Lesson Focus

This unit explores the theme of simplicity, minimalism, and self-sufficiency. It draws inspiration from historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Alexander the Great.

Key Vocabulary to Master

• Simplicity: minimalist, contentment, self-sufficient, frugality, affluent, possessions, consumption, simplicity.

• Action Verbs (Cooking): scrape, peel, dice, slice, stir, boil, fry.

• Nouns: hand-me-downs (used clothes/items), disciples, philosopher, conqueror, treasury.

Grammar Focuses

1. Past Perfect Tense (Active Voice): Used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. It clarifies the sequence of events.

• Structure: had + past participle (V3)

• Example: "When the children got up, their parents had left." (The parents left before the children got up).

1. Reported Speech (Questions): Reporting what someone asked.

• The question form is changed to a statement form. The tense shifts back.

• Example: Direct: Manjitha asked, "Why did you call us?" → Reported: Manjitha asked Kavindu why he had called them.

1. Collective Nouns and Compound Nouns (Revision):

• Collective: a bunch of grapes, a flock of birds, a team of players.

• Compound: toothbrush, classmate, footprint.

Important Points for the O/L Exam

• Paper I (Writing):

  • Essay: A topic on values like "The Value of a Simple Life" could be asked. The story of Alexander the Great provides great ideas about what is truly important in life.

  • Story Writing: The unit provides prompts for creative story writing, which is a key skill.

• Paper II (Grammar & Reading):

  • The Past Perfect Tense is often tested in verb form questions. You need to understand its relationship with the Simple Past Tense.

  • Reported questions are a common transformation task in the grammar section.

Study Tips & Tricks

• Timeline Practice: Write three sentences about your morning yesterday. Use the Past Perfect and Simple Past to show the order of events. Example: "After I had brushed my teeth, I had my breakfast."

• Report a Conversation: Take the dialogue in Activity 10 (Pupil's Book) and report all the questions asked by Manjitha and Riyaz.

List and Learn: Make a list of 10 collective nouns from the lesson and match them with their group (e.g., herd → elephants).