Lesson 1

Have you ever heard/read of the Famous Five books?

What usually happens in the books?

Ask your adults at home if they have read them before!

The stories take place in the children's school holidays after they have returned from their respective boarding schools. Each time they meet they get caught up in an adventure, which often involves

criminals or lost treasure. Sometimes the scene is set close to George's family home at Kirrin Cottage in Dorset, such as the picturesque Kirrin Island, owned by George and her family in Kirrin bay. George's own

home and various other houses the children visit or stay in are hundreds of years old and often contain secret passages or smugglers' tunnels.

Imagine you are part of the Famous Five gang.

Where would you like to go on an adventure?

Read the following story on the next two pages. Can you spot what the problem is?

What is an adjective and a noun?

Modifying a noun

Often, you can make nouns more interesting by adding adjectives.

Your turn:

wizard

tree

scorpion

forest

book

machine

Which adjectives could improve these nouns?

gloomy

magical

quirky

Well-chosen adjectivesIt is important to use the best or most suited description you can

think of. Which words in these sentences could be more interesting? Can you suggest better ones?

The nice pie was covered with flaky pastry.

Isaac Newton was a clever scientist, who discovered gravity.

An elephant is a big mammal.

The nice pie was covered with flaky pastry.

Isaac Newton was a clever scientist, who discovered gravity.

An elephant is a big mammal.

delicious

brilliant

gigantic

Adjectives should add meaning

Of course, you need to choose the right word to describe what you mean. Don’t add words that do not help the reader.

Which of these nouns have useful adjectives and which don’t?

glass window vicious dog

round wheel hot fire

Can you think of better adjectives?

Expanded noun phrasesSometimes, we may add more detail to noun phrases and they become

expanded noun phrases.

Your turn:

clown

pig

castle

bright red ladybird

miserable, stormy night

playful, energetic puppy

Read the text again and write down all of the adjectives you can find. Could you improve any of

them?

List as many adjectives to describe this picture. Think about what you can see, hear, smell.

After a tiresome hike through the cave, George suddenly spotted a glimmer of turquoise. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief. They made

it. Quickening their pace, the gang made their way over the crumbling rocks. They couldn’t believe what they saw…

Using the paragraph above as a starting point, describe what the gang saw. Remember to use the adjectives you used from the previous slide.