Landscapes

Objective & content

This sheet on landscapes teaches 20 words for nature and places in the countryside, such as mountain, valley, waterfall, island, castle and lighthouse. Pupils name pictures, read Isla's text about her home in the Highlands of Scotland, then use the words. By the end, they can name landscapes and say what there is in a region: "There is a river and a big forest."

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 names twelve landscapes and six places; each word box holds two extra words, so pupils must choose. Page 2 is Isla's text about Loch Ness, Ben Nevis and the Isle of Skye, with six multiple-choice questions, then six words to match with their meanings (an island: "land with water around it"). Page 3 has twelve sentences to complete from a word box with two extra words, then a mystery word: eight clues with no word list, whose shaded letters spell SCOTLAND. Every task tests words only; the grammar stays on the present simple and there is / there are. Point out that in Scotland people say loch for a lake.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Show a few photos of landscapes; the class names what it knows in English.
2. (8 min) Page 1: pupils write the words under the pictures alone, then compare in pairs.
3. (10 min) Read Isla's text aloud; pupils answer the questions.
4. (5 min) Pupils match the words and their meanings.
5. (8 min) Page 3: pupils complete the twelve sentences.
6. (7 min) The mystery word, alone or in pairs.
7. (5 min) Check with the answer key on page 4.

Adaptations

[S] Before reading, show a map of Scotland and find Loch Ness, Ben Nevis and Skye together.

[A] Pupils say three things there are near their own town: "There is a river and a big forest."

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil; a map of Scotland helps. Page 4 is the answer key and teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need the present simple of be and there is / there are. To take it further, pupils draw a map of an imaginary island and label it.