Pumas' class blog: Home learning

If you are isolating and are well enough, here is some work for you to complete.

Spellings are on the blog separately- remember to practice these using different methods (rainbow writing, pyramid, shape, look cover write check)

TTRS- your times tables are now accessible on the website- try to beat your time!

Reading- practice your comprehension skills using this text:

Christmas Around the World

What Is Christmas?

Christmas is a religious holiday which celebrates the birth of the son of God, Jesus Christ, on the 25th December. Although it is a Christian holiday, it is actually one that derives from a lot of Pagan traditions.

The Christmas tree is a 17th century German tradition that is said to have been evolved from the Pagan practice of bringing greenery indoors for decoration in winter. It is also believed that Father Christmas was a modern incarnation of old Pagan spirits flying through the sky in winter.

Christmas is celebrated by millions of people all over the world including Christian people and non-Christian people. It is a time for gathering with family and friends. Some Christmas traditions include, decorating houses with lights, trees, candles and having a Christmas dinner. There are also some very unique traditions specific to certain countries.

For example, some people in India like to decorate their houses and streets with colourful, folded paper stars. Traditionally, Polish people serve a total of 12 dishes, one for each disciple, at their Christmas dinner and some Spanish people leave out hay-filled boots or shoes at night so that by the next morning the hay would be replaced with chocolate, presents or money.

In some areas of Ireland, the people like to light candles in the windows of their homes to act as a guide for Joseph and Mary to travel to their resting place. The candles are often red and decorated with sprigs of holly.

Over in the West Indies, some people like to clean their homes thoroughly before decorating for Christmas. Some people even repaint entire rooms!

Christmas is celebrated on 7th January in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is called Ganna or Genna.

Some French people traditionally celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, on the 6th December. On this day, Saint Nicholas rides around town on his sleigh while the people in the town

Celebrations

Christmas Around the World

What Is the True Meaning of Christmas?

celebrate how he rescued three children from being eaten by a nasty butcher!

In Russia, some believe that an old lady called Baboushka roams around giving out presents to children, to make up for the mistake of being too busy to guide the wise men to the baby Jesus Christ in biblical times.

Traditionally in Sweden, the eldest daughter of each family dresses up with a wreath on her head, which holds lit candles. She then serves coffee and special buns to her family.

In some areas, single women of the Czech Republic perform a ritual every Christmas to see whether they will be single for another year. They turn their backs to the door and throw a shoe over their shoulder. If the shoe lands with the heel towards the door, then it is thought that she will stay single for another year. However, if the front of the shoe faces the door, then a wedding is likely to happen for her!

For over 40 years, the town of Gavle in Sweden has celebrated Christmas by erecting a huge straw goat and the challenge is to ensure the survival of the straw goat until Christmas Day. 'Vandals' will then attempt to burn the goat down every year. The goat has survived until Christmas Day only ten times in 40 years.

In Slovakian tradition, the head of the family will throw a mixture of Loksa (bread, poppy seed and water) up at the ceiling. The longer the mixture stays glued to the ceiling, the richer their crops are predicted to be.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is traditional for Christians to have a Christmas feast with meat and to wear new clothes.

Finally, in Japan, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has become a nation's favourite for a Christmas dinner. It is so wildly popular that you need to make a reservation to eat there on Christmas Day.

Everyone will have a different answer to the question 'what is the true meaning of Christmas?'. Some people think it is a time for gifts or family while others think it is about watching Christmas films or eating lots. There are some people who think that Christmas has become too commercialised by shops. What do you think?

Questions

1. Although it is a Christian holiday, it is actually one that derives from a lot of Pagan traditions.

Which phrase means the same as 'derives from' ? Tick one.

is different to

comes from

is the same as

is unlike

2. Draw four lines and match each country to its tradition.

West Indies Some women turn their backs and throw a shoe over their shoulder.

Czech Republic People might leave out hay-filled shoes overnight.

Spain Many people clean their homes before decorating.

India Some people decorate their houses with colourful, folded stars.

3. Find and copy a phrase which shows that KFC is hugely popular in Japan on

Christmas Day.

4. Fill in the missing words.

There are some who think that Christmas has become too

by shops.

5. List two things that some Spanish people might find in their shoes or boots the next morning.

•

6. In relation to the Swedish town, why is 'vandals' written in inverted commas?

7. Compare the traditions from two different countries. How are they similar?

8. Summarise what you have learnt about Christmas around the world in 25 words or fewer.

Christmas Around the World

English

A discussion text, 'School Uniforms- Good or Bad?' will allow us to look at how discussions are structured in terms of features and vocabulary.

Read the model text:

School Uniforms – Good or Bad?

Ever since they were introduced in Victorian times, school uniforms have been a controversial subject. This discussion text will look at both sides of the argument – why some teachers and parents love them and why most children don’t.

Firstly, on the one hand, supporters of school uniform argue that fashionable clothes, and arguing about whose clothes are better, can distract children from their schoolwork. In addition, they say that school uniform makes everyone look the same. Furthermore, the more fashion-conscious children might not want to risk getting their own clothes dirty or torn, so they refuse to do activities such as art. Many teachers feel that school uniform is good for discipline and makes the children feel part of the school. Finally, school uniform makes life easier for busy parents because they know exactly what their child is going to wear each day.

On the other hand, others may argue that making children wear exactly the same clothes stifles their individuality and creativity. Furthermore, some schools insist that uniforms are bought from a certain shop, and this can be expensive. Some children would have to buy their uniforms second-hand which could embarrass them. Moreover, the style of school uniform does not suit everyone. Plus, everyone wearing the same clothes can lead to lots of lost property.

In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to wearing uniform AND wearing ordinary clothes to school. On balance, I personally believe that there are probably more arguments in favour of school uniform. They do stop arguments in the playground, they do make life easier for busy parents, but most of all, they let children get on with being children because they’re not worried about ruining their own best clothes.

Writing Toolkit

· Sentence signpost – introducing viewpoint

· Sentence signpost – adding information

· Sentence signpost – alternative viewpoint

· Sentence signpost – conclusion

· Conjunctions

· Vocabulary

Once you have familiarised yourself with the text, complete the below 'Never heard the word grid' without using a dictionary. We will have a look at the words together later on.

Never-heard-the word grid

Look at the words in the table below. Tick the never heard the word column, heard it but not sure of its meaning column, or jot down a meaning and/or example.

	Never heard before	Heard- not sure of meaning	Know what it means: give a simple explanation plus an example
controversial
argument
discipline
individuality
advantages
personally