KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Teacher s Notes Description In this activity, students work on grouping words into lexical sets before writing some dictionary-type definitions for some of the words. They then look at the main features of a sample exam task before doing the task. Time required: Materials required: 30 40 minutes Student s Worksheets A and B Sample Task Aims: to familiarise students with KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 to raise awareness of word sets to practise writing and understanding dictionary-type definitions Procedure 1. Write the heading animals on the board and underneath write: horse, dog, elephant. Also write under the heading: O I L N 2. Explain that the letters in the word are in the wrong order. Ask students to tell you what the word is (LION). 3. Divide the class into groups of 3 to 6 people. There must be an even number of groups and as far as possible the same number of students in each group. (E.g. in a class of 25 students, you would have six groups: five groups of 4 and one group of 5). Label the groups A or B, or use names, e.g. apples or bananas, or favourite pop stars. 4. Give each group A copies of Student s Worksheet A and each group B copies of Student s Worksheet B. Look at Exercise 1. In their groups, students try to guess the words in the 4 columns. 5. Write a short definition on the board for lion (For example: This is a large, wild cat.) 6. Ask students to look at Exercise 2 on their worksheet and write a definition for each word in the first group of words. Students can get ideas from a learner s dictionary if necessary. 7. Number each member of each group (e.g. in the class above, 1 4). Re-organise the class so that a number 1 from a group A is with a number 1 from a group B, etc. 8. Ask students to look at Exercise 3 on the worksheet. In turn, students tell their partners their definitions. They should also give them the first letter of the answer. KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Teacher s Notes Page 1 of 8
Their partner should write the answers on their worksheet. When they have finished, they should check each others answers. 9. Explain that this activity is very similar to the task in KET Reading & Writing Part 6. This is the first task in the writing section of the Reading & Writing exam. Give out copies of the sample task. Ask the following questions: a. What set of words is being tested in this task? (free time that people have: in the instructions. Point out that students should always read the instructions to find out what the set is before they start the task.) b. How many words do you have to write? (5) c. What information is given to help you? (apart from the word set, you are told the definition, the first letter in each word and the number of letters in each word.) d. What do you write on the answer sheet? (the whole of the word, including the first letter. You do not need to write a. the, to, etc. This is shown in the example at the top.) e. Do you think you need to spell the words correctly? (Yes, you do. All the words are on the KET word list, which can be found at: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/ket 10. Ask students to do the sample task. They can then check with their partner before checking with the whole class. Suggested follow-up activities Select a student to start a game of hang-man on the board. The student who guesses the word correctly is the next person to write something on the board. KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Teacher s Notes Page 2 of 8
KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 7 Answer Keys Key to Student s Worksheet A Exercise 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Food and drink Places in a city Things in a kitchen The weather apple library table sunny juice station knife storm meat park cooker windy banana factory plate cloudy Key to Student s Worksheet B Exercise 1 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 the family things in the countryside animals words about travel aunt forest horse ticket father river tiger airport cousin mountain monkey train brother flower camel bicycle Key to Sample Task 36 stadium 37 camera 38 beach 39 guitar 40 tent KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 7 Answer Keys Page 3 of 8
KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet A Exercise 1 There are 4 groups of words below. The letters in the words are in the wrong order. Decide what each word is. The first letter of the word is already there. 1 2 3 4 food and drink places in a city things in a kitchen the weather P E L A P Y B R I L R A B L A E T N Y S U N Answer: A L T S I C J E U T I S A T N O F I N K E R T O S M Answer: J S K S T M E A K R P A O R K O E C D I N W Y Answer: M P C W A N A B N A T O C Y A F R E T A P L Y O D U L C Answer B F P C KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet A Page 4 of 8
Exercise 2 Look at Set 1 and write a definition for each word. Food and drink Word Definition 1 2 3 4 Exercise 3 Take turns with your partner. Tell your partner your four definitions. Also give him/her the first letter of the word. Your partner should try and write the answer. You listen to your partner s definitions and try to write the words. 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet A Page 5 of 8
KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet B Exercise 1 There are 4 groups of words below. The letters in the words are in the wrong order. Decide what each word is. The first letter of the word is already there. 1 2 3 4 the family things in the countryside animals words about travel T A N U R T O S F E R E H S O C T K I T E Answer: A F H T R E T F H A V I R E R G R I E T Answer: F R T R A T O I R P A S N O C I U N I T O M U A N E N Y O K M R T I N A Answer: C M M T R O T B R H E W O F E L R M A C L E C B I E L C Y Answer B F C B KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet B Page 6 of 8
Exercise 2 Look at Set 1 and write a definition for each word. The family Word Definition 1 2 3 4 Exercise 3 Take turns with your partner. Tell your partner your four definitions. Also give him/her the first letter of the word. Your partner should try and write the answer. You listen to your partner s definitions and try to write the words. 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Student s Worksheet B Page 7 of 8
KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Sample Task Read the descriptions of some words about the free time that people have. What is the word for each one? The first letter is already there. There is one space for each other letter in the word. For questions 36-40, write the words on your answer sheet. Example: 0 If you like reading about music and fashion, you may buy this. M _ 0 m a g a z i n e Answer: 36 You may play this instrument if you like music. G _ 37 If you enjoy taking photographs, you will need this. C _ 38 People who like watching football often go to this place. S 39 People who like swimming in the sea often go here. B 40 People who like watching movies often go here. C _ KET for Schools Reading & Writing Part 6 Sample Task Page 8 of 8