Understand the Meaning of Words from a Non-fiction Text

Read the two sentences below:

 

Toby looked at the big mountain.

Toby looked at the colossal mountain.

 

 

Which sentence sounds better?

 

The sentence using the word colossal creates a clearer picture in our heads of a huge mountain.

The word big isn’t as exciting.

Using interesting vocabulary, like the word colossal, adds detail to stories and helps the reader imagine what is going on.

 

Read the sentence below:

Sprinting through the overgrown grass, Henry tried to catch his dog.

 

What does the word sprinting mean in this sentence?

Sprinting means running.

We could replace this with even more adventurous words such as dashing or darting.

 

 

Read the explanation text below. In this activity, we will be answering questions about the meaning of words in this text.

We need to read it carefully and think about the word meanings before we begin.

 

How to care for your hot tub

Now a popular addition to many patios and back gardens, hot tubs are a great way to unwind at home. Many of us like to take a calming, warm dip in the water after a busy day at work.  So how do we look after these relaxing, warm, bubble pools so that they stay clean and last longer? Once you’ve filled and perfectly positioned your hot tub outside your home, you should follow these helpful steps to keep your tub clean and looking crystal clear.

 

 

Before each use

If you are planning on using your hot tub, make sure you turn the heat pump on beforehand. When you are ready to get in, use a pool skimmer net to scoop out any leaves or floating grass. You wouldn’t want green gunk sticking to your body whilst trying to unwind. This is an important part of hot tub care as stray grass and leaves can make the water turn cloudy and block the filter. Once the water is free from dirt, dip a test strip in the water to check all of the chemicals are at the correct level. If one of the chemicals is too low, add a small amount of the chemical into the water. Now, your hot tub is ready for use.

 

Weekly care

If you are using your hot tub regularly, it’s a good idea to give it a weekly clean with a spa vacuum. A spa vacuum, often called a spa vac, is a special piece of equipment that can suck all the dirt away from the bottom of the hot tub. This fantastic piece of equipment is really easy to use as it doesn’t need electricity so you can just grab it and go. The filter of the hot tub also needs cleaning on a weekly basis as dirt can block the filter and stop it from cleaning the water as effectively. You can use a filter cleaning spray to do this as well as using a hose to clean it out. Finally, you’ll need to add some more chlorine tablets into your tablet feeder to maintain the chemical levels of the tub.

 

Every 3-6 months

These final tasks might seem like a lot of effort but they will make sure your hot tub lasts for many years. Every three to six months, completely drain the water from your hot tub. Old water can’t store as many chemicals as fresh water so if you do not replace the water in your tub, it will become dirty. Once the tub is empty, give it a really good clean inside and out.

 

Let's get started on those questions!