School and classroom

At school you need words for the things you use (⟦ruler⟧, ⟦scissors⟧, ⟦glue⟧), the subjects you study (⟦maths⟧, ⟦science⟧, ⟦history⟧) and the instructions your teacher gives (⟦Open your books.⟧ ⟦Sit down, please.⟧).

Key facts

  • Things in the classroom: ⟦pen⟧, ⟦pencil⟧, ⟦rubber⟧ (American ⟦eraser⟧), ⟦ruler⟧, ⟦sharpener⟧, ⟦scissors⟧, ⟦glue⟧, ⟦notebook⟧, ⟦desk⟧, ⟦chair⟧, ⟦board⟧.
  • Subjects: ⟦English⟧, ⟦maths⟧ (American ⟦math⟧), ⟦science⟧, ⟦history⟧, ⟦geography⟧, ⟦art⟧, ⟦music⟧, ⟦computing⟧, ⟦PE⟧. ⟦English⟧ always has a capital letter.
  • A ⟦timetable⟧ shows which lesson you have at each time on each day.
  • Classroom instructions are commands: they start with a verb. ⟦Stand up.⟧ ⟦Look at the board.⟧ ⟦Work with a partner.⟧
  • ⟦Scissors⟧ is always plural: ⟦The scissors are on the desk.⟧

Worked examples

Example 1

Fill the gap: ⟦You use a ___ to draw straight lines.⟧

  1. You need something long and straight to draw a straight line.
  2. ⟦You use a ruler to draw straight lines.⟧

Answer: ⟦ruler⟧

Example 2

Fill the gap: ⟦In ___ we learn about countries, rivers and maps.⟧

  1. Countries, rivers and maps are about places in the world.
  2. That subject is ⟦geography⟧.

Answer: ⟦geography⟧

Example 3

Read the timetable: ⟦Monday: 9:00 Maths, 10:00 Art, 11:00 Music⟧. What lesson is at 10:00 on Monday?

  1. Find Monday's line.
  2. Look along it to 10:00: the lesson is ⟦Art⟧.

Answer: ⟦Art⟧