Note on the cover image of this post:

this painting was painted in 1668 by the Dutch artist Jan Steen.

It’s called The Happy Family.

When Jan Steen painted it, the Netherlands was a very rich country with big ships bringing expensive things from all over the world back to Europe to sell.

Many citizens worried about what all that money might do to normal people and traditional society.

Would it make people spoilt and lazy?

Would they forget to go to church and think only about themselves and how many things they owned or could buy?

If you look at the chimney, you’ll see a man playing the bagpipes, sitting under a note hanging above his head.

That note says As The Old Sing, So Shall The Young Pipe…and it basically means that if the adults behave badly, the children will too.

Don’t let all our new money make us lazy and selfish!

And the man playing the bagpipes?

Well…that’s Jan Steen himself.

Unit 1: Meeting People

Unit 2: Food

Come Dine With Me

Kylie van Dam

2021

Would you like to go to a café with me

And drink a cup of tea?

Would you like to meet in a restaurant and dine?

We’ll have a lovely time.

Would you like to partake of some

Fish or veggies or steak?

Would you like to rest your feet

While you nibble on something sweet?

Come dine, come dine, come dine…

With me!

We’ll find a little somewhere where the

Tablecloths are white.

With napkins and a menu too

Small for candlelight.

The waiter, he’ll bring us, our

Starters, mains, desserts

And we

Won’t even panic when the bill comes

And hurts!!!!

Would you like to go to a café with me

And drink a cup of tea?

Would you like to meet in a restaurant and dine?

We’ll have a lovely time.

Would you like to partake of some

Fish or veggies or steak?

Would you like to rest your feet

While you nibble on something sweet?

Come dine, come dine, come dine…

With me!

(Don’t eat those crisps on the couch all alone).

Come dine, come dine, come dine…

With me!

(Don’t eat that takeaway you

Ordered on the phone).

Come dine, come dine, come dine…

With me!

You like potato, I like potahto.

You like tomayto, I like tomahto…

Months of the Year

Unit 3: Spare Time

Some sentences to use with column three…

In my spare time I like to …

… is very important to me.

I’m talented at …

I get bored if I can’t …

I’m really bored!

I’m so busy! On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I … Then on Tuesday and Thursday I … And on the weekend I have to …

… is fantastic!

… is very important to me because …

Do you really do … on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday?

I hold the world record for …

A lot of people like …, but I don’t!

At camp we always have a … and toast marshmallows! It’s really nice. You get a hot face, a cold back and black marshmallows.

Do you play the recorder?

Do you have a voice recorder app on your phone?

My dad is really … He’s in Star Wars.

My mum is really … She’s in Harry Potter.

My uncle is a builder. He’s got lots of spare … … He says I can use them in the garden to build a games room with!!!!!

What How Who

Kylie van Dam

2022

What How Who?

What How Who?

These are questions asked of you.

What How Who?

What How Who?

But these are questions you ask too!

‘ing’

Kylie van Dam

2022

‘ing’ is a thing that is happening.

‘ing’ is a thing that is doing.

‘ing’ is a thing that cows always are

When they’re pooing and chewing and mooing.

I Want!

Kylie van Dam

2022

I want a biscuit!

Would you like a biscuit?

I want some milk!

Would you like some milk?

I want to watch television now!!!!!!!

Mmmm…

Would you like to sit on the step until you learn how to ask politely?

No, I wouldn’t!

Can a Can-Can Dancer?

Kylie van Dam

2022

Can a can-can dancer dance on a can?

No.

So…a can-can dancer can’t dance on a can?

Correct: a can-can dancer can’t dance on a can.

Are you sure a can-can dancer can’t dance on a can?

Ok, you can stop now.

Well, I’m just asking. You never know. Can-can dancers can do anything!

Seriously? Stop!!

Whispering: well, have you asked a can-can dancer if they can dance on a can?

A Cat Can’t…

By my sister

1985

A cat can’t catch a canary, can it?

A cat can’t catch a canary in its cage!

How to…

Unit 4: Asking the way