Authors

Dr Aruna Ankiah-Gangadeen
Associate Professor
English Department, MIE
School of Arts and Humanities

Dr Seema Goburdhun
Senior Lecturer
Social Studies Department, MIE
School of Arts and Humanities

Designed by

Illustrations by Evan Sohun

ISBN: 978-99903-40-64-8

© Mauritius Institute of Education 2017

All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without permission of the Publishers.

ii
Preface
The Literacy Pack: Discovering Mauritius is a collection of six non-fiction
big books on diverse topics related to the Mauritian context. It has been
produced as a means of supporting the development of literacy skills in
young learners. The underlying premise is that motivation to read and an
appreciation of the English language, if established at an early age, will
prove to be solid foundations for further learning. It is believed that, for this
to take place, learners need to access materials that are appropriate for their
age and context. Only then will the required competencies be developed.

An added dimension to the Literacy Pack is that it is related to various areas

of the curriculum. It seeks to simultaneously develop core knowledge, skills
and attitudes in young learners by touching upon the history and geography
of Mauritius, our multicultural setting, citizenship education and values.
One of the objectives is to make children conscious of important events and
features of our island and thereby awaken a sense of pride and belonging
to the nation. Thus, through this Pack, the concept of English across the
curriculum finds a practical application. We believe in making optimum use
of the overlapping and interdependent areas in the different subjects that can
help to develop and construct the literacy of our children. We have no doubt
that discrete elements of a subject can become a vehicle for the development
of literacy skills and that English language learning is not restricted to the
language lesson.

Each book in the Literacy Pack also includes guidelines for teachers to
facilitate the development of requisite knowledge and skills. Activities have
been proposed to ensure that the children participate fully in the learning
process.

This book can also be used at Grade 4 level to explain abstract historical
ideas. Teachers may use this material to introduce the topic – Animals and
plants on our island to reinforce pupils understanding of how our islands
were long ago before the arrival of human beings.

In our endeavour to produce a complete educational package, we have also

included in the Pack, a CD Rom which will allow the children to listen to the
story repeatedly and at their own pace. The production of the CD Rom has
been driven by the marked presence of technology in the children’s lives and
also by the need to use modern teaching strategies. We have no doubt that
this feature of the Pack will help make it more attractive to young learners.

We hope that our children will enjoy reading these big books that will support
their entry into literacy.

„ Aruna and Seema

1
 Long ago, our island
was a big forest.

2
3
 In that forest there were
many ebony trees,
palm trees and
takamaka trees

palm tree
takamaka tree

4
ebony tree

5
 Birds and animals lived
in that forest.
bats

kestrel

tortoise

6
 Some plants and
animals were found
only in Mauritius.

kestrel

dodo

mauritian parakeet

8
 mauritian fody

pink pigeon

9
 When people came
to our island, they
brought new animals
and plants.

10
11
 They brought goats,
pigs, monkeys, deer
and rats.

deer

12
goat
monkey
pig

rat
13
 They also brought
sugar cane,
banana trees,
pineapple plants
and orange trees.

banana tree
sugar cane
14
 orange tree
pineapple plant
15
 But they cut down
ebony trees to make
ships ...

16
17
 ... and they ate
the dodos.

18
19
 Now, our island has
many plants and
animals. But there are
only a few ebony trees
and no dodos...

20
21
 Conducting literacy sessions using the Literacy Pack
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes per session

Session 1 Pre reading Session 2

Starting the sessions: z The teacher starts by brainstorming to help pupils

z Ideally, all pupils are seated in a semi circle in front
of the teacher so that the book is visible to everyone.
z The teacher ensures that all pupils are silent and
attentive before starting.
z The teacher starts the first session by focusing on the
cover page and reading the title aloud. S/he then
proceeds by questioning the pupils on aspects
related to the theme of the book if the pupils can
understand and respond in English. Since all topics
are anchored in the local context, the teacher invites
pupils to share their experiences. Alternatively, if the
pupils are reluctant to communicate in English, the
teacher starts by reading the book and postpones
questioning and discussion until the pupils are
equipped with adequate knowledge and vocabulary
from the book.
While reading the books:
z The teacher reads each page at a moderate pace.
S/he points at the relevant part of the illustration to
help the pupils understand the vocabulary.
z The first reading is uninterrupted. The pupils develop
familiarity with the “story”.
recall the content. Pupils are encouraged to talk
about their personal experiences that are relevant to
the topic.
z The teacher reads the book again but lingers over
each page to ask factual questions, for the meaning
of new words, as well as the pupil’s reactions/views/
feelings. E.g:
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 ‡+RZGLGSHRSOHFRPHWR0DXULWLXV"
 ‡:K\KDYHVRPHDQLPDOVSODQWVGLVDSSHDUHG"
 +RZFDQZHSURWHFWDQLPDOVSODQWV"
 ‡:KDWIHVWLYDOVGR\RXFHOHEUDWH"
 :KDWGR\RXGRRQWKDWGD\"
z The teacher can also refer to/use additional
resources as and when appropriate, e.g. realia
charts in the classroom, and a globe or world map.
Session 3 Post reading
z Activity to reinforce understanding of text and
vocabulary.
z Creative activity to demonstrate an understanding of
the themes.

Activities: Animals and Plants of Mauritius

z Stick the picture cards under the correct heading.

PLANTS ANIMALS BIRDS

z Make a class collage (or use drawings) and name the animals or birds that you can see in Mauritius now.

Concluding:
The works of the pupils are stapled together so that each pupil has his/her little book.

22
Resources included in the pack

23
Note to Grade 4 teachers:
When to use the material?

The book ‘Animals and Plants on our island’ will enable pupils to
visualize how our islands were long ago. To trigger pupils’ imagination
and curiosity you may show the illustrations and read the sentences to
them stressing on the key words written in bold. You can also have a class
discussion after you have read and shown the illustrations to assess pupils
understanding of the abstract ideas, before moving on to the actual lesson
in the textbook where factual historical information are provided.

The illustrations depicted in the big book will allow pupils to construct an
image of the past and make meaning of words such as ‘islands covered with
thick forests’, and the ‘different birds and animals that lived in the forest’,
among others.

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