On the first week of term we set Year 5 the challenge of making clocks with NO instructions (unless you count the useless picture instructions). After realising how difficult it is to do something with little guidance, (adverbs of time, imperative verbs or adverbs of manner – key ingredients for successful instructions) they produced a set of instructions of how not to panic when the ‘rule book’ is missing, you will need a sprinkle of self belief, a pinch of patience, a dash of determination and a handful of helpful hands!
Below are a selection of ‘Golden Writing’ instructions from Hayley, Sharnelle, Sahra C, Plator, Jaime, Isla, Abdulrahman and Anna – enjoy!
How not to panic when the rule book abandons you!
You sit down in your chair ready to build and you realise your instructions have abandoned you! Suddenly your sense disappears and you start to fret. Not realising you have brains in your head and you have yet to read these instructions. There is no hope … there is no hope … but there is!
These instructions will ease your mind – you’ll easily achieve anything in clockwork and life. All you need is to take deep breaths and try not to worry. Breathe in and out, out and in, to relax your mind. So if you work hard and keep on reading you will be in for a win.
Tools for success:
- brainy people
- people with legs
- two time telling hands
- two teaspoons of self-belief
- one red spring
- one important yellow pin
- one green power-making winder
- one yellow pace-keeping pendulum
- a sprinkle of caution
- First of all, relax your mind and tell yourself, ‘I can do anything’.
- Secondly, throw in all of your brainy people and footsey people into the mixture.
- Then, gently spoon in all of your self-belief and remove all of the self-doubt, you don’t want it to over power the self-belief
- After that, slide on the comma-like piece onto its in, don’t forget to keep on continually stirring all of the mixture.
- Soon after, carefully fold in a sprinkle of caution for the tough times ahead and the red energy-energy supplying spring.
- When the going gets tough, add the rest of the parts and don’t forget any or the clock won’t work.
- Finally, wind up your clock and sip your cup of tea – let time pass but don’t waste it!
- Remember, you can apply these instructions to anything in life …’tick tock’ goes the life clock.
By Zoe Kantazi
