A Day at Skara Brae – 1 Text Read the Diary Entry

A Day at Skara Brae – 1 Text Read the diary entry. Skara Brae is a place on the west coast of Mainland, the largest island in the Orkney Islands, north of mainland Scotland. In 1850, a wild storm battered Orkney. A combination of extremely strong winds and very high tides caused a large section of turf and sand to be stripped away. This revealed the well-preserved ruins of ancient stone buildings and their contents. It was discovered that Skara Brae, as it is now known, had been built more than 5000 years ago in the late Stone Age. Archaeologists have learnt a lot about what life was like for the people who once lived there from studying the ruins. This is an imaginary diary entry from a child.

Dear Diary I’m sure I’ll sleep well tonight after completing so many chores today. The warm, fine July weather meant we could do more activities outside. First we collected the leftovers from last night and this morning’s meals to put in the middens between the walls of our houses. This helps to keep out the cold air, especially during our freezing winters. Next we gathered fresh heather to put in the mattresses. Sometimes we use straw but heather has a nicer smell. The old filling was put in the middens. Today was a good day to go fishing. We scooped some live limpets out of the tanks we keep inside and fetched some fish traps. The limpets have already had their shells removed. They are put in the traps and fish are caught when they go in to eat the limpets. While the traps were out, we searched for more limpets on the rocky shore. We also collected seaweed. This will be mixed with our sheep’s and cows’ dung along with heather and bracken, then used as fuel to add to the hearths in our houses. At the moment, I’m lying on the bed I share with my sisters, looking at the lovely ornaments on our dresser. Every house has a stone dresser which displays precious things they’ve made. I can see Mum and my older sister working on a deer skin by the firelight. This will be made into clothing. I’m going to sleep now. Tomorrow we’ll be walking along the coast to collect more flint with which to make stone tools and to use to light our fires.

My learning log When I read this diary entry, I could read: all of it. most of it. parts of it. www.prim-ed.com Prim-Ed Publishing Reading – Comprehension and Word Reading 75 Skara Brae – 2 Comprehension 1. What caused the ruins of Skara Brae to be discovered?

2. How have archaeologists been able to learn what life was like at Skara Brae thousands of years ago?

3. Use a dictionary to write a definition for these words.

(a) turf

(b) limpet

4. There was no electricity for light 5000 years ago. What do you think the people used for light at night or on dark days?

5. Explain what the people of Skara Brae made or used for these things.

Fire

Clothing

Mattress/Bed

Insulation

Fishing/Bait

While doing these activities: My learning log I found Q easy. I found Q challenging. I found Q interesting. 76 Reading – Comprehension and Word Reading Prim-Ed Publishing www.prim-ed.com A Day at Skara Brae – 3 Word Reading 1. Find synonyms in the information above the diary for these words.

(a) damaged (b) violent

2. Find antonyms in the diary entry for these words.

(a) melting (b) stale

(a) stripped (b) imaginary

(e) extremely (f) caused

(g) completing (h) nicer

4. In the word ‘crochet’, the ‘ch’ sounds like a ‘sh’. Can you read the following words?

machine chef brochure chalet parachute quiche

5. Write the missing words in these sentences. Use question 4 to help you.

(a) The ______in the restaurant made a

delicious ham and cheese ______.

(b) Mum was looking through a holiday ______for ideas.

(d) Dad was annoyed when his coffee ______stopped working.

(e) The ______we stayed in was very modern and cosy.

I understand / need more practice on synonyms. My learning log Colour: I understand / need more practice on antonyms. I understand / need more practice on root words. www.prim-ed.com Prim-Ed Publishing Reading – Comprehension and Word Reading 77