Grade 7 English SCIENCE AND HEALTH EDUCATION – READING:CLASS READER Notes
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READING: CLASS READER
Subject: English — Topic: Science and Health Education — Age: 12 (Kenya)
Learning Objectives
- Use correct grammar when reading and writing short passages on health and science.
- Identify parts of speech in class reader texts (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
- Choose correct tenses and modals for facts and health advice.
- Form passive sentences for simple scientific processes.
Example reading topic: "How handwashing prevents disease" — grammar focus: present simple for facts and modal verbs for advice.
Key Grammar Points (applied to Science & Health texts)
1. Present simple for facts and routines
- Use for general truths: "Water boils at 100°C."
- Use for habits: "People wash hands before meals."
Tip: In class reader passages, look for statements that explain facts — they usually use present simple.
2. Modal verbs for advice and obligation
- Use for habits: "People wash hands before meals."
Tip: In class reader passages, look for statements that explain facts — they usually use present simple.
- Use should / must / can: "You should drink clean water." / "You must cover wounds."
- Can shows ability or permission; should/must give advice or rules.
3. Past simple for events or experiments done already
- Can shows ability or permission; should/must give advice or rules.
- "The school tested the water last week."
- Look for time words: yesterday, last week, in 2019.
4. Passive voice for scientific processes
- Look for time words: yesterday, last week, in 2019.
- Use when the action is more important than who did it: "The sample was tested."
- Form: be + past participle. Useful in class readers describing experiments.
5. Adjectives and adverbs
- Form: be + past participle. Useful in class readers describing experiments.
- Adjectives describe nouns: "clean water, healthy child."
- Adverbs describe verbs: "wash hands thoroughly, drink water regularly."
6. Subject–verb agreement
- Adverbs describe verbs: "wash hands thoroughly, drink water regularly."
- Singular subject → verb + s: "The clinic treats patients."
- Plural subject → base verb: "Clinics treat patients."
- Plural subject → base verb: "Clinics treat patients."
Short Examples from a Class Reader (original, simple)
- Fact (present simple): "Mosquitoes spread malaria." — (mosquitoes = noun, spread = verb)
- Advice (modal): "You should sleep under a treated net." — (should = modal)
- Past event: "The school planted trees last week." — (planted = past simple)
- Passive (process): "The water sample was boiled before the test." — (was boiled = passive)
Exercises — practice grammar with class reader topics
A. Underline the tense and write its name:
- People wash their hands with soap. (_________)
- The nurse checked the patient's temperature. (_________)
- Water is cleaned at the treatment plant. (_________)
B. Choose the correct modal (should / must / can):
- You ______ cover your mouth when you cough.
- You ______ drink enough water every day.
- Students ______ bring their reader to class tomorrow. (permission)
C. Make passive sentences (from active):
- "The lab team tested the water." → __________________________.
- "The teacher gave the class a quiz." → __________________________.
D. Subject–verb agreement — choose the correct form:
- The clinic (treat / treats) many patients.
- Malaria (is / are) a serious illness.
E. Rewrite giving advice (use should):
- "Eat fruit for vitamins." → __________________________.
- "Wash your hands before eating." → __________________________.
Answer Key
A.
- Present simple
- Past simple
- Present simple passive (or present passive)
- should
- should (or must for stronger advice)
- can
- The water was tested (by the lab team).
- The class was given a quiz (by the teacher).
- treats
- is
- You should eat fruit for vitamins.
- You should wash your hands before eating.
Helpful Reading Tips for the Class Reader
- When you read a fact in the reader, expect present simple verbs.
- Spot advice by looking for should/must/can — these tell actions to follow.
- For experiments, ask: Who did the action? If it’s not important, the sentence may be passive.
- Underline verbs and ask "What tense is this?" — this helps understanding and answering questions.
Try this at home: Read one page of your class reader about health. Pick 3 verbs and write whether they are present/past/modal/passive. Share with a friend or family member.