Morning Starters: Summer 1 - Fascinating Fruit
Did You Know?
Yew trees have a fascinating defense system. While their leaves and seeds are toxic, the tree’s bright red berries are safe for birds to eat. After consuming the berries, birds carry the seeds far away in their droppings. This way, the toxic parts remain with the tree – allowing it to photosynthesise and thrive -while the seeds have an excellent opportunity to germinate in new locations.
Word Challenge
The words underlined in the ‘Did you Know?’ paragraph are homophones.
Copy each homophone and write the partner homophone(s) next to it.
Example: red and read
Help: A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and a different spelling.
Grammar Challenge
Rewrite the sentence below with different adjectives to those underlined.
The ancient yew tree stood in the abandoned churchyard, its gnarled branches stretching over weathered gravestones like a silent guardian.
Number Challenge
Fact: One of the oldest trees in the UK is the Fortingall Yew. It is around 5,000 years old!
Write some multiplication number sentences that equal 5,000.
Example:
5 x 1,000 = 5,000
10 x 500 = 5,000
Critical Thinking
Would you like to live for 5,000 years like the Fortingall Yew? Why or why not?
