Learning Objective s3

Take Cover

Teacher sheet

35 Crumply Manor

Teacher input required / Low/minimal
Lesson level / B
Framework substrand / 10.2 commenting on language use
National Curriculum ref. / R8 investigate how meanings are changed when information is presented in different forms or transposed into different media

Learning objective

To investigate how changing words can affect the meaning of a text.

Resources required

Student instruction sheet and student resource sheets, coloured pens/pencils/highlighters, dictionaries/thesauruses, plain A4 paper and/or exercise books.

Lesson guidance

· Starter – students make a list of objects that they can see in the classroom (nouns), then to modify them with adjectives to make them more descriptive. (5 mins approx)

· Development – students look at a description of a property and investigate making an estate agent’s description more accurate! They then compare the two property descriptions.
(40 mins)

· Plenary – students are given three images to look at. Using the work they’ve done today as a guide, they should write an inflated description of one of the items as if they were trying to sell it or prepare a short speech to convince someone to buy it, using the same inflated technique. If time, ask some students to market their item to the class by reading aloud their advert or presenting their speech. (15 mins)

Notes for SEN students

Some of the language in the text is a little complex and some students may need help in accessing it. Notes have not been provided, as it is important that students engage with the text – so they may require help in using a dictionary or thesaurus. Weaker students might also benefit from focusing on a small section of the text rather than the text in its entirety.

Extension activities / notes for gifted and talented students

Students should write the true description of the item they described in the plenary as if they had bought it, and were now writing to complain about the fact that they have been misled.

Student instructions

35 Crumply Manor

Learning objective

To investigate how changing words can affect the meaning of a text.

Success criteria

By the end of the lesson, I will have:

· written a basic description of the room around me

· read and understood a detailed description of a property written by an estate agent

· rewritten the description to make it more realistic.

Warm up

Look around the room. Make a list of eight things that you can see (nouns) – e.g. desk – in the table below.

Noun / Adjective / Noun / Adjective
desk / wonky

Now, for each item, add an adjective to help you to picture it your head better, e.g. wonky desk.

Your main task!

1. Read the description of the building on the student resource sheet.

2. Highlight words and phrases in this description that could be interpreted in a different way to how the writer intended. For example:

· we are told that the property is on the outskirts of the city yet close to ‘the noise of everyday traffic’ – is it near a motorway?

· we are told the house has ‘cosy proportions’ – is this another way of saying ‘small and cramped’?

3. Choose words and phrases that you think might describe the property realistically to replace the sections you highlighted. Write these in the margin.

4. Rewrite the passage to give a true picture of the size and state of the house.

Round it off with this

Your teacher will give you three images to choose from. Your chosen image shows something that you own and want to sell ... but there might be a problem! In order to sell it, you’re going to have to do what estate agents do and use inflated language. Prepare the advert for your item.

Extra challenge

Now imagine that you have bought this item based on the advert you read. Needless to say, you are more than a little disappointed with your purchase! Write the description that you will send to the Trading Standards Office when you complain about the misleading advertising.

Take Cover 35 Crumply Manor

Student resource sheet

181 Crumply Manor House

This impressive residence, on the outskirts of Cardiff, is cleverly secluded providing a desirable retreat from the noise of everyday traffic. Access is by a gravelled entrance and drive leading to a six bedroom detached property of cosy proportions.

Much of the building retains its original features, which are both unusual and evocative of a time gone by. The grounds were recently used in a television serial for an adaptation of a Jane Austen novel. The outside retains all the charm of a bygone era without the intrusion of modern day alterations.

Inside, the owner has lived alone recently and some parts of the house have been hardly used. Some superficial freshening up of paintwork would probably be necessary.

The bathroom is impressively organised to provide all the essential amenities and there is plenty of space to add a shower over the bath if required.

The kitchen Aga is a large structure dominating the kitchen area in an impressive manner. The ample oven can comfortably cater for a large family. The kitchen units are original with the exception of a freestanding fridge-freezer, which can be included in the price if desired.

All the bedrooms can house at least a single bed with the master bedroom having room for a king-size and its own vanity unit. Original fireplaces remain in each bedroom and can be re-opened if required.

This property is on the market at just one million pounds although the owner is willing to consider close offers.