TMN3701
ASSIGNMENT 3
DUE DATE: 30 JUNE 2025
,TMN3701
ASSIGNMENT 3 2025
DUE: 30 JUNE 2025
QUESTION 1
You are teaching a Grade 6 class. You plan to teach a reading lesson that focusses on
vocabulary and comprehension skills.
1.1. Provide a story that would be suitable for this lesson and provide two reasons
why it would be suitable for a Grade 6 class.
The Mysterious Signal
Text (220 Words)
Late one afternoon, Thandi and her friend Sipho were biking home through the pine
wood when Sipho’s radio crackled to life. A strange, high-pitched signal repeated over
and over: “X-4… X-4…” They stopped and looked at each other. Where could it be
coming from?
Leaving their bikes against a tree, they followed the sound deeper into the forest. The
signal grew louder and more urgent. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a small clearing
where an old weather station stood, its panels rusty and wires tangled. The radio on top
emitted that same “X-4… X-4…” call.
Thandi ran forward, her heart pounding. “Someone left it on by mistake!” she exclaimed.
Sipho pulled at the main switch, but nothing happened. The signal sped up: “X-4-X-4-X-
4…”
Just as they were about to give up, Thandi noticed a fallen branch jamming the station’s
door. She lifted it and they peered inside to find a lost beagle, shivering and frightened.
The dog had somehow set off the emergency beacon.
, Together they coaxed him out, switched off the alarm, and rode home with their new
friend trotting behind them proud heroes of the pine wood.
Two reasons why this is suitable for Grade 6
Appropriate Length & Complexity
At ~220 words, the narrative is long enough to provide vocabulary and comprehension
challenge without overwhelming sixth graders’ attention spans.
Engaging, age-appropriate content
A mild mystery with relatable protagonists and a real-world setting fosters interest and
personal connection, while introducing genre elements (suspense, problem-solving) that
stretch higher-order thinking.
1.2 Pre-Reading Activities
Activity Description Rationale
1. KWL On the board, draw three Activates prior knowledge by
Chart columns: “K” (What I Know), connecting to learners’ experiences
“W” (What I Want to know), “L” with woods, animals, or mysteries.
(What I Learned). Ask learners
to brainstorm what they know
about “mysteries in the forest”
Encourages curiosity and sets clear,
and what they want to find out
learner-generated purposes for
before reading.
reading.
2. Show three sequential Builds visual literacy and prompts
Prediction illustrations: (a) two children vocabulary related to setting,
with biking near trees; (b) an old technology, and emotion.
Images weather station; (c) a
ASSIGNMENT 3
DUE DATE: 30 JUNE 2025
,TMN3701
ASSIGNMENT 3 2025
DUE: 30 JUNE 2025
QUESTION 1
You are teaching a Grade 6 class. You plan to teach a reading lesson that focusses on
vocabulary and comprehension skills.
1.1. Provide a story that would be suitable for this lesson and provide two reasons
why it would be suitable for a Grade 6 class.
The Mysterious Signal
Text (220 Words)
Late one afternoon, Thandi and her friend Sipho were biking home through the pine
wood when Sipho’s radio crackled to life. A strange, high-pitched signal repeated over
and over: “X-4… X-4…” They stopped and looked at each other. Where could it be
coming from?
Leaving their bikes against a tree, they followed the sound deeper into the forest. The
signal grew louder and more urgent. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a small clearing
where an old weather station stood, its panels rusty and wires tangled. The radio on top
emitted that same “X-4… X-4…” call.
Thandi ran forward, her heart pounding. “Someone left it on by mistake!” she exclaimed.
Sipho pulled at the main switch, but nothing happened. The signal sped up: “X-4-X-4-X-
4…”
Just as they were about to give up, Thandi noticed a fallen branch jamming the station’s
door. She lifted it and they peered inside to find a lost beagle, shivering and frightened.
The dog had somehow set off the emergency beacon.
, Together they coaxed him out, switched off the alarm, and rode home with their new
friend trotting behind them proud heroes of the pine wood.
Two reasons why this is suitable for Grade 6
Appropriate Length & Complexity
At ~220 words, the narrative is long enough to provide vocabulary and comprehension
challenge without overwhelming sixth graders’ attention spans.
Engaging, age-appropriate content
A mild mystery with relatable protagonists and a real-world setting fosters interest and
personal connection, while introducing genre elements (suspense, problem-solving) that
stretch higher-order thinking.
1.2 Pre-Reading Activities
Activity Description Rationale
1. KWL On the board, draw three Activates prior knowledge by
Chart columns: “K” (What I Know), connecting to learners’ experiences
“W” (What I Want to know), “L” with woods, animals, or mysteries.
(What I Learned). Ask learners
to brainstorm what they know
about “mysteries in the forest”
Encourages curiosity and sets clear,
and what they want to find out
learner-generated purposes for
before reading.
reading.
2. Show three sequential Builds visual literacy and prompts
Prediction illustrations: (a) two children vocabulary related to setting,
with biking near trees; (b) an old technology, and emotion.
Images weather station; (c) a
