ADVERTISEMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 42
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2.0. SUB-TOPIC: Types of Advertisements................................................................................. 43
CHAPTER 3: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND POLLUTION ..................................................................... 47
LISTENING AND SPEAKING ...................................................................................................................... 47
TOPIC: FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE .......................................................................................................... 47
TOPIC: READING COMPREHENSION ....................................................................................................... 51
COMPOSITION ......................................................................................................................................... 56
TOPIC: PERSUASIVE WRITING ............................................................................................................. 56
STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 60
TOPIC: ABILITY ..................................................................................................................................... 60
SUMMARY WRITING ............................................................................................................................... 63
TOPIC: NOTE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 63
CHAPTER 4: MENTAL HEALTH ................................................................................................................. 67
LISTENING AND SPEAKING ...................................................................................................................... 67
TOPIC TITLE: FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS .................................................... 67
TOPIC TITLE: READING COMPREHENSION .............................................................................................. 71
COMPOSITION ......................................................................................................................................... 77
TOPIC: DIARY WRITING ....................................................................................................................... 77
STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 81
TOPIC: THE GERUND AND THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE......................................................................... 81
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: Difference between Gerunds and Present Participles ................................... 82
STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 85
TOPIC: SENSE RELATIONS .................................................................................................................... 85
2.0. SUB-TOPIC 1: Synonyms and Antonyms ............................................................................. 86
SUB-TOPIC 2: Homonyms and Homophones ..................................................................................... 88
SUMMARY WRITING ............................................................................................................................... 91
TOPIC: SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 91
2.0. SUB-TOPIC: Tabulation Skills............................................................................................... 92
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................. 97
APPENDIX 1: SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO INTENSIVE READING PASSAGES ............................................ 98
APPENDIX 2: LESSON PLAN ................................................................................................................... 100
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CHAPTER 1: FINANCIAL EDUCATION
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Waana: Excuse me, sir. Could you help me? I'm looking for the nearest mobile
money agent.
Stranger: Sure! Which mobile money service are you looking for?
Waana: I’m looking for an MTN mobile money agent.
Stranger: Oh, that’s easy. Walk straight down this road for about 200 meters,
then turn left at the supermarket. You’ll see a small shop with an MTN sign.
The agent is right there.
Waana: Thank you! Is it far from here?
Stranger: No, it’s just a five-minute walk.
Waana: Great! I really appreciate your help.
Stranger: You’re welcome! Have a good day.
Waana: You too!
Assessment:
Observe learners as they use appropriate language when asking for and
giving directions.
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Learners should interpret maps correctly and give directions accurately.
Summary.
Reinforce key phrases for asking for directions.
Emphasise key phrases for giving directions.
Giving clear and accurate directions is an important communication skill
whether one is helping someone find a location or navigating a new place.
Encourage learners to use accurate phrases when giving directions in
everyday life.
TOPIC: COMPREHENSION
1. INTRODUCTION
General Competence(s):
- Collaboration:
Respect the views of group members while working together.
Listen to other group members and make meaningful contribution to a
given task.
- Communication:
Apply good Listening and Speaking Skills
- Analytical Thinking:
Grasp and break down information and effectively share with others.
Hook: Imagine trying to follow instructions in an emergency and
misunderstanding them.
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Comprehension: The ability to understand and interpret spoken or written
language.
Listening: Actively paying attention to sounds and making sense of them.
Retelling: Recounting a story or passage in one’s own words.
Main Idea: The central point or message in a passage.
Supporting Details: Facts or examples that explain or reinforce the main idea.
Model Passage
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Long ago, in a quiet village nestled near the great Zambezi River, lived
two friends: Kalulu and Suntwe. Kalulu was quick, clever, and full of
charm, but he had a weakness—he loved spending money the moment
he earned it. Suntwe, on the other hand, was slow but wise in thought.
He believed in planning for the future.
One hot afternoon, the two friends sat under the shade of a baobab
tree, drinking sweet baobab juice and chatting.
Suntwe: Chuckling softly "You’ve only just earned that money, Kalulu.
Don’t you think you should save some of it?"
Kalulu: Waving his paw "Save? For what? The feast is today, not
tomorrow!"
But Kalulu was not one to listen. He skipped away happily, his pouch
jingling, while Suntwe slowly walked back to his hut, carrying a large
calabash with a tiny hole at the top. He called it his “Calabash Bank.”
Weeks passed. Kalulu spent freely at every dance, every feast, and
every drumming night. He bought new sandals, fancy gourds, and
roasted maize on every corner.
Then one season, the rains came too early and the fields were washed
away. The market was quiet. No one was buying vegetables, anymore.
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Kalulu: Hungry and worried "Suntwe, my friend... do you have
anything to eat? My pouch is empty."
Suntwe: Opening his hut door slowly "Come in, Kalulu. I have
something for us."
Inside, Kalulu saw Suntwe’s calabash, now heavy and full. Suntwe
broke it open and inside were money, groundnuts, and dried fish—
everything a wise animal needed to survive the rainy season.
Kalulu: Ashamed "You were right, Suntwe. I danced while the drums
were beating, but I forgot the drums can stop. Will you teach me how to
use the Calabash Bank?"
Suntwe: Smiling "Of course, my friend. It is never too late to learn the
importance of saving."
From that day on, Kalulu learned to keep half of his earnings in a little
calabash, and though he still danced at the feast, he always had
something left when the music stopped.
Table
Character Action/Belief
Kalulu Kalulu loved to ________ money as soon as he
_______ it.
He went to every ________ and spent freely.
Hyena Hyena _______ his money in a ________ bank.
He believed money is like ________—you save it
during harvest.
Model story
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Pre-recorded story
4.0. Expected Standard: Information listened to and comprehended correctly.
Assessment:
- Observe maximum participation in the activities.
- Learners should demonstrate understanding of each learning activity
through the activities conducted.
- Learners to fill in a table while the passage is being read.
- Learners to answer comprehension questions based on the given
passage.
Summary:
Comprehension is understanding spoken or written language.
It is important for daily life and academic success.
Listening comprehension involves paying attention, understanding, and
recalling spoken information.
Saving information from listening helps in real-life problem-solving and
communication.
COMPOSITION
INTRODUCTION
Describing an object involves using words to give a clear and detailed picture of
its appearance, texture, size, shape, colour, and other features. It helps the reader
or listener understand what the object looks like, feels like, or even how it is used.
Good descriptions use sensory details, such as how the object feels to the touch,
how it smells, or the sounds it makes. In this topic, learners will learn how to
describe objects clearly and effectively by using adjectives, comparisons, and
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specific details. They will practice observing objects closely and choosing the
right words to make their descriptions more vivid. Learners will write or speak
about objects in a way that helps others imagine them easily.
Explain to learners that descriptive writing uses sensory details, adjectives, and clear
structure. These should be pointed out to the learners as they read the text.
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In groups, learners complete a guided exercise in which they add simple descriptions
using more vivid language. E.g. adjectives …
Example:
Early in the morning, the market was already __________ with activity. Vendors arranged their
__________ fruits and vegetables neatly on wooden tables. A __________ woman bargained
with a seller over the price of tomatoes, while a __________ boy rushed past carrying
a basket of fish.
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Chart showing descriptive words.
Assessment:
Observe that every learner is able to identify descriptive words in texts.
Learners to describe objects.
Summary
Descriptive writing uses sensory details to create vivid mental images.
Important features include structure (introduction, body, and conclusion) and
precise vocabulary.
Practicing descriptive writing improves communication skills in everyday
interactions.
STRUCTURE
TOPIC: CONTRAST
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Contrast is an important concept in the English language that helps
express differences between ideas, events, or situations. In writing and speaking,
contrast allows for clearer communication by highlighting opposing thoughts.
Understanding contrast helps one improve their sentence structure, express their
thoughts more effectively, and engage in meaningful conversations. This topic
will guide learners in using contrast correctly in both written and spoken
English.
General Competences:
- Communication
Use appropriate language (verbal and non-verbal) in different situations.
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively.
- Creativity and Innovation:
Organise information and ideas effectively.
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- Critical thinking
Become more open minded towards different views
Hook: How would you describe a situation where one thing is similar but
different from another?
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a. ‘But’ introduces an unexpected or opposite idea.
Example:
Mutinta is smart but she doesn’t spend her money wisely.”
b. ‘Yet’ is similar to ‘but’ but can imply a stronger contrast or a
surprising twist.
Example:
“He had all the money needed, yet he failed to buy school
supplies.”
Display sentence strips and charts with more example sentences.
Learners examine given sentences and identify the role of ‘but’ and ‘yet’ in
connecting contrasting ideas.
Activity 2. Identifying the main clause and the clause showing contrast in
sentences
Write at least five sentences, or display a chart, containing ‘but’ and ‘yet’ and
highlight the main clause and contrasting clause.
Example: He made a lot of money, yet he failed to save any of it.
Main clause: He made a lot of money.
Contrast clause: yet he failed to save any of it.
In groups, learners will break down sentences into main and contrasting clauses
and discuss their meanings. Group leaders to present to the rest of the class.
Explain that:
i. A main clause has a complete thought (e.g., “He trained every day”).
ii. A contrast clause introduces an unexpected idea (e.g., “but he lost the race.”).
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Example: She wanted to purchase a new dress, yet she needed the money to
buy books.
iii. If the sentence has two complete thoughts, use a comma before ‘yet’
- In their groups learners correct punctuations to given sentences
and present to rest of the class.
Example:
Assessment
Learners construct sentences using ‘but’ and ‘yet’ correctly.
Learners correctly punctuate sentences with contrast conjunctions.
Learners explain why ‘but’ or ‘yet’ is used in a given sentence.
Class Project: As an after-class activity, learners select ten best written sentences,
write them on the chart and display on the classroom wall.
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Summary
‘But’ and ‘yet’ are used to show contrast between two ideas in a sentence.
A comma is usually placed before ‘yet.’
‘Yet’ often carries a stronger sense of contrast than ‘but.’
Identifying the main clause and the contrast clause helps in constructing correct
sentences.
Effective use of contrast makes communication clearer and more engaging.
SUMMARY WRITING
TOPIC: SHORT MESSAGES
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Short messages are a quick and effective way to communicate
important information in everyday life. Whether sending reminders, invitations,
or urgent updates, short messages must be clear and to the point. In this topic,
learners will appreciate the purpose of short messages and how to write them
effectively using simple, concise language. They will also learn to use
abbreviations, symbols, and proper formatting to make messages easier to read.
By practicing different types of short messages for real-life situations, learners
will develop skills to communicate clearly and efficiently.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively.
Express oneself using different media and symbols.
- Critical Thinking:
Analyse texts to improve the ability to understand.
Hook: Imagine you have only three words to send a congratulatory message to
your best friend or family member. What words would you choose to make sure
your message is clear and meaningful?
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KEY TERMS / WORDS / VOCABULARY:
Short Message System (SMS): A text messaging service that allows people to
send and receive short text messages on mobile devices.
Abbreviations: Shortened forms of words or phrases used to save space in
SMS.
Acronyms: A type of abbreviation formed from the initial letters of words,
often pronounced as a single word.
Symbols: Special characters or pictograms used to represent words or emotions
in short messages.
Concise: Expressing ideas in a clear and brief way, avoiding unnecessary
words.
Clarity: The quality of being easy to understand, ensuring that the message is
not confusing.
Recipient: The person who receives the SMS message.
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In pairs/groups, learners analyse different SMS samples displayed on a chart (or written
on the chalkboard) and identify their key features.
Examples:
i. LOL – Laugh out loud
ii. OMG - Oh my God
iii. BRB - Be Right Back
iv. TY - Thank You
v. IDK - I Don’t Know
vi. TMI - Too Much Information
vii. CU - See You
viii. NVM - Never Mind
ix. YOLO - You Only Live Once
x. SMH - Shaking My Head
xi. TBH - To Be Honest
xii. FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out
Note: Sometimes emojis are also used to convey meaning.
Explain that SMS:
i. usually has limited characters.
ii. should be concise and clear.
iii. should use appropriate language, depending on the recipient.
(formal and informal)
Learners provide common abbreviations and symbols that are used to shorten messages
(e.g.,’ U’ for ‘you’, ‘BRB’ for ‘be right back’). Group representatives present to the rest
of the class.
Assessment
Learners compose clear and concise SMS messages.
Learners use abbreviations and symbols appropriately.
Learners differentiate between formal and informal SMS writing.
Group Project/Homework: Learners to create a collection of SMS
messages for various real-life situations. These should be displayed on a
chart in the classroom. Learners should be encouraged to add new SMS
shortcuts every time they discover any.
SUMMARY
SMS is a Short Message System used for quick communication.
Effective SMS writing requires conciseness, clarity, and appropriate
abbreviations.
SMS has character limit which requires selecting key information carefully.
SMS is used in various real-life contexts, including personal, business, and
emergency communication.
Proper use of abbreviations and symbols ensures clarity in messaging.
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Care should be taken in the use of SMSs to avoid misunderstanding
information.
General Competence(s):
- Communication
Use appropriate language (verbal and non-verbal) in different situations.
Hook: What do you call the sayings that elderly people use when admonishing,
advising, giving caution, consoling, or teaching life lessons?
Metaphor: an implied comparison where you compare without using the word ‘as’ or
‘like’.
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Metaphorical: Something that uses a metaphor to convey a meaning or idea.
Proverbs are well known sayings that offer guidance or advice while they also declare a
well-acknowledged fact or universal truth. Proverbs are often metaphorical and are an
example of formulaic language. They are a collection of generations of wisdom and
applies to life on earth.
Put Learners into small groups and ask them to do the following:
a. Discuss proverbs
b. Interpret their meanings
c. State the situations in which proverbs are applied.
Example: Honesty is the best policy
Meaning: It is always best to tell the truth, even if it is difficult.
Application: Use it when advising someone struggling with telling the truth.
iv. Group representatives to present their work and teacher to give guidance during
the discussion and explain further what proverbs are.
v. Proverbs are wise sayings that convey valuable lessons and insights.
Examples:
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1. When offering advice or guidance to someone, proverbs can be used to convey a
message in a concise and memorable way.
Example: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Meaning: Don’t assume something will happen until it's confirmed.
2. Proverbs can be used to encourage and motivate someone to take action or
persevere through challenges.
Example: When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Meaning: When faced with difficulties, strong people will work harder to overcome
them.
3. Proverbs can be used to warn someone of potential dangers or consequences.
Example: Beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Meaning: Be cautious of people who appear friendly, but may have ulterior
motives.
4. Proverbs can be used to teach children and adults alike valuable life lessons and
morals.
Example: Winners never quit and quitters never win.
Meaning: Success comes to those who persist and never give up, while those who
give up too easily never achieve victory.
5. Proverbs can be used to offer comfort and consolation to someone who is
experiencing difficulties or hardships.
Example: Time heals all wounds.
Meaning: With time, the pain and sadness will lessen.
6. Proverbs can be used to celebrate someone’s successes or achievements.
Example: The fruit of your labour is sweet.
Meaning: The rewards of your hard work are enjoyable and satisfying.
7. Proverbs can be used to describe a situation or circumstance in a vivid and
memorable way.
Example: It’s raining cats and dogs.
Meaning: It’s raining very heavily.
8. Proverbs can be used to add humour or wit to a conversation or situation.
Example: “Don’t cry over spilled milk.”
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Meaning: Don't waste time feeling sorry for something that's already happened and
can’t be changed.
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Interpretation: This proverb warns people against being too generous or permissive, as
it can lead to exploitation.
5. Practice what you preach.
Meaning: You should do what you advise others to do.
Interpretation: This proverb encourages people not to be hypocritical and to live by the
principles they claim to believe in.
6. Rome was not built in a day.
Meaning: Big things take time to accomplish.
Interpretation: This proverb encourages people to be patient and to recognise that
achieving great things requires time, effort, and perseverance.
7. The grass is always greener on the other side.
Meaning: People often think someone else’s situation is better than their own, but it is
not always true.
Interpretation: This proverb warns people against comparing themselves to others and
encourages them to appreciate what they have.
8. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Meaning: When you are in a different place or culture, you should try to fit in and do
things the way the locals do.
Interpretation: This proverb encourages people to be respectful of different cultures and
customs, and to adapt to new situations.
Assessment
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Pair learners and provide them with proverbs to interpret.
Give learners situations and ask them to supply proverbs that could be used.
Summary
COMPREHENSION
TOPIC: COMPREHENSION
[Link]
Overview: Comprehension is a process of active engagement that leads to accurate
understanding and interpretation of what is heard or read. The importance of
comprehension lies in its application to real-life situations such as understanding
instructions, engaging in conversations, and interpreting information. Learners will read
passages, extract main ideas, and engage in discussions to enhance their understanding.
This topic exposes learners to the basic skills of comprehension, focusing on reading
comprehension.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Apply good reading skills.
- Critical thinking:
Analyse texts to improve the ability to understand
Hook: Is it possible for one to have knowledge of anything if they have no ability to
understand it?
Passage
1. Inclusive education is an approach that values diversity and promotes
the participation of all learners, regardless of their abilities or
disabilities. It involves creating a learning environment that is
welcoming, supportive, and challenging for all learners. Inclusive
education recognises that every learner has unique needs, interests, and
learning styles, and seeks to provide opportunities for all learners to
reach their full potential.
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2. One of the key principles of inclusive education is the concept of
Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL involves designing learning
experiences that are accessible and engaging for all learners, regardless
of their abilities or disabilities. This can involve using multimedia
materials, providing choices and options, and incorporating assistive
technology.
3. Inclusive education also requires teachers to be flexible and adaptable in
their teaching practices. This can involve differentiating instruction to
meet the diverse needs of learners, using assistive technology to support
learners with disabilities, and providing opportunities for learners to
take ownership of their learning.
Teaching Points:
Divide the learners into groups and ask them to discuss the passage.
Groups retell the details of the passage.
Let Learners scan the passage and identify unfamiliar words. Inferences should be
drawn from the text
- Inclusive – welcoming all students, regardless of their abilities.
- Approach – a way or method of doing something.
- Diversity – variety; differences among people.
- Participation – involvement in an activity.
- Abilities – skills or talents.
- Disabilities – physical or mental conditions that limit activities.
- Environment – the surrounding conditions where learning takes place.
- Supportive – giving help or encouragement.
- Challenging – difficult in a way that tests ability.
- Unique – one of a kind; different from others.
- Learning styles – different ways people learn best.
- Potential – the ability to develop or succeed.
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- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) – an educational framework to improve
learning for all.
- Accessible – easy to use or reach for everyone.
- Engaging – interesting and able to keep attention.
- Multimedia – content using more than one form of media, like text, video, and sound.
Ask Learners to aswer factual and inference questions given.
Questions:
3. What are some ways that teachers can create a welcoming and supportive learning
environment for learners with diverse needs?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. How can assistive technology be used to support learners with disabilities in the
classroom?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. What are some benefits of inclusive education for learners with and without disabilities?
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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. Describe a situation where a teacher might need to differentiate instruction to meet the
diverse needs of learners. What strategies might the teacher use to differentiate
instruction?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Passages
Worksheet with vocabulary on passage
[Link] Standard: Information read and comprehended correctly.
ASSESSMENT
Provide a comprehension passage and ask learners to answer the questions that follow.
Observe learners’ participation in discussions.
Check their ability to locate answers in the passage.
Assess group work and engagement.
SUMMARY
Intensive reading involves the detailed reading of texts.
The two goals are to understand the text and learn language features through a
deliberate focus on these items.
COMPOSITION
TOPIC: PERSUASIVE WRITING
1.0. INTRODUCTION
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Overview: Persuasive writing is a form of writing where the writer attempts to convince or
persuade the audience to adopt a particular point of view or take a specific action by
presenting logical reasoning, supporting evidence, and compelling arguments. It has the
goal of influencing the reader to adopt a certain opinion, ideas or complete an action.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Effectively share one’s thoughts and emotions and understand others.
Metaphor: is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind
of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest likeness or analogy between
them.
Analogy: is a comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of
explanation or clarification.
Repetition: is a literary device that involves using the same word or phrase over and
over again in a piece of writing to emphasise a point or create a specific effect.
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claim. It involves presenting a claim or position, supporting it with evidence and
reasoning, and addressing potential counterarguments.
3.0. Learning Activities
Example:
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in turn, can lead to a more inclusive and equitable society, where
individuals with disabilities are valued and respected.
Explain the key features of an argumentative composition with reference to the passage
read.
- Introduction: Introduces the topic, provides background information, and states the
claim.
- Main Body: Presents data, warrants, and backing to support the claim, addressing
potential counterarguments. Acknowledge and respond to opposing views.
- Conclusion: Summarises the main points, reiterates the claim, and provides a final
thought or call to action.
Explain to the learners the kind of language to use when agreeing and disagreeing.
I strongly agree with the statement I respectfully disagree with the statement
because... because...
Indeed, corruption deprives the poor of In some cases, the rich may lose more
basic services like health and education. money through corrupt systems.
There is no doubt that corruption mostly I believe the effects of corruption are
affects the poor because... widespread and not limited
to a single group.
Divide learners in groups and assign them tasks in which they shall argue for or against
a given controversial statement.
Example: Inclusive education is the most effective way to support learners with disabilities.
Argue for or against this statement.
Ask group representatives read the compositions to the class, after which a postmortem
is done to check the use of appropriate features of argumentative composition writing
taught.
Assessment
Summary
Argumentative composition is a type of writing that aims to persuade or convince the
reader to adopt a particular point of view or accept a certain claim.
It presents a claim or position.
The writer supports the argument with evidence and reasoning.
Argumentative composition addresses potential counterarguments.
STRUCTURE
TOPIC: CONDITION
1.0. INTRODUCTION
This topic, will look at the types of conditional sentences and the tense changes that
apply in each of them.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively.
- Creativity and innovation
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Understand connection between seemingly unrelated subject matter.
Condition: A situation that must exist before something else is possible or permitted.
Main clause: the core part of the sentence that can stand alone.
INTRODUCTION
Conditional sentences are sentences that express a condition and its corresponding
consequences. It consists of two clauses; the if-clause (or condition) and the main
clause (or consequence). There are several types of conditional sentences. This topic
will focus on the likely or probable condition, unlikely or improbable condition and the
impossible condition. These types of conditional sentences help us express different
degrees of possibility, hypothetical situations, and consequences.
Specific Competence: Use conditional sentences
Exercise 1
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2. She wouldn’t have failed the test if she had studied harder.
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
2. She joins the team, she becomes the best player. (Type 1 conditional)
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Worksheets with conditional sentences
Charts
Flashcards
Matching table
4.0. Expected Standard: Conditional sentences used appropriately.
Assessment
Learners distinguish types of conditionals.
Learners match the conditional clause with the appropriate main clause.
Summary
There are three types of conditional sentences.
They express a condition and its corresponding consequence.
They consist of two clauses; the if-clause (or condition) and the main clause (or
consequence).
Conditional sentences help us express (meaning) different degrees of possibility,
hypothetical situations, and consequences in real life.
2.1. SUB-TOPIC 2: Tense Changes in Conditional Clause and Main Clause.
INTRODUCTION
Conditional sentences often involve tense changes that help convey the degree of
possibility or hypothetical nature of the situation, and are essential in constructing
conditional sentences that accurately express the intended meaning.
Specific Competence: Use appropriate tenses in conditional sentences.
[Link] Activities:
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Likely or Probable If Jimaima asks Inonge, She will help him.
If he comes, I will speak to him.
If + Past Simple Would + Verb
Type 2
Unlikely or Improbable If Jimaima asked Inonge, She would help him.
If he came, I would speak to him.
If + Past Perfect Would + Present Perfect
Type 3
If Jimaima had asked Inonge, She would have helped him.
Impossible
If he had come, I would have spoken to him.
Divide learners into groups and ask them to construct sentences in the three conditional
sentence types applying the tense changes that apply to each type.
Examples:
HOMEWORK
Ask learners to individually construct the three types of conditional sentences and
apply tense changes accordingly
Assessment
Learners distinguish types of conditionals.
Learners construct conditional sentences with appropriate tenses.
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SUMMARY
Conditional sentences often involve tense changes that help convey the degree of
possibility or hypothetical nature of the situation.
These are essential in constructing conditional sentences that accurately express our
intended meaning.
First Conditional: If-clause: present simple → Main clause: future simple
Second Conditional: If-clause: past simple → Main clause: would + base verb
Third Conditional: If-clause: past perfect → Main clause: would + have + past
participle
SUMMARY WRITING
ADVERTISEMENTS
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: An advertisement is an announcement in a public medium promoting a
product, service or event or publicising a job vacancy. Advertising aims to present a
product or service in terms of utility, advantages and qualities of interest to the
consumers. This topic will look at types of advertisements and their importance in
real life.
General Competence(s):
- Creativity and Innovation
Organise information and ideas
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Medium: Communication tools used to store and deliver information or data; a system
or channel through which a speaker or writer addresses their audience.
Promoting: Encouraging people to like, buy, use, do, or support something; helping
sell a product, service … or make it more popular by advertising it or offering it at a
special price.
Advertisements come in different forms. They can be print, broadcast, digital and
experiential, each with unique methods and examples like radio and television
commercials, social media advertisements, billboards, and email or short message
system campaigns.
Example:
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Advertisement 4: Join the Debate Club – Speak Up, Stand Out!
Are you passionate about sharing ideas? Do you enjoy expressing
your opinions and standing your ground? Then the Debate Club is a
place for YOU! Sign up today with your English teacher.
Sample adverts
Newspapers/Magazines with adverts
Worksheets showing adverts
Charts with features of adverts
Expected Standard: Advertisements written correctly.
Assessment
Divide learners into groups and provide them situations for which they should
compose advertisements.
Give homework to learners to compose adverts in given contexts.
SUMMARY
Advertisement is an announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service or
event or publicising a job vacancy.
Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages and
qualities of interest to the consumers.
Adverts must have a clear and compelling message.
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Emotional appeal, use persuasive language that will appeal to the customer.
INTRODUCTION
Riddles are statements or phrases that require thought and contemplation to decipher
their meaning, often using wordplay, puns, double meanings and other literary devices.
They typically have a hidden answer or solution that is not immediately apparent. They
are a fun and creative way to challenge your mind and test your problem-solving skills.
This topic will focus on riddles and their usage in various social contexts.
Specific competence(s): Use riddles in various social contexts
3.0. Learning activities:
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4. I am as clear as glass but polluted everyday by human actions, in a most harmful
way. What am I? Answer: water
5. I’m the result of fire activities, a gas so unkind, contributing to climate change,
leaving all behind. What am I? Answer: carbon dioxide.
6. I am a necessary process but often done with neglect. Leaving behind waste, a toxic
inspects. What am I? Answer: waste management
7. I’m a way to reduce waste, a practice so simple ad true. Helping to protect the
environment for you and me. What am I? Answer: recycling
8. I’m a natural disaster, caused by human neglect, a consequence of pollution, a
warring we must inspect. What am I? Answer: climate change
9. What has a key but never unlocks any door? Answer: Keyboard
10. What starts with an “E”, ends with an “E” but only contains one letter? Answer:
envelope.
Divide learners into groups and ask them to discuss riddles they know.
ASSESSMENT
Provide guided practice by giving learners a riddle to provide meaning in pairs or small
groups.
Allow learners to share their riddles with the class.
Assess participation by observing learners’ engagement and involvement in the activity.
(pair or group).
Learners to conduct a project of collecting riddles common in their communities.
Learners to interpret riddles.
SUMMARY
Riddles are statements or phrases that require thought and contemplation to decipher
their meaning, often using wordplay, puns, double meanings and other literary devices.
They have a hidden answer or solution that is not immediately apparent.
They are a fun and creative way to challenge the mind and test problem-solving skills.
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TOPIC: READING COMPREHENSION
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Comprehension is a process of active engagement that leads to accurate
understanding and interpretation of what is heard or read. The importance of
comprehension lies in its application to real-life situations such as understanding
instructions, engaging in conversations, and interpreting information. Learners will read
passages, extract main ideas, and engage in discussions to enhance their understanding.
This topic exposes learners to the basic skills of comprehension, focusing on reading
comprehension.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Apply good reading skills.
- Critical thinking:
Analyse texts to improve the ability to understand
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This lesson gives an opportunity for the learner to practise and develop intensive
reading skills.
Specific Competence: Read and comprehend information
4.0. Learning Activities
Passage
Environmental pollution
1. One of the biggest problems facing the world today, especially in big
cities and towns is environmental pollution. Pollution is the act of
making the air, water, soil, or the natural surrounding dirty or unclean.
2. In major industrial areas and big cities, cars, trains, aeroplanes and other
machines that run industries fill the air with carbon dioxide. This affects
life because it makes it difficult for people, animals and plants to
breathe. Badly polluted air can cause illness and even death.
3. Water is also being polluted in many ways. Many forms of rubbish are
dumped in rivers, dams and lakes. Since oil from ships and oil rigs,
makes water dangerously dirty, it kills fish and other living creatures in
water.
4. Soil is another part of the environment that has been polluted. The
overuse of pesticides and fertilisers pollutes the soil and makes it poor.
Therefore, farmers have to use even more chemicals to grow crops.
Other forms of pollution include throwing junk and litter around. This is
both dangerous to our health and ugly to look at.
5. The problem of the environmental pollution is both complicated and
serious. It is complicated because pollution is caused by things that
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benefit people. For example, smoke from cars, taxis, buses and trucks
cause a lot of air pollution. But these vehicles provide transportation for
millions of people and goods that need to go to different places.
Factories discharge chemicals that pollute the air, water and the soil too,
but factories provide jobs for people and produce goods that people
want. Fertilisers and pesticides can affect the soil, yet they are important
as we need them to grow crops. So, we all cause pollution in one way or
the other!
6. However, pollution can be and is being reduced in several ways.
Scientists are working together to find ways to reduce the amount of
pollution. For example, cars and other machines now discharge less
smoke because they are made differently. Since there are new laws that
prohibit factories from discharging smoke, there is less air pollution in
many countries. Most importantly, individuals and groups of people are
taking action to reduce pollution because they realise that this is the only
way to preserve the environment and the life on Earth.
(Adapted from the world book Encyclopaedia Vol.6 world book, Inc.,
page 329).
Divide the learners into groups and ask them to discuss the passage.
Groups retell the details of the passage.
Learners scan the passage and identify unfamiliar words. Inferences should be drawn
from the text
Vocabulary
- Pollution: The process of making the environment dirty or harmful by adding harmful
substances to air, water, or land.
- Carbon dioxide: A gas produced by burning carbon and by respiration. It is released
by cars and factories and can be harmful in large amounts.
- Pesticides: Chemicals used to kill insects or pests that harm crops.
- Fertilisers: Substances added to soil to help plants grow better by providing nutrients.
- Discharge: To release or send out substances (like
Questions:
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Use the information from the passage to answer the questions.
Choose the correct answer from among those given.
1. Paragraph 1. The most challenging problem being faced by the world is…
A. air
B. pollution
C. Soil
D. Water
2. Paragraph 2. The following fill the air with carbon dioxide except for one.
A. aeroplanes
B. Cars
C. Industries
D. Trains
3. Paragraph 2. The word “this” refers to …
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6. Paragraph 4. The other non-chemical things that pollute the soil are….
A. Forms of pollution
B. Junk and litter
C. Pesticides and fertilisers
D. Use of pesticides
7. According to the passage, the environment includes:
Passages
Worksheet with vocabulary on passage
4.0. Expected Standard: Information read and comprehended correctly.
ASSESSMENT
Provide a comprehension passage and ask learners to answer the questions that follow.
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Observe learners’ participation in discussions.
Check their ability to locate answers in the passage.
Assess group work and engagement.
SUMMARY
Intensive reading involves the detailed reading of texts.
Understand the text
Learn language features through a deliberate focus on the text.
COMPOSITION
TOPIC: PERSUASIVE WRITING
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Persuasive writing is a form of writing where the writer attempts to
convince or persuade the audience to adopt a particular point of view or take a specific
action by presenting logical reasoning, supporting evidence, and compelling arguments.
It has the goal of influencing the reader to adopt a certain opinion, ideas or complete an
action.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Effectively shares one’s thoughts and emotions and understand others.
Hook: What if your job was to defend something you do not believe in?
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Controversial: Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement;
relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument.
Metaphor: is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind
of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest likeness or analogy between
them.
Analogy: is a comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of
explanation or clarification.
Repetition: is a literary device that involves using the same word or phrase over and
over again in a piece of writing to emphasise a point or create a specific effect.
2.0. SUBTOPIC: Discursive Composition
INTRODUCTION
In a discursive Composition, the writer explores both sides of a topic and draws a conclusion.
The composition could be on opposing opinions, cause and effect, compare and contrast,
problem and solution, advantages and disadvantages or just exploratory.
Specific competence(s): Write a discursive composition
3.0. Learning activities:
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- analysis
- evaluation
- factual or evidence-based arguments
ASSESSMENT
Learners read a model discursive essay and discuss its features.
Learners to write a discursive essay using appropriate language.
SUMMARY
Discursive Composition explores both sides of a topic and draws a conclusion.
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It could express opposing opinions, cause and effect, compare and contrast, problem
and solution, advantages and disadvantages or just exploratory.
A discursive essay uses appropriate words or expressions to transition from one point of
view to another.
Discursive composition helps one think critically, see multiple sides of an issue, and
communicate their views clearly and respectfully.
STRUCTURE
TOPIC: ABILITY
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Ability refers to the capacity to perform a specific task or function. It can
also refer to a natural talent or skill that someone or something possesses.
Understanding ability is important in real-life situations because it helps individuals to
talk about skills in conversations, explain past experiences, ask for or offer help. This
topic is valuable because it equips learners with essential language for everyday
communication, enabling them to confidently talk about what they or others can or
cannot do.
General Competence (s)
Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively
Analytical thinking:
Break down problem and evaluate solution
Hook: Have you ever imagined not being able to do something that almost everyone
can easily do?
Activity 1: Discussing the use of ability in the present, past and future.
Select a learner to perform a few tasks. (touch the board, close the window, ride a
bicycle, sing, spell a word, breath in, breath out …).
Ask learners to use the word ‘can’ or ‘be able to’ to describe what their classmate is
able to do.
Explain the different ways of expressing ability:
1. Can and be able to both express ability in the present but can is more
usual.
Can Be able to
I can plant flowers. I am able to plant flowers.
I can speak about climate change boldly. I am able to speak about climate change
boldly.
I can ride a bicycle. I am able to ride a bicycle.
I can make a biodigester. I am able to make a biodigester.
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3. Could and Was/Were able to (used to express ability in the past).
ASSESSMENT
Learners discuss ways of expressing ability in the present, past and future.
Learners construct sentences expressing ability using different expressions.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY WRITING
TOPIC: NOTE SUMMARY
1.0. INTRODUCTION:
Overview: A note summary is a set of points or notes obtained from a passage or an
oral source. It is a collection of all the important points. These points are listed. The
points do not need to be written in full sentences. Abbreviations may also be used.
General Competence(s):
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- Creativity and Innovation:
Organise information and ideas.
- Critical Thinking:
Analyse texts, to improve the ability to understand
- Communication:
Use appropriate language (verbal and non-verbal) in different situations
- Emotional intelligence:
Communicate and relate with others effectively
Hook: Did you know that sometimes the simplest notes hold the most important
information?
INTRODUCTION
Note summaries are either from an oral source or from a written source. If it is from an
oral source, it is called note taking. Note making is when notes are written from a
written source. This topic covers both note taking and note making.
Specific competence(s): Write note summaries.
3.0. Learning activities:
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Explain that we take notes from an oral source, while we make notes from a written
source i.e. Note making and Note taking.
Note making is the process of writing down important information in a short and
organised form for future reference from a written source.
Note taking is the process of quickly taking down information as you listen to an oral
source.
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Ask learners to write note summaries from various sources paying particular attention
to the question.
Passage
Biodiversity
The importance of biodiversity is often overlooked bit it plays an important role
in maintaining the health of the planet. Biodiversity refers to the variety of
different species of plants, animals and microorganisms that live in an
ecosystem. It also includes the genetic diversity of ecosystems themselves.
Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the balance of [Link] ensures that
ecosystems are resilient to environmental changes and can recover from
disasters. Biodiversity also provides numerous benefits to humans, including
food, medicine, and clean air and water.
Despite its importance, biodiversity is facing numerous threats. Habitat
destruction, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation pf resources are all
major drivers of biodiversity loss. The consequences of biodiversity are far
reaching and can have significant impact on human well-being.
Use the following questions to make note summaries of the passage.
1. What is biodiversity?
2. Why is biodiversity important?
3. What are the benefits of biodiversity?
4. What are the threats to biodiversity?
5. What are the consequences of biodiversity loss?
Project
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Audio (reading/speech)
4.0. Expected standard: note summary written correctly.
ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY
There are two types of note summaries which are note- making and note taking.
Note making entails making note from a written source whereas note-taking entails
taking note from an oral source.
Similes: a figure of speech that directly compares two different things using the words
like or as.
Metaphors: a figure of speech that makes an implicit or direct comparison between
two unrelated things by stating that one is the other.
Personifications: a literary device that gives human qualities, emotions, or behaviours
to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or ideas.
Idiomatic expressions: phrases or sayings whose meanings are not immediately clear
from the individual words.
INTRODUCTION
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Specific Competence(s): Use idiomatic expressions in speech.
3.0. Learning Activities:
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stated
Piece of cake To stay positive and optimistic even in tough situations.
Hit the ground running To join others in doing something popular or trending.
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Short passage with idiomatic expressions
4.0. Expected Standard: Idiomatic expressions used in speech appropriately.
ASSESSMENT
Homework:
Provide individual learners with short passages with idiomatic expressions and ask
them to interpret them for the next class.
Ask learners to find five new idiomatic expressions and bring them to the next
class.
Provide learners with idiomatic expressions and interpretations and ask learners to
match them.
Learners match idiomatic expressions with the interpretations.
SUMMARY
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passages, extract main ideas, and engage in discussions to enhance their understanding.
This topic introduces learners to the basic skills of comprehension, focusing on reading
comprehension.
General Competence(s):
- Creativity and innovation:
Ask thoughtful questions; justify one’s reason and procedures
- Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively;
effectively share one’s thoughts and emotions and understand
others
- Critical thinking: Analyse texts to improve the ability to understand
Hook: Did you know that success in reading is largely influenced by our
reading practice?
INTRODUCTION
Extensive reading can be defined as reading done for pleasure or gaining general
understanding by focusing on a large volume of materials. The goal of extensive
reading is to expose learners to a wide range of texts, vocabulary, and sentence
structures in a natural context helping to improve reading fluency, language learning,
and overall confidence. To achieve the objective of extensive reading a rich collection
of books is needed both at home and at school.
Specific Competence(s): Read a variety of texts extensively
3.0. Learning Activities:
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Divide learners into groups and ask them to discuss adverse reading mannerisms (avoid
head movement, verbalising, whispering, finger or pen pointing of words)
Passage 1
A young woman named Tasha struggled silently for
years with anxiety and depression. She was known for
her bubbly personality, but beneath the surface, she
battled feelings of emptiness and overwhelming self-
doubt. After years of trying to manage on her own, she
reached her breaking point. One day, she confided in a
close friend, who encouraged her to seek help.
Taking that step wasn’t easy, but Tasha eventually
found support in therapy and began to explore
mindfulness practices. Her journey was not a quick one;
it took time, patience, and self-compassion. Little by
little, she learned to process her emotions and recognise
her triggers. Tasha also discovered the healing power of
creativity, channelling her thoughts into painting and
writing.
Her story reminds us that mental health struggles do not
define a person. Seeking help is a sign of strength, and
recovery is unique to each individual. It is important to
foster understanding, break the stigma, and create
spaces where people feel safe to share their struggles.
Passage 2
The Kingdom of Cheepa: A Tale of the Five Flames
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Once, in the heart of a lush and peaceful land, there lay
the Kingdom of Cheepa. Known for its beauty and
harmony, the kingdom was also governed by a
prophecy: “When the Five Flames of the heart are
extinguished, darkness will fall. Only one with strength,
kindness, and hope will reignite them to bring back the
light.”
The Five Flames represented important qualities that
helped people stay strong and connected: Courage,
Growth, Love, Power, and Hope. These flames were
kept alive on top of a great mountain by a group of
monks who dedicated their lives to protecting them. But
one day, a selfish and cruel warlord named Katenkana,
driven by anger and fear, extinguished the flames,
bringing sadness and despair to the kingdom. The sky
turned grey, the crops failed, and the people felt
hopeless.
In a quiet village lived Mutinta, a kind and caring
healer who helped anyone in need. Mutinta did not
know she was part of the prophecy, but she had a
special gift—a heart that was strong, even in the
toughest times. When Katenkana’s army attacked her
village, Mutinta stayed calm, helping the wounded and
comforting the scared. It was her courage and kindness
that caught the eye of Mulala, a mysterious stranger
who revealed himself as the last protector of the Five
Flames.
Mulala told Mutinta about the prophecy and asked her
to join him on a journey to rekindle the flames. Though
she was not sure she could succeed, Mutinta knew her
love for her people was stronger than her doubts.
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Together, they set off to find the mountain where the
flames had once burned brightly.
The journey was difficult, testing Mutinta’s mind and
spirit. To reignite the Flame of Courage, she had to face
her own fears—memories of times when she had felt
weak and scared. For the Flame of Growth, she
travelled through the Forest of Time, where she
revisited painful moments of loss, but came out stronger
and wiser. Along the way, her connection with Mulala
grew into a deep friendship, and it was their shared love
that reignited the Flame of Love.
But the Flame of Power was the hardest challenge. As
Mutinta stood before it, she was tempted by the idea of
taking control of the kingdom, to make everything right
on her own. However, with her heart full of love and
understanding, chose instead to use her strength for the
good of others, knowing true power comes from helping,
not controlling.
Finally, they reached the Flame of Hope, but Mulala
had been captured by Katenkana. Mutinta was alone,
with the entire kingdom’s future resting on her. She felt
tired and sad, almost ready to give up. But then, she
remembered the people she had helped and how they
believed in her. Their courage and trust filled her heart
with hope. With this, she reignited the Flame of Hope,
bringing light back to the kingdom.
With the flames restored, Katenkana’s dark spell was
broken, and the kingdom began to heal. Mutinta was
celebrated as a hero, but she chose not to rule. Instead,
she continued her work as a healer, teaching others the
importance of kindness, self-care, and hope. Cheepa
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Kingdom flourished, inspired by Mutinta’s journey—a
reminder that with courage, growth, love, strength used
wisely, and a hopeful heart, even the darkest times
can be overcome.
(source: Unknown)
ASSESSMENT
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Ask Learners to continue reading a variety of texts and share their reading with the rest
of the class.
Provide some more texts for learners to select from and ask them to read during their
free time and make summaries in readiness for sharing with whole class.
SUMMARY
Extensive reading is regarded as reading a variety or large quantities of materials for
pleasure and information.
Through reading widely, learners improve their ability to understand and interpret texts
more effectively.
Exposure to varied language usage boosts confidence in both reading and speaking in
real life situations.
COMPOSITION
TOPIC: DIARY WRITING
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Writing composition is about sharing your thoughts, ideas and stories in a
structured and creative way. It is not just about putting words together, but about
organising them to communicate effectively, entertain, inform or persuade. This topic
will explore diary writing.
General Competence(s):
Hook: Have you ever had a moment when you wanted to capture your feelings,
thoughts, or experiences?
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Diary: a personal record where individuals write about their thoughts, feelings,
experiences, and daily events.
Diary entry: a written record of personal thoughts, feelings, experiences, or events
from a specific day.
Diary Writing: A personal and reflective activity used to record thoughts, feelings,
events, or experiences.
Ask them if they have ever kept a diary and what they think a diary is.
Describe the diary and state its use and significance
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Activity 2: Discussing the features of a diary
Discuss the features with the class as follows:
- Date: the date when the entry is done (day, month, year).
- Salutation: this is the subject that the writer addresses his or her written
work to.
- In diary writing, the addressee is usually the diary.
- Main body: records what has been experienced or what needs to be
expressed. The main body can have several paragraphs depending on
what is being recorded.
- Conclusion: wraps up your reflections or thoughts for the day
- Personal tone: the writing is informal and reflective often resembling a
conversation with oneself.
- Chronological order: entries are typically recorded in the order in which
they happened.
- Descriptive language: often used to vividly capture experiences and
emotions
- Honesty and Authenticity: authentic expressions allowing individuals to
be true to themselves.
- Language and style: language used is usually casual and conversational,
without concern for grammar or structure.
- Confidentiality: a private space where one can freely express thoughts
and emotions without judgement.
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EXPECTED STANDARD: Diary entries written correctly
ASSESSMENT
Homework
Learners write a diary entry for the next few days and reflect on how it feels to maintain
a diary.
SUMMARY
Diary entries are a form of personal writing used to capture thoughts, feelings,
experiences, and daily events in real life.
It serves as a private space for self-expression and reflection, often written in
chronological order with dated entries.
It helps improve self-expression, emotional awareness and writing skills.
STRUCTURE
TOPIC: THE GERUND AND THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview: The Gerund and the Present Participle look identical but they have different
grammatical functions. It is their identical nature that brings about confusion. This topic
therefore, describes the gerund and the present participle, distinguishing them and
discussing their functions.
General Competence(s):
- Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively.
Use appropriate language (verbal and non-verbal) in different
situations.
Hook: Did you know that forms of the same verb can mean two different things?
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KEY TERMS /WORDS/VOCABULARY
Gerund: a verb form that ends in –ing and functions as a noun in a sentence.
Participle: form of a verb that is used as an adjective to describe or modify
nouns or pronouns.
Present participle: form of a verb that ends in –ing and is used to describe or
modify nouns or pronouns
Adjective: a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, giving more
information about its qualities, quantity, or characteristics.
Noun: a word that identifies a person, place, thing, idea, or concept.
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- a gerund is that form of the verb which ends in –ing, and functions as a noun in
a sentence.
- It is the continuous form (-ing) of verb which works as a noun in a sentence.
Examples: Gerunds
i. Teaching is an interesting career. (subject of the verb)
ii. I love teaching. (object of the verb)
iii. He is passionate about teaching. (object of the preposition about).
iv. My passion is teaching. (subject complement).
v. Your teaching is amazing. (object of the possessive adjective your).
Explain that the Present Participle is the form of a verb which ends in –ing and
functions as an adjective in a sentence.
i. A charming lady gave me a lift. (adjective attributively used, modifying the noun lady).
ii. Passengers saw the burning train. (adjective modifying the noun train).
iii. The lesson was exciting. (adjective (subject complement) modifying the noun lesson).
iv. The driver kept me waiting. (adjective predicatively used, modifying the object)
Explain that since a participle is a verb-adjective, it must be attached to a noun or
pronoun.
Example:
Entering the room, I found a doctor waiting for me. (adjective, referring to I)
Arriving late, Mary sat in the back row. (adjective, referring to Mary).
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Ask learners to share their pair work to the rest of the class.
Clarify any misconceptions about gerunds and the Present participle.
Example:
Fridah: Singing is a noble career. (Gerund or Present Participle?)
Handili: Jumping high, Museshyo hit his head against the ceiling. (Gerund or Present
Participle?)
Nora: Will you help me set up the baking pans, Precious? (Gerund or Present
Participle?)
Precious: Chibwika likes baking. (Gerund or Present Participle?)
Suggested Teaching and Learning Materials:
Worksheets with expressions on gerunds and participles.
Dialogue with expression on gerunds and participles.
Think-Pair-Share
Word cards
ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY
Gerunds and participles, though both derive from verbs and ending in -ing, have
distinct grammatical functions.
Gerunds function as nouns while participles function as adjectives or part of a verb
tense.
Gerunds function as nouns in sentences while present participles function as
adjectives.
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STRUCTURE
TOPIC: SENSE RELATIONS
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Sense relations in grammar refer to the relationships between words based
on their meanings. These sense relationships are important because they help us
understand how words interact within a language’s semantic system.
General Competence(s):
Hook: Did you know that words relate to each other in different ways?
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2.0. SUB-TOPIC 1: Synonyms and Antonyms
INTRODUCTION
Words are the building blocks of language and understanding their relationship helps
communicate more effectively. Synonyms and antonyms are two key components of word
relations. By mastering synonyms and antonyms, we expand our vocabulary and enhance our
ability to convey emotions ideas and perspectives. This topic discusses synonyms and
antonyms and how they could be appropriately used in different contexts.
Divide learners into groups and give them a table or worksheet with words.
Example:
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Word Synonym Antonym
Little Small Big/Large
Hot
Happy
Loud
Fast
Kind
Clean
ASSESSMENT
Learners identify synonyms and antonyms and write the activity in their books.
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Learners to fill in tables or supply synonyms and antonyms.
SUMMARY
Synonyms and antonyms are two key components of word relations.
Mastering synonyms and antonyms helps expand vocabulary and enhance ability to
convey emotions, ideas and perspectives.
Synonyms and antonyms are important in understanding language in real life
situations.
Example:
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.
Example:
flower and flour
bare and bear
Divide learners into groups and give them worksheets with different homonyms and
homophones
Ask learners to provide meanings of the given homonyms and homophones.
Learners identify meanings of given homonyms and homophones
Examples:
Homonyms
Homophones
stair/stare:
Stair: a single step in a staircase.
Stare: to look fixedly at something
Week/weak:
Week: any period of seven consecutive days.
Weak: lacking physical strength
See/sea:
See: to perceive or detect something with eyes
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Sea: a large body of water
ASSESSMENT
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Learners identify meanings of homonyms and homophones.
Leaners make charts for homonyms and homophones as homework.
SUMMARY
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have
different meanings, while homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled
differently and also have different meanings.
Learning to recognise and use these types of words correctly helps improve clarity,
avoid confusion, and enhance overall language skills.
Homonyms and Homophones are important in real life situations as they help in
making communication clear and precise.
SUMMARY WRITING
TOPIC: SUMMARY
1.0. INTRODUCTION
Overview: Summarising is a skill that is required for one purpose or another. A
summary is a brief and concise explanation or account of the main ideas or essential
points of a large text or event. A summary focuses on capturing the core meaning while
omitting unnecessary details, making it easier to understand the gist of the content.
General Competence(s):
- Analytical Thinking:
Grasp and breakdown information and effectively share with
others.
- Communication:
Express oneself (spoken and written) clearly and effectively.
- Critical Thinking:
Analyse texts to improve the ability to understand.
Hook: Have you ever read a long piece of writing but only remembered the key points.
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Distribution of Learners by Form
Form Four 10 %
Form Three
[VALUE]%
Provide learners with tables, charts, diagrams and graphs and ask them to write
summaries from the given tables.
In pairs, learners extract information from the given tables and make summaries.
Learners share their work with class in form of presentations.
Discuss strengths and areas for improvement in the summaries presented.
Sample Passage
A survey was conducted among 100 learners to understand their
favourite leisure activities. The results revealed that 40 learners
preferred reading books, 30 enjoyed watching movies, 20 loved playing
sports, and 10 chose painting. Interestingly, it was also noted that most
leaners who enjoyed reading books tended to spend more than 5 hours
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per week on the activity, whereas movie lovers typically spent around 3
hours weekly.
Sample Summary
A survey of 100 learners showed that the most popular leisure activity
was reading (40%), followed by watching movies (30%), playing
sports (20%), and painting (10%). Reading enthusiasts spent over 5
hours weekly on their hobby, while movie watchers averaged 3 hours
per week.
Tabulated Information
Activity Number of learners Percentage Time Spent Weekly
Reading Books 40 40% More than 5 hours
Watching Movies 30 30% Around 3 hours
Playing Sports 20 20% -
Painting 10 10% -
Provide summary texts and charts to learners and divide them into groups.
Ask learners to create tables and organise data, ensuring they include headings, labels
and clearing formatting.
Each group displays their completed tables for the whole class to see.
Discuss group work to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the table
structure and clarity.
Individual Work:
Distribute summary passages to individual learners and ask them to summarise and
there after tabulate the summarised information in their books.
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Summary Passage
Mental health is a vital aspect of overall well-being that
impacts how individuals think, feel, and behave in daily
life. According to a recent study, 1 in 5 adults worldwide
experience mental health challenges, with anxiety
disorders and depression being the most prevalent
conditions. Factors contributing to poor mental health
include stress, lack of social support, financial struggles,
and genetic predispositions.
The study also emphasized the importance of early
intervention and access to mental health resources.
Programs such as therapy, counseling, and mindfulness
practices have been shown to significantly improve mental
health outcomes. Additionally, creating awareness about
mental health can reduce stigma and encourage
individuals to seek help.
Globally, mental health initiatives are gaining momentum,
with governments and organizations advocating for better
policies, funding, and community outreach programs.
However, there remains a gap in accessibility, especially in
developing countries, where only 30% of those in need
have access to treatment.
Common mental health Causes
problems
1. 1.
2. 2.
Learners read the passage at individual level, summarise and tabulate the summarised
information.
Check individual tabulation skills and make comments.
Display sample summary and tabulated information for learners to see.
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Suggested Teaching and Learning Materials
Assessment
Ask individual learners to create a table using data from daily activities (e.g. smart
phone usage habits)
Homework
Smartphone Usage Habits
A research study on smartphone usage habits revealed that
among 200 participants, 80 used smartphones for social
media, 50 for gaming, 40 for online learning, and 30 for
shopping. The study also found that social media users
spent the most time—an average of 4 hours daily—on their
phones, while online learners spent around 2 hours.
Gamers and shoppers averaged 3 hours each per day.
SUMMARY
Emphasise the importance, purpose and process of tabulation
Learners discuss when tabulation might be useful in real-life situations such as
budgeting or planning an activity.
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REFERENCES
Akombo, S., Karanja, B., Njoroge, L. & Mukunga, M. (2013). K.C.S.E. Golden Tips English
(2nd Ed). Kampala: Moran Publishers.
Curriculum Development Centre (1990). English 8 Pupil’s Book 2. Lusaka: ZEPH.
Elle MacArthur Foundation. 2019 completing picture: How the circular Economy Tackles
Climate Change
Fitikides, T. J. (2002). Common Mistakes in English with Exercises (6th Ed.). Malaysia:
Pearson Education Ltd.
Glencoe (2000). Grammar and Composition Handbook, High School 1. USA: McGraw-Hall.
Gunning, T.G. (2020). Creating Literacy Instruction for All Students. (10th ed.). Boston:
Pearson Education Inc.
Honig, B., Diamon, L. and Gutlohn, L. (2019). Teaching Reading Source Book. (3rd ed.)
California: Davidson of Academic Therapy Publication
Hurford, J. R., Heasley, B., Smith, M. B. (2007). Semantics A Coursebook (2nd Ed.). New
York: Cambridge University Press.
UNESCO. (1994). The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs
Education.
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APPENDIX 2: LESSON PLAN
LESSON PLAN
SCHOOL: Mumpulumba Secondary School
NAME OF TEACHER: Museshyo DATE: 22/ 05/ 2025
CLASS: Form 1 B DURATION: 80 Minutes
TIME: 08:10-09:30 TOTAL NO. OF PUPILS: 43
SUBJECT: English Language
TOPIC: 1.3.3 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
SUB-TOPIC: [Link] Describing a person, an animal or an object
GENERAL COMPETENCE(S): Critical thinking, Collaboration, Creativity Innovation, and
Communication
SPECIFIC COMPETENCES: [Link].1 Write a description of an object.
RATIONALE: This lesson is on Descriptive Writing and is particularly focused on describing
an object. Through brainstorming, exploration, and collaboration, learners will acquire a skill
of describing different objects correctly.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Parts of speech; Nouns, adjectives, adverbs, figures of speech.
REFERENCES:
2024 English Language Secondary Education Ordinary Level Syllabus-Form 1-4
page….
2025 English Language Form 1-4 Teaching Module page….
Senior Secondary English Composition and Summary, Lazalo Sinkala
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Natural environment: Outside the classroom (school yard/community)
Artificial environment: Classroom, pens, books, desks)
Technological environment: Projector, Laptop.
TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS/RESOURCES.
Model descriptive text
Visual objects such as a money, cell phone, ATM card, mobile money booth
Chart showing descriptive words
LESSON EVALUATION:
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