Free Afrikaans Resources

Free Afrikaans resources are incredibly hard to come by. Thanks to the amazing Homeschool community, I am able to share these new freebies. Please reach out to me if you know of any other free Afrikaans resources. The purpose of this series of posts, is to make education accessible to all.

Click on the image above to view the original Afrikaans Resource Freebie Friday post.

The South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) has shared all the CAPS workbooks from Grade R (reception) to Grade 9, including past Grade 12 final exam papers for preparation.

Workbooks
These workbooks have been developed for the children of South Africa under the leadership of the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, and the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule.

The Rainbow Workbooks form part of the Department of Basic Education’s range of interventions aimed at improving the performance of South African learners in the first six grades. As one of the priorities of the Government’s Plan of Action, this project has been made possible by the generous funding of the National Treasury. This has enabled the Department to make these workbooks, in all the official languages, available at no cost.

DBE CAPS Grade R – 9 Printable Workbooks – Books 1 & 2
DBE CAPS Grade R – 9 Printable Workbooks – Books 3 & 4
Afrikaans CAPS workbooks for:
– Literacy
– Life Skills
– Numeracy

DBE Interactive Workbooks
The Department of Basic Education has converted selected pdf workbooks into Interactive workbooks in order to increase the engagement of the literacy and numeracy activities, as well as impart ICT skills.
The interactive workbooks have the ability to respond to learners’ inputs, allowing a TWO-WAY flow of information between the computer and the learner, including instant assessment feedback.
– Grade R Afrikaans Book 1
– Grade R Afrikaans Book 2

Annual National Assessments (Links to the ANAs are on the right side of the screen)
The Annual National Assessments (ANA) are standardised national assessments for languages and mathematics in the senior phase (grades 7 – 9), intermediate phase (grades 4 – 6) and in literacy and numeracy for the foundation phase (grades 1 – 3). The question papers and marking memoranda (exemplars) are supplied by the national Department of Basic Education and the schools manage the conduct of the tests as well as the marking and internal moderation.

The following assessments can be found in Afrikaans:
– Language
– Mathematics

Practical Assessment Tasks (Links to PATs are on the right of the screen)
Assessment in the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) comprises School-Based Assessment, Practical Assessment Tasks, Language Oral Assessment for official languages and external examinations.

A Practical Assessment Task is a compulsory component of the final promotion mark for all candidates registered for the following National Senior Certificate subjects:
– Agriculture: Agricultural Management Practices and Agricultural Technology;
– Arts: Dance Studies, Design, Dramatic Arts, Music and Visual Arts;
– Languages: Oral mark;
– Technology: Civil Technology, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology and Engineering Graphics and Design;
– Life Orientation;
– Computer Sciences: Computer Applications Technology and Information Technology; and
– Services: Consumer Studies, Hospitality Studies and Tourism.

The Practical Assessment Task mark must count 25% of the end-of-year examination mark.

School-Based Assessment
Assessment in the National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) comprises School-Based Assessment, Practical Assessment Tasks, Language Oral Assessment for official languages and external examinations.
Subjects covered:
– Accounting
– Geography
– History
– Life Sciences
– Mathematics
– Physical Science

A School-Based Assessment mark is a compulsory component of the final promotion mark for all candidates registered for the National Senior Certificate and it must count 25% of the final promotion mark in Grade 12.

Mind the Gap Study Guides Grade 12 CAPS Aligned
The Department of Basic Education has pleasure in releasing the second edition of Mind the Gap study guides for Grade 12 learners. These study guides continue the innovative and committed attempt by the Department of Basic Education to improve the academic performance of Grade 12 candidates in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.

The second edition of Mind the Gap is aligned to the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS).
Subject Study Guides in Afrikaans:
– Rekeningkunde (Accounting)
– Ekonomie (Business Economics)
– Lewenswetenskappe (Life Science)
– Geografie (Geography)
– Fisiese Wetenskap Deel 1 Fieika (Physics)
– Fisiese Wetenskap Deel 2 Chemie (Chemistry)
– Wiskunde (Mathematics)
– Wiskundige Geletterdheid (Math Literacy)

NSC Examinations (Links to the previous papers can be found on the right side of the screen) – Previous exam papers (Gr 10, 11 & 12) – 2008 – 2021
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations commonly referred to as “Matric” has become an annual event of major public significance. It not only signifies the culmination of twelve years of formal schooling but the NSC examinations is a barometer of the health of the education system.

Origins of English Idioms

Have you ever wondered what the origins of English idioms are? I’ve spent quite some time researching the 10 most commonly used phrases and have been quite surprised at how these came about.

What are idioms?

An idiom is a word or, more commonly, a phrase in which the figurative meaning is different than the literal meaning of the grouping of words. There are approximately 25,000 idioms in the English language alone.

To turn a blind eye

Meaning: To refuse to acknowledge a known truth

Origin: The origins of this phrase are disputed, it is commonly accepted that turning a blind eye comes from a comment made by British Admiral Horatio Nelson. In 1801 he led the attack alongside Admiral Sir Hyde Parker in the Battle of Copenhagen. Nelson was blind in one eye. Parker communicated to Nelson at one point, via flags, that he needed to retreat and disengage. Nelson, however, was convinced that he could prevail if they pushed onward. Nelson then, holding the telescope to his blind eye, pretended not to see the signal—making a sly comment to a fellow officer about reserving the right to use his blind eye every now and again.

Play it by ear

Meaning: Playing something by ear means that rather than sticking to a defined plan, you will see how things go and decide on a course of action as you go along.

Origin: This saying has its origins in music, as “playing something by ear” means to play music without reference to the notes on a page. This sense of the phrase dates back to the 16th century, but the present use only came into being in mid-20th century America, primarily referring to sports. These days, the expression has lost this focus on sports and can be used in any context.

Straight from the horse’s mouth

Meaning: Getting information directly from the most reliable source

Origin: This one is said to come from the 1900s, when buyers could determine a horse’s age by examining its teeth. It’s also why you shouldn’t “look a gift horse in the mouth,” as inspecting a gift is considered bad etiquette.

Spill the beans

Meaning: To leak a secret

Origin: This one’s a bit tricky, as there is no clear-cut answer. The consensus is, however, that this is most likely derived from an ancient Greek voting process, which involved beans. People would vote by placing one of two colored beans in a vase, white typically meaning yes and black or brown meaning no. This meant that should someone spill the beans, the secret results of the election would be revealed before intended. Hence, spilling the beans is related to revealing secret information.

Raining cats and dogs

Meaning: It’s “raining cats and dogs” when it’s raining particularly heavily.

Origin: The origins of this bizarre phrase are obscure, though it was first recorded in 1651 in the poet Henry Vaughan’s collection Olor Iscanus. Speculation as to its origins ranges from medieval superstition to Norse mythology, but it may even be a reference to dead animals being washed through the streets by floods.

Pulling someone’s leg

Meaning: teasing someone, usually by lying in a joking manner

Origin: Although pulling someone’s leg is all in good fun nowadays, it originally described the way in which thieves tripped their victims to rob them.

Beat around the bush

Meaning: To circle the point; to avoid the point

Origin: This common phrase is thought to have originated in response to game hunting in Britain. While hunting birds, participants would beat bushes in order to draw out the birds. Therefore, they were beating around the bush before getting to the main point of the hunt: actually capturing the birds.

Can’t do something to save my life

Meaning: It’s typically used in a self-deprecating manner or to indicate reluctance to carry out a task requested of one.

Origin: Anthony Trollope first used this expression, in 1848 in Kellys and O’Kellys, writing, “If it was to save my life and theirs, I can’t get up small talk for the rector and his curate.”

Barking up the wrong tree

Meaning: pursuing a misguided course of action

Origin: Likely referring to hunting, this saying explains when a dog would literally bark at the bottom of the wrong tree after the prey in question moved to the next branch.

Pot calling the kettle black

Meaning: We use this expression to refer to someone who criticises someone else, for something they they themselves are guilty of.

Origin: First used in the literature of the 1600s – notably Don Quixote by Cervantes – this expression has its origins in the Medieval kitchen, when both pots and kettles were made from sturdy cast iron and both would get black with soot from the open fire.

References:
Dictionary.com
Owlcation
Britannica.com
Inklyo