Recommended Reading Passages – Basic 4 English Lesson Note (First Term)

A reading passage is a short piece of writing that pupils read to learn new words and understand ideas.

Focus of the lesson:

1. New words and their meaning.
2. Reading comprehension: a passage selected from the course book, based on regard and concern for the interest of others.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Read a recommended passage aloud with correct pronunciation.
2. Give the meaning of new words from the passage.
3. Use the new words in sentences of their own.
4. Answer questions on the passage correctly.
5. Name ways of showing regard and concern for others.

What are new words?

New words are words in a passage that a pupil has not met before or does not yet understand.

How do we find the meaning of a new word?

1. Read the whole sentence that has the new word.
2. Look at the words around it for clues.
3. Guess the meaning from the clues.
4. Check the meaning in a dictionary or ask the teacher.
5. Write the word and its meaning in your notebook.
6. Make a new sentence with the word.

What are the new words for this lesson?

What is reading comprehension?

Reading comprehension is the skill of reading a passage and understanding what it says.

What are the steps for reading a passage?

1. Read the title and say what the passage may be about.
2. Read the passage silently once.
3. Underline the new words.
4. Find the meaning of each new word.
5. Read the passage again, aloud or with a partner.
6. Read each question carefully.
7. Find the answer in the passage and write it in a full sentence.

What are the types of comprehension questions?

There are three types of comprehension questions: recall, vocabulary and opinion.

• Recall questions: the answer is stated in the passage, for example “Who helped Mama Bisi?”
• Vocabulary questions: they ask for the meaning or opposite of a word, for example “Give the opposite of weak.”
• Opinion questions: they ask what you think, for example “What lesson did you learn?”

What does regard and concern for the interest of others mean?

Regard and concern for the interest of others means caring about other people’s needs and feelings, not only your own.

How can pupils show regard and concern for others?

• Helping: carry a load for an old person.
• Sharing: give part of your food or books to a friend in need.
• Respect: greet elders and listen when others speak.
• Kind words: comfort a friend who is sad or hurt.
• Fairness: wait for your turn and let others have theirs.

Sample passage: Tunde and Mama Bisi

The teacher should use the passage chosen from the course book. This short passage may be used for practice.

1. Tunde lived in a compound in Ibadan.
2. His neighbour, Mama Bisi, was old and weak.
3. One rainy morning, Tunde saw her carrying a heavy basket.
4. He put down his school bag and ran to help her.
5. He carried the basket to her door.
6. Mama Bisi thanked him with a smile.
7. Tunde was late for school that day.
8. His teacher heard what he had done and praised his kindness.

Questions on the passage

1. Where did Tunde live?
2. Who was Mama Bisi?
3. What did Tunde do when he saw her?
4. Why was Tunde late for school?
5. What did the teacher do when she heard the story?
6. Give the opposite of the word “weak”.

Evaluation

1. What is a reading passage?
2. Give the meaning of these words: regard, concern, generous.
3. Use the word “selfish” in a sentence.
4. Name three ways of showing concern for others.
5. Name the three types of comprehension questions.

Assignment

Write five sentences on how you helped or can help a neighbour. Use at least three of the new words from this lesson.