Key English Skills Agescm About the Key English Skills Books At Key Stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6) (ages 7-11) your child will learn key English skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. These books contain activities designed to build your child's confidence in English as they progress from Years 3 to 6. They cover the skills your child is learning in school, including grammar, speling and punctuation that will form the basis of the new tests at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6). At the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), your child will sit National Curriculum tests in English. The English grammar, punctuation and speling test will assess levels 3-5 of the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum programme of study for English. A separate level 6 test willbe available for schools that wish to enter children who are expected to be working above level 5 Your child's teacher will make a separate judgement on how well your child is doing in writing - such as composing letters or writing stories — Key English Skills Ages 7-8 This book is divided into sets of manageable activities that give your child additional help with their reading and writing. Reading practice —a text for your child to read followed by questions and related activities: + Recognising and forming different tenses. + Understanding grammatical structures. + Looking for meaning beyond the literal. + Using inference and deduction. Writing practice — activities that focus on grammar and language, as well as a writing task: + Using correct grammar, such as recognising and forming different tenses. + Using punctuation - full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, speech marks and apostrophes. Spelling, including the use of common prefixes and suffixes. Understanding the relevance of word families and the roots and origins of words. How to Use this Book at Home Find a quiet, comfortable place to work, away from distractions. Encourage your child to work through all the questions in the book. Aim to work through one section per day or set up a regular time for completing the activities in the book. + Make sure your child has extra pieces of paper or a separate notebook to write their answers on where necessary. + When your childhas finished working through the book, help themto check their answers using the free downloadable answers available on our website. Download the free progress chart available on our website, which allows you and your child to work out which skills can be improved upon. Go back to the areas your child found the most difficult and help them to work through the questions again. it might be beneficial to find your child some more practice material in these areas. Collins offers a wide range of English practice material for ages 5-11. See our website. To download a free copy of the answers for this book, go to www.collins.co.uk and click on the free resources associated with this book.Contents Volcanoes Initial and Final Blends Copital Letters Using Words Marty Mouse and Cousin Jerry Final Blends: ‘ck’ and ‘ing’ Capital Letters Using Words Witch Goes Shopping € Full Stops and Question Marks Using Words Goldenhair aphs: ‘ai’ and ‘oa’ Singur ond Plural Using Wo The Olympic Games Vowel Digraphs: ‘ea’ and ‘ee' Singular and Plural Using Words Honesty is the Best Policy Vowel Digraphs: ‘oo’ and ‘ew’ Alphabetical Order Using Words Snowflake Consonant Digraphs: ‘ph’ ‘wh anc! ‘th’ Alphabetical Order Using Words The Big Fish ‘ee-letter Blends: ‘sp and ‘spr’ parative and Superlative OevdGA SSS FRAGZS SEGHEE Writing Language Reading Activities Phonics Grammar Writing Language Reading Activities Phonics Grammar Writing Language Reading Reading Activities Reading Using Words The First Lighthouse Threeetter Blends: ‘scr’ and ‘str’ Nouns Using Words The Gratfe Soft ‘c’ and Hard 'c* Nouns Using Words Bellthe Cat Soft ‘g’ and Hard ’g’ Verbs Using Words The Fairies Silent Letters: “«’ and ‘w Verbs Using Words The Shy Kingfisher Root Words and Compound Words Adjectives Using Words The Salmon of Knowledge Syllables Adjectives Using Words Dolphins Sylabies Confusing Words Using Words Strange Friends if Knew BIIRKL ALlLSSsSs VYHHezays 2g 283ay SRRLAB w S&E BSl8ssA Read the text. Volcanoes A volcano is a hole in the Earth's surface. When a volcano erupts, lava (melted rock), hot gases, rock and ash are thrown into the air. Most volcanoes are mountains. This is because the rock that the volcano blasts out every time it erupts builds up over thousands of years. There are volcanoes under the sea as well as on land. The lava from eruptions under the sea slowly raises the level of the seabed. This is how volcanic islands, like Hawaii, are formed. Volcanic eruptions have caused some of the worst disasters in history. Over two thousand years ago Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupted, burying the town of Pompeii and killing thousands of people. About one hundred and twenty five years ago, the eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia killed even more people. The clouds of ash blasted out changed the world's weather for the next five years. The word ‘volcano’ comes from Vulcan, the Ancient Roman god of fire. The Romans believed he lived underneath the volcanic island of Vulcano, which lies just off the coast of Italy.fA Answer these questions. 1, What is a volcano? 2. What is lava? 3. Where is Mount Vesuvius? 9 4. When did Krakatoa erupt? —————_____ 5. For how long did the eruption of Krakatoa change the world’s weather? 6. Where does the word ‘volcano’ come from? {B Write true or false. 1. When a volcano erupts, nothing is thrown into the air. 2. Most volcanoes are mountains. 3. There are volcanoes under the sea. 4. Mount Vesuvius is in Spain. 5. Krakatoa is in Indonesia. 6. Vulcan was the Ancient Greek god of fire.We sometimes put letters together to make the first and end parts of a word. These are called initial blends and final blends. Ponte | __ick __0g A Copy the words. Write in the missing letters. pl gl pr fl cr dr B Write the correct word. bank tank | dent belt | monk milk | tent sent tank mask task | test nest | sunk sink | camp lamp afA Write the correct word. We use capital letters: 1, At the start of a _________.. (set, school, sentence) 2. For a person’s ______. (neck, name, nose) 3. For the name of a _____. (wet day, weekday, washday) 4. For the name of a ________. (mouth, month, match) 5. For the name of a__.. (plate, plot, place) 6. For the word _________. (oh, and, |) 7. For special ___. (days, ducks, numbers) 6B Write these sentences correctly. 1. i will travel to egypt on tuesday. 2. my friend's name is paul. 3. june comes between may and july. 4. eid is in october this year. 5. mehmet and i are going to belfast in may. 6. mum and meg will be in rome until easter sunday. 7. diwali is in november. 8. tom and i met jafar in ethiopia at christmas.Age: Date of birth: Male or Female: Country of birth: Colour of hair: Colour of eyes: Height: ? Brothers: Sisters: Pets: Hobbies: Favourite book: Favourite TV programme: Favourite colour: Favourite actor:fA Write the correct word. 1. The _________ (rabbit, bear, tiger) has a long tail. 2. The _________ (lion, cat, rabbit) has a short tail. 3. The _______ (rabbit, mouse, squirrel) has a bushy tail. 4. The __________ (horse, deer, hare) has a long tail. 5. The ___________ (mouse, sheep, kangaroo) has a short tail. 6. The ________ (lamb, goat, fox) has a bushy tail. B Write the correct word. "white tame — fast heavy large thin sweet soft . The mouse is smai/but the elephant is . The snail is slow but the hare is . The lion is wild but the sheepdog is The feather is light but the rock is The stone is hard but the jelly is The penguin is fat but the greyhound is . The lemon is bitter but the sugar is . The coal is black but the snow is PNOnMRWN Cc Write the correct word. | team pride litter nest herd pack troop flock school pod LA of mice. 6.A of horses. 2A of wolves. 7A of cod. 3A ofelephants. 8 A of monkeys. 4A of kittens. 2A of birds. 5. A of lions. 10. A of whales.A Read the story. Marty Mouse and Cousin Jerry Marty Mouse lived in a large house in the city. One day, he visited his country cousin, Jerry, who lived alone in a cosy nest near a wood. Seeds and plants were all Jerry ever had to eat. Marty did not enjoy that kind of food. He loved to nibble cakes, buns and biscuits. After a few days with Jerry, he decided to return to his city house. “Why not return with me for a holiday?” said Marty to his cousin, as he packed his suitcase for home. “That would be wonderful,” said Jerry, as he clapped his tiny paws. “Let us go at once.” That night Marty and Jerry set off on their long journey. At last, tired and hungry, they arrived at the big house. They squeezed through a tiny hole that led into the kitchen. Jerry ran across the floor and soon found a cream bun. “This is lovely,” said the happy mouse. “I'll never go back to the country.” Just then, Marty stood still and listened. He saw two big, round eyes staring at him. “Run, Jerry, run!” he squeaked. “Here comes Leo, the cat!” With one jump, Marty was inside the hole in the cupboard. Jerry rushed after him, but the cat’s large paw scratched his tail as he fled into the hole. “Well, welll” laughed Marty. “That was close! Hungry Leo nearly had you for his dinner.” Poor little Jerry was crying. “That wicked cat bit off the end of my tail. It will never again be nice and curly.” “Im sorry,” replied Marty. “But when you live in the city you must be quick or a hungry cat will eat you.” “Oh dear!” squeaked Jerry, who was scared. “lam sorry | came here at all. It is much better to live along life in the country than a short one in the city. Goodbye, Marty. It was kind of you to invite me to the city, but | am going home at once.” So, back to the country went Jerry leaving his cousin, Marty, behind in the big city to play games of ‘hide and seek’ with the cats. 10{A Write true or false. 1. Marty Mouse lived in the country. . Jerry ate seeds and plants. }. Marty invited Jerry to his house in the city. . Jerry found a cream biscuit. . The cat's name was Leo. }. The cat bit the end of Jerry's nose. . Jerry decided to go home at once. eon annrk wn }. Marty decided to go home with Jerry. Write the missing words. hungry chased Marty country Jerry house back Mouse Leo Marty __— lived in a big __________in the city. His cousin lived in the _______. Jerry went to visit Jerry was ____ by abig —_________ cat called He decided to go _____ home to his house in the country. How many small words can you make from ‘squeaked’?quick y B Choose the correct word. 12 1. Ilost my diamond _______. (wing, king, ring) 2. Can you _______ (bring, thing, sting) your umbrella? 3. My armis ina —___. (swing, sling, sting) 4. | was ________ (winning, running, robbing) too fast and fell. 5. The farmer is _______ (shouting, hearing, shearing) the sheep. 6. Mymum is ______ (callling, falling, coming) me.Capital letters are used for: a) The beginning of a sentence. b) ‘I’ when used on its own, e.g. | went home. c) hanes oN people, places, days, months and special days/ estiva A Write the word that needs a capital letter. 1, dog, house, pencil, august 2. grass, tom, mouse, truck 3. desk, flower, squirrel, paris 4. diwali, woman, dentist, rabbit 5. tree, ramadan, book, glass 6. chair, tiger, tuesday, baby B Write these sentences correctly. 1. i fed the calves in their pen. 2. iam sure i was first to see the eagle. 3. the school will be closed on saturday and sunday. 4. we go to school from monday to friday. 5. in england the summer months are june, july and august. 6. my friends and i have fun at eid. 13A Write a story. Use the words below to help you write. birthday auntie arrived surprise present fluffy, white rabbit cuteandcuddly _ friendly and playful named it built a hutch soft straw water lettuce and carrots —_ nibbled happily clean out each day —_ playing in the back garden hopping and skipping take good care of A New Pet 4_ Language iA Write the correct word. - Awild rabbit lives in a ___. (den, burrow, bush) . Arabbit has a covering of _____. (wool, hair, fur) . Arabbit eats ___.. (fish, vegetables, paper) ©PrVNAARWHN SH . A rabbit is smaller than a ____. (fox, mouse, rat) . Arabbit cannot _____. (leap, jump, fly) . A young rabbit ___. (barks, brays, squeals) % . Atame rabbit lives ina ___.. (nest, hole, hutch) . Arabbit isa ______. (reptile, bird, mammal) . A wild rabbit is very —_.. (tame, tiny, shy) (B Which of these animals have long or short tails? giraffe hare deer goat sheep squirrel fox bear monkey kangaroo Long-tailed animals Short-tailed animals ic Find and write down the ‘odd one out’ in each row. . black, blame, blue, block, clown ——————e . chicken, chocolate, stamp, chimney ——___ . sheep, piano, shop, shell, ship ae |. thief, think, snake, thing, thin baa sctiiomtedn! . flower, frog, flock, flat, flag eee . Slipper, stick, slug, sling, sleep ae 15 Oanan =Witch Goes Shopping Witch rides off Upon her broom Finds a space To park it. Takes a shiny shopping cart Into the supermarket. § Smacks her lips and reads The list of things she needs: ‘Six bats’ wings Worms in brine Ears of toads Eight or nine. Slugs and bugs Snake skins dried Buzzard innards Pickled, fried.’ Witch takes herself From shelf to shelf Cackling all the while. Up and down and up and down and In and out each aisle. Out come cans and cartons Tumbling to the floor. ‘This,’ says Witch, now all a-twitch ‘Isa crazy store. | CAN'T FIND A SINGLE THING | AM LOOKING FOR!" Lilian Moore 16—— fA Answer these questions. 1. Where was Witch going? 2. How many ears of toads was she looking for? 3. What type of snake skins were on her list? 4. What type of buzzard innards did she want? 5. Why did she become angry? Match the words any way you like. Write the new ingredients in the trolley. fried snail shells twelve bats’ legs | boiled snake tongues baked spiders’ webs peed \ og legs nine worm skins. grilled ‘tadpole jelly barbecued buzzard claws seven snail slime tinned flies’ wings boiled tadpole jelly 7‘Magic e’ on the end of a word affects how the previous vowel is ronounced. imple: the way we say ‘o’ in ‘mope’ is different to the way we say it in ‘mop’. Copy this magic ‘E’ crossword onto squared paper. Fill in the missing letters. Across . Apiece of rock. . A ball with a map of the world on it. . Unscramble the letters: et ks a. 9. Abox where bees live. 10. The opposite to black. 12. Awoman on her wedding day. 13. Along reptile with no legs. 15. A flat dish for food. awso BoenNnoanea Down . Unscramble the letters: pashe. . You smell with it. . Can face danger with no fear. . Unscramble the letters: rt bie. . Aplace with no sunlight. }. To cut off hair with a razor. . The opposite of wild. . A toy that flies on a string. 3 z i 18Write full stops or question marks at the end of each sentence. 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. . What class are you in 7. Who owns this hat . My name is Jamila 8. Did you go to bed early . [have a pet rabbit 9. The train arrived late Which pencil is yours 10. Do you have my ruler . Who broke the window 11. Where is the new teacher ._ | have brown hair 12. How old are you {B Write questions for these answers. {c Unscramble these sentences. Write full stops or question marks. Te PE PrnNAAean 1, thick lay the snow on ground the 2, meet to we agreed the at shops 3. late you why are morning every 4. 5. fog a thick covered London yesterday 6. be you what will up dressing as She is eight years old. School starts at nine o’clock. It is his book. The nurse came to the school. She cried because she was sick. The pigeon is on the roof. The front wheel of the car fell off. They live four kilometres from Beijing. The train arrived at noon. Money is kept in a bank. you did what for have dinner