Intermediate Phase
Grade 5
Handshape
Handshape poems are unique to Sign Language and offer a fun way of stimulating learners to start creating their own Sign Language poems. Here, two examples of this type of poem are offered by way of introduction.
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Day of the Drama Festival
Deaf people often have a natural affinity towards acting. For this lesson, a drama has been filmed where learners themselves act out the roles. By doing so, learners can develop confidence in themselves, their unique language and their talents. Learners are also exposed to some of the particular conventions of playwriting.
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The Dangers of Bullying
Bullying has a negative (and sometimes long-lasting) effect on the person who bullies, the person who is bullied and the people who have to witness the bullying behaviour. This text aims to make learners less susceptible to bullying.
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How to Make a Paper Bracelet
In this lesson, instructions are provided on how to make a bracelet from folded strips of paper. The instructions can easily be applied by learners in class so that each learner can create their own bracelet.
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How to Set Your Phone on Vibrate Mode
We live in a world in which smartphones are not only becoming all the more obtainable to the wider public, but in which attention is increasingly given to the accessibility of technology to people with disabilities. It is therefore important that Deaf children know how to use their own devices optimally.
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Deaf Nursery
In order to illustrate to Deaf learners how an advertisement as text differs from other types of texts, a fictitious advertisement is provided about the products available at a (plant) nursery.
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A Day in the Park
The text tells the story of a kite that becomes brave, overcomes its fears and starts being what it was always meant to be… It is hoped that the text will inspire learners to also be brave and to become what they were meant to be.
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A Fish and a Gift
Yusuf comes from a long line of fishermen. Every day he looks forward to the gift his dad will bring back from the sea… Learners are exposed to cultural aspects and vocabulary pertaining to ocean fishing.
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A Day at Fair
To go to a fair remains an exciting outing! This story is about a Deaf family’s antics at the annual fair in their area, and the specific ways in which their deafness influences their experiences. What do responsible actions look like at such an event?
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Tiny saves the Day
Tiny is smaller than his classmates, and the school bully, Len, makes sure that he knows this. But then an experiment goes wrong in the science class, a fire breaks out and the children are trapped in the classroom. A suspenseful story in which the child that is being bullied, turns out to be the hero.
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Mark Shuttleworth
Mark Shuttleworth is a South African hero who dreamed big. This text tells the story of his childhood and dreams, how he became wealthy, how he remained generous throughout with his money, and how he became the first South African to visit outer space.
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The Perfect Sport
In this fun text, learners meet Eddie the Chimp. Eddie needs to start exercising to become healthier. The problem is that Eddie loves sweets and hates sport. As he sets out to investigate his options, learners meet a whole bunch of animal characters and are kept guessing right until the end: Will Eddie ever find a sport that he can do?
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Maya, the Capuchin Monkey
In this story a 12-year-old boy, Jack, gets the chance to share his house with a capuchin monkey, Maya. The two form a strong bond, and one day Maya even saves Jack’s life. Although the story has a happy ending, learners are also encouraged to think about the advantages and disadvantages of keeping wild animals as pets.
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Where is my Brother? & (Addendum: Facts about Ancient Egypt)
In this story a young girl in Ancient Egypt, Akila, is looking for her younger brother. As she takes the learners along on her search, she tells them about the Nile River, the pyramids and the gods, customs and inventions of the Ancient Egyptians.
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The New Girl
Every day we can choose how to look at people: kindly, and with empathy, or unkindly and with judgement. In this story, Ntombi thinks the new girl in school is very mean and unfriendly, until her mother teaches her to try and look at the new girl with kindness.
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The Lighthouse
In this poem, the performer imagines that she is a lighthouse, and describes what she looks like, what she does and how she feels. The
poem is simple and fun, and is used to illustrate personification, i.e., when poets give inanimate objects human.
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The Water Droplet
This beautiful little poem captures one of the wonders of nature: how a water droplet sets the process of germination into motion, helping a seed to turn into a plant and a plant to grow leaves and flowers. Something as small as a water droplet turns out to be very significant.
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Three Die in Blaze at School for the Deaf
This text reports on a (true) traumatic event at a school for the Deaf. This serves to teach learners the particular structure and rules of news reporting. In addition, the text sensitises learners to the potential vulnerability that their deafness presents when they are confronted with a natural disaster.
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Moon Landing & (Addendum: Facts about First Men on the Moon)
In this text, a television news report has been created as if it were 24 July 1969. Learners receive all the information about the Moon landing as if they were watching television on that day, allowing them to share in one of the most important events in the history of mankind.
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Water is Life
This text discusses the importance and uses of water, the theme of drought, and what each of us can do to save water. In this way, learners are made aware of their duty to look after.
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Tailwaggers at Our Service (Dogs that help people & Dogs that work for people)
Information on dogs is presented in a two-part set. The first part is on dogs that help people with special needs (helping dogs), and the
second part is on working dogs. This text shows learners how to organise and combine different pieces of information into a coherent
whole.
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World Water Day
This information text introduces learners to the concept of ‘Day Zero’ and the Western Cape and Eastern Cape water crises. The message is one of hope, namely that Day Zero can be avoided if we continually remind ourselves and others of how precious this resource is.
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How Newspapers Work
This text introduces learners to the experience of reading a newspaper. The text teaches learners about front-page news, headlines, articles, and reporters. Learners are encouraged to find a newspaper and put
their new-found knowledge to practical use.
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History of Takeaway Food
There are more than 5 200 takeaway restaurants in South Africa! In this
information text, learners learn some interesting facts about six of our country’s favourite takeaway franchises – where they got started, when they came to South Africa, and what they are famous for.
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Travel Tips
This text teaches learners about the different ways to travel: by means of road, rail, air and water transport. They learn what to expect on a short and a long journey with different types of transport. The text also includes a list of simple and practical tips for someone who is travelling for the first time.
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Animal Communication
Learners are introduced to the wonderful world of animal communication. They learn about the communication systems of bees,
ants, birds, chimpanzees and dolphins. The text not only broadens learners’ knowledge base, but should also entertain them and make them look at the animal kingdom through new eyes.
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How to make a Snackwich
Something as simple as being able to make yourself a light lunch or a snack, is very empowering for learners at this age. This text serves as an example of an instructional text, while also teaching them how to make a snackwich, all by themselves.
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How to make a Cupcake
This instructional text teaches learners how to make cupcakes - a practical skill that they can use for fun or to make something for the next
baking sale at their school. The instructions are clear, simple and detailed, and, given the delicious topic, learners are sure to enjoy this
learning experience.
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7 O’clock News
For learners to become familiar with the format and language used in news reporting, a news broadcast is provided in SASL. The broadcast includes several items and covers a wide range of topics.
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2022 Oscars
This news item reports on the 2022 Oscar awards evening, where two movies with predominantly Deaf actors were nominated for Oscars. One of them, ‘CODA’, won three Oscars, showing that Deaf culture is starting to receive worldwide recognition.
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Deafness
This text provides an introductory overview of types of deafness, common causes of hearing loss, and common assistive listening devices. In addition, learners are reminded that each Deaf person has his/her own story, and that gross generalisations about Deaf people
should be avoided.
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Avatar Sign Language
The movie ‘Avatar’ was a huge success in 2009. When the producer made the sequel to this movie, he wanted to add something unique. After meeting some Deaf teenagers, he knew exactly what to do…
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New Ice-Cream Shop
This lively and colourful advertisement was recorded in an actual ice cream shop. It advertises the location and trading hours of the shop, as well as its unique feature, namely that you can build your own ice-cream
sandwich with your choice of cookies, ice cream and toppings.
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Spring Fun Day
This text illustrates the format and content of an advertisement in a fun way by using a Spring Fun Day as the topic. It shows learners how to capture their target audience’s attention and make the ‘product’ alluring to them.
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Review of the Drama ‘Drama Festival’ & Addendum: How to Create a Review and Feature a Review
Learners are introduced to the structure and style of a review for the first time. An example review is provided of a filmed drama with which learners are already familiar. Detailed instructions are also provided, which learners can use to create their own reviews.
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Review of the Movie 'CODA' & Addendum: How to Create a Review and Feature a Review
This text illustrates the features and structure of a review, while introducing learners to the heart-warming movie ‘CODA‘ about a girl
who is the only hearing person in her family and is faced with a dilemma when she receives the opportunity to go and study music.
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