Using progress reports and profiles of the learners in Grade 1, the Grade 2 educator can assess the ability of each learner in the class.

The Grade 2 educator also needs to know which work has been covered in Grade 1 so that she can revise, consolidate and re-teach where necessary, before proceeding to the Grade 2 phonics, writing, reading etc. Make sure the learners understand the written instructions on each page. The learners furthermore need to know where and when to go for help when doing written work e.g. finding out how to spell a word etc.

The slower learners need continual support whereas the fast learners can be given additional work based on the activities for further stimulation.

My name is Spunky. I live on the moon. The moon travels round a planet called Earth. One day a very exciting thing happened. A strange machine landed in our back garden and little creatures climbed out of it. They walked around and put a stick in the ground. We watched them for a while. My brother, Zooty, wanted to talk to them but Mom called us inside. When we went out again, they had gone. We were so upset.

Figure 1

After that we kept looking out for them. Mom did not believe us. She told us that we were imagining things. But one day we saw another machine. We were ready and waiting when it landed. I rushed out shouting, “Hello! Welcome to the moon!”

Zooty had made a banner. It said, “Welcome to our home!”.

The creatures turned and ran back to their machine.

Figure 2

Zooty picked it up. “Now Mom will have to believe us!” he said.

1. Who landed on the moon?

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2. Who was watching the creatures landing on the moon?

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3. Were the creatures happy to see Spunky and his brother? How do you know?

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4. Draw a picture to show what you think Spunky and his brother look like.

Figure 3

The visitors stay

Mom was amazed to see the tiny creatures in their machine. She told us to be careful. “Watch out that they don’t bite!” she said.

We put the machine on the table and tried to open it. The door was too tiny for our fingers. Zooty wanted to smash it.

“No! “ I said. “You may hurt them.”

We had a pet portle. It has tiny fingers. The portle was able to open the door. The creatures were still hiding inside.

We put some food outside the door and went away. We hid out of sight and waited. After a while they crawled out. They looked very strange.

Figure 4

Table 4

LO 3.3.1

As we watched they began to undo their bodies. It seemed as if they had two skins. They tried our food and made strange noises. Zooty was sad. “That’s how they speak,” he said. “They won’t understand us. That’s why they are so scared. They think we will hurt them.”

“And we are so big!” Then I had an idea. I crouched down as small as I could and crawled up to the table. Only my eye showed over the edge. I hummed a little song.

The creatures didn’t run into their machine. They nodded their heads and hummed back to me. I was so happy that I wanted to laugh.

Figure 5

The creatures made some signs with their arms and went back into their machine. One came out and left a small box on the table. He made more signs and went back into the machine. Zooty began crying. “They want to go away again,” he said. I thought so too. They really didn’t belong here.

Table 5

LO 3.3.1

We took the machine out again and left it on the ground. We watched it as it flew off again, back to the planet Earth.

Figure 6

Zooty was still crying when we went back inside. Our pet portle was playing with the box. Suddenly noises came out of it. It was like our humming but with their words. When it finished, we found the button and the sound played again. We played it so often that soon we knew the words. Now we can’t wait for another machine to come and then we will sing to the creatures!

Figure 7

Questions for group discussion:

1. What was the creature’s second skin?

2. Do you think the moon people, Spunky and Zooty, wore clothes?

3. What was the box that the creatures left behind?

4. Do you think Spunky and Zooty did the right thing when they let the creatures go? Do you think moon creatures would really be so kind.

5. Would they ever see them again?

Could this story be true?

Was it a good way to end the story? Why?

Figure 8

Listen to these facts about the moon. Now read the following facts and say which are true or false.

• People cannot breathe on the moon because there is no air.
• The moon travels around the sun.
• There is no water on the moon.
• It takes 28 days for the moon to travel around the earth.

Table 6

LO 2.3

LO 2.4.2

LO 2.4.3

Learning Outcome 1:LISTENING: The learner is able to listen for information and enjoyment and respond appropriately and critically in a wider range of situations.

Assessment Standard 1.1: We know this when the learner listens attentively for a longer period (with extended concentration span) and responds to an extended sequence of instructions;

Assessment Standard 1.2: We know this when the learner demonstrates appropriate listening behaviour by showing respect for the speaker, taking turns to speak, asking questions for clarification, and commenting on what has been heard, if appropriate;

Assessment Standard 1.3: We know this when the learner listens with enjoyment to stories, poems, songs and other oral texts and shows understanding:

1.3.5 answers questions about the oral text;

1.3.6 expresses feelings about the oral text, giving reasons;

Learning Outcome 2:SPEAKING: The learner is able to communicate confidently and effectively in spoken language in a wide range of situations.

Assessment Standard 2.3: We know this when the learner creates and tells stories with a beginning, middle and ending, using descriptive language and avoiding repetition.

Assessment Standard 2.4: We know this when the learner contributes to class and group discussions:

2.4.2 takes turns and asks relevant questions;

2.4.3 suggests and elaborates ideas;

Learning Outcome 3:READING AND VIEWING: The learner is able to read and view for information and enjoyment and respond critically to the aesthetic, cultural and emotional values in texts.

Assessment Standard 3.3: We know this when the learner recognises and makes meaning of letters and words in longer texts.

3.3.1 reads with increasing speed and fluency.