Listening Skill:

The Blue Whale is the largest animal that ever lived. It is bigger than any dinosaur. It grows up to 30 metres long and can weigh over 135 tons. That is more than a hundred cars. It has a speckled blue-grey and white skin, quite small thin flippers and a large strong tail.

The blue whale eats krill. This is a small animal like a shrimp. Thousands of them live and swim around together in groups. The whale swims through these masses of krill and takes in tons of water and food. Then it squirts the water back out through the baleen which act like a sieve keeping the food in the whale's mouth and letting the water pass through.

Blue whales live in all the oceans. They feed in waters near the north and south poles. They travel in groups called pods. Whales migrate to warmer waters to breed. They make loud low moans that can travel great distances through the water. That is their way of communicating with one another.

Whales are mammals. The baby whale will grow inside its mother. When it is born it is 2 metres long and grows quickly. It will drink milk from its mother and swim close to her side.

Because whales are mammals and not fish, they breathe with lungs and not gills. The whale will take two or three deep breaths before diving under the water. When it comes to the surface, it breathes out just like you would. But when the whale breathes out, it blows the air out through its blowhole at the top of its head.

Blue whales were hunted and killed by people for their meat and the oil, which they can make from whales. So many were killed that the blue whale nearly became extinct. Many countries banned the hunters and now the blue whale is safe.

1. The blue whale is (a) bigger than some dinosaurs, (b) bigger than all dinosaurs or (c) smaller than dinosaurs.

2. Blue whales eat (a) shrimps (b) animals like shrimps (c) krill.

3. A group of whales is called a (a) pod (b) group (c) flock.

4. Whales breathe using (a) gills (b) lungs (c) a blowhole.

5. Blue whales nearly became extinct because (a) people love them (b) people hunted and killed them (c) the water is very cold in the North Pole.

1. The blue whale is

a) bigger than some dinosaurs,

b) all the dinosaurs or

c) dinosaurs were bigger than the blue whale.

2. Blue whales eat

a) shrimps

b) animals like shrimps

c) krill

3. A group of whales is called a

a) pod

b) group

c) flock

4. Whales breathe using

a) gills

b) lungs

c) a blowhole

5. Blue whales nearly became extinct because

a) people love them

b) people hunted and killed them

c) the water is very cold in the north pole

Figure 1

Jack and his mother had all that they could wish for. But Jack kept thinking of the giant's castle and all his riches. He also thought of the harp he had seen in the corner of the room. Now that he didn't have to work so hard, Jack thought he would like to play and listen to music.

Jack's mother begged him not to go.

"I have never told you before, but your father was killed by a giant. Maybe this is the same one. He will want to kill you too," she said.

"He doesn't even see me, Mother, " answered Jack.

"You were just lucky. Don't go back again."

But Jack refused to listen. He set off up the beanstalk and headed for the castle. The giant was dozing in his chair while the harp played by itself. It was a magic harp! Jack crept closer and grabbed the harp. He began to run to the door. But the harp cried out

"Master, master, save me!"

The giant leapt to his feet. Half asleep, he stumbled about before charging after Jack. Jack was nearly at the beanstalk. He called out to his mother to fetch the axe. When he came sliding down, the giant was just about to follow him. Jack took the axe and chopped down the beanstalk. The giant and the beanstalk fell down with a crash. The giant was dead.

Jack and his mother lived happily ever after.

1. What would Jack say?

2. What would the giant say?

3. What would Jack's mother say?

Learning Outcome 1:LISTENING: The learner is able to listen for information and enjoyment and respond appropriately and critically in a wide 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;

1.3.7 works out cause and effect in the oral text.

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

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

2.4.4 shows sensitivity to the rights and feelings of others;

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:

3.3.3 uses phonic and other word recognition and comprehension skills such as phonics, context clues , and making predictions in order to make sense of the text;

Assessment Standard 3.4: We know this when the learner develops phonic awareness:

3.4.8 recognises an increasing amount of high-frequency sight words;

Learning Outcome 5:REASONING: The learner is able to use language to think and reason, and access, process and use information).

Assessment Standard 5.2: We know this when the learner uses language to think and reason:

5.2.2 uses higher order thinking and the language associated with it, e.g. I think.