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use determiners the a an appropriately 
Description:
Use "the", "a" and "an" correctly
| Early years skill: | not specified |
| Early years typical range: | not specified |
| P-scales/Curriculum skill: | English Speaking |
| P-scales/Curriculum level: | P8 |
| TAP skill: | Expressive Language |
| TAP level: | TAP48 |
| Pre/Nat. Curriculum Area: | not specified |
| Pre/Nat. Curiculum Standard: | not specified |
| Section: | Primary (5-11yrs) info |
| Activity/strategy name and materials required | How to do the activity | Key principles for doing the activity and comments |
|---|---|---|
| 'The' or 'a'? Copies of pages of text the child can read easily Red pen Green pen | (1) Talk about how 'the' and 'a' are used differently - 'the' is used when we are talking about a thing and we know which one we are talking about. 'A' is used when we are talking about a thing and we could be talking about any example of that thing. (2) Tell the child to read the text you give them. Explain that each time they come to the word "a", they should put a red circle round it. Each time they come to the word "the", they should put a green circle round it. Each time, ask them to explain why you use that word, and how changing it would change the meaning of the sentence (e.g. how "the children went inside the house" is different from "the children went inside a house"). | |
| Miniature animals Toy animals of various sizes, colours and kinds | Stress the appropriate word (the or a) when you are speaking. | |
| 'a' or 'an' Cards showing each letter of the alphabet Pictures of single objects starting with a vowel Pictures of single objects starting with a consonant Pictures of single objects starting with a vowel that the child can stick into a book Scissors Glue Book Pen | Make sure the child understands you are now working on 'a' and 'an' not 'a' and 'the' Avoid using pictures that show more than one object as you don't use 'a' or 'an' when you are talking about groups of objects. If the child finds writing difficult, they can dictate sentences for you to write | |
| 'The', 'a' or 'an'? An old catalogue such as the Argos catalogue. |
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