Material
- Papers with sentences on them, ranging from simple to complex.
- Two boxes.
First box: 2 large red circles, 2 large black circles and 1 smaller black circle. Blank arrows plus 2 arrows with questions: ‘Who or what is it that?’ and ‘Whom or what?’ There is a chart which may be used instead of the box. This has 3 circles and 2 arrows set out as in the exercise.
Second box: This contains 1 large red circle, 2 large black circles, 2 smaller black circles and 9 orange arrows. The orange arrows have questions on them, e.g. ‘Who? When? Where?’ There are also 3 black arrows to correspond with those in box 1, as well as a large black triangle and a large blue triangle. There are blue arrows with ‘Which?’ and ‘What kind of?’ printed on them. There are 9 orange circles. There is a large chart with all this printed on it. The orange arrows radiate from the red circle.
Direct aim
Reading and interpretation practice. To show the meaning of words and the meaning of groupings in words. To bring to the child’s awareness changes of style and meaning and to help him to learn to talk correctly.
Presentation
1. Start with series one. This is subdivided into la, lb and Ic. These sentences deal with the subject and the verb. Take two pieces of paper with the printed sentences (I acts as a control of error)
1a) Mother sews
The child reads the sentence and interprets it. Then the teacher cuts off the sentence from the sheet. Then she shows the child the box and its contents. Ask him which word told him what to do. Cut off the verb and place it on a large red circle. Ask “Who is it that did the sewing?” Place ‘Mother’ on a large black circle with the arrow pointing towards it.
Take the slips off the circle and transpose.
1b) ‘She sat and knitted’.
1c) ‘The king and queen waved’.
2. In series two the object is introduced.
2a) ‘Rip Van Winkle rubbed his eyes’.
Put ‘rubbed’ on the large red circle. Put ‘Rip Van Winkle’ on the large black circle, with the arrow pointing towards it. To introduce the object ask the question ‘Rip Van Winkle rubbed what?’ ‘His eyes’ is then placed on the small black circle on the right of the verb with the arow pointing towards it.