السلامة في المنزل · Programme: Contrasting · Grammar: while / whereas
By the end of this lesson, I can:
- I can understand an article about hazards at home.
- I can express contrast with while and whereas.
- I can give safety advice and warnings.
- I can spell plurals of nouns ending in -y (babies, keys).
- I can present our class project “Happy and Safe at Home”.
🖼️ Picture dictionary قاموس مصوّر
tap 🔊 to listen📚 كلمات الدرس
9 كلمات من هذا الدرس في القاموس المدرسي: المعنى بالعربية والفرنسية، والنطق، ومثال.
📖 Read: Pets, pans and plugs: is your home really safe? أقرأ
Health page — by our science reporter
Home is where we feel safe, whereas in fact many accidents occur there. Every year, thousands of children are hurt in their own houses.
Pets 🐕 Dogs are loving friends, but they can bite. Experts say a dog that is chained in a garden all day is more dangerous than a free dog, probably because of its isolation. Their advice to owners: walk your dog, play with it, and never leave a baby alone with an animal. Adults must supervise children when they play with pets. Dog bites are more frequent, while cat bites are rarer but more serious: they easily become infected, so see a doctor quickly.
The kitchen 🍳 Hot pans, knives and flammable products are real hazards. Turn pan handles to the back of the cooker and keep cleaning products in a high cupboard.
Electricity 🔌 Covered plugs are safe, whereas open plugs attract little fingers. Never touch a switch with wet hands.
Remember: most injuries at home are easy to prevent. A little attention today can save a life tomorrow!
Do you understand? أفهم
Answer in your copybook first, then check.
- Where do many accidents occur, according to the article?
Answer
At home.
- Why can a chained dog be more dangerous?
Answer
Probably because of its isolation.
- What is the difference between dog bites and cat bites?
Answer
Dog bites are more frequent, while cat bites are rarer but more serious (they easily become infected).
- Give two pieces of advice for the kitchen.
Answer
Turn pan handles to the back of the cooker; keep cleaning products in a high cupboard.
- Find two words in the text that express contrast.
Answer
whereas, while.
🧩 Grammar القواعد
We use while and whereas to join two ideas that are different or opposite (contrast). They mean almost the same as but.
Dog bites are more frequent, while cat bites are rarer.
Covered plugs are safe, whereas open plugs are dangerous.
They can go between the two ideas (with a comma before) or at the beginning of the sentence (with a comma between the two ideas): While my brother is quick-tempered, my sister is very patient.
Careful: while can also mean during the time that: The baby fell while I was on the phone. Whereas never has this meaning.
while و whereas تفيدان التضادّ (بمعنى «بينما / في حين أنّ»)، وتأتيان بين الجملتين أو في بدايتهما. وقد تعني while أيضًا «أثناء».
Contrast in pictures
| ✅ Safe | ↔️ | ❌ Dangerous |
|---|---|---|
| A dog that plays with its family | whereas | a dog that is chained all day |
| Medicines in a locked box | while | medicines on a low table |
| Pan handles turned to the back | whereas | pan handles over the edge |
| A dry bathroom floor | while | a wet, slippery floor |
1. Idea A, whereas idea B.
2. While idea A, idea B.
Safety warnings
| Sign | Warning | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🔥 | Highly flammable! | It can catch fire easily. |
| ⚡ | Danger: electric shock! | Don’t touch: electricity. |
| 🧤 | Wear gloves! | Protect your hands. |
| ♨️ | Wait until it cools down! | It is very hot. |
| 🐕 | Beware of the dog! | The dog may bite. |
Never leave a baby alone in the bath. · Always keep knives out of reach. · You should have a first aid kit. · Don’t touch plugs with wet hands.
Project step 3: presenting our booklet
- Put together the family portraits (step 1), the survey report (step 2) and a safety leaflet (step 3).
- Choose a title and a cover picture.
- Each group presents one part in two minutes.
- Use simple sentences, pictures and one contrast with while / whereas.
Good morning, everybody. Today we are going to present… · First… Then… Finally… · Thank you for listening. Any questions?
💬 Useful expressions عبارات مفيدة
Contrasting
Warning and advising
🔊 Pronunciation النطق
Worked examples أمثلة محلولة
Try first, then read the solution.
Join: My brother is quick-tempered. My sister is patient.
Step-by-step solution
- The two ideas are opposite ➡️ contrast.
- Put a comma and whereas between them.
✓ My brother is quick-tempered, whereas my sister is patient.
Join: Tortoises are peaceful. Some big dogs can be dangerous.
Step-by-step solution
- Put while at the beginning.
- Separate the two ideas with a comma.
✓ While tortoises are peaceful, some big dogs can be dangerous.
Write the plural: baby, key, injury, toy.
Step-by-step solution
- Consonant + y ➡️ ies: babies, injuries.
- Vowel + y ➡️ + s: keys, toys.
✓ babies, keys, injuries, toys
⚠️ Common mistakes أخطاء شائعة
⭐ Remember أحفظ
- While and whereas express contrast between two different ideas.
- They go between the ideas (with a comma) or at the start of the sentence.
- While can also mean “during the time that”; whereas cannot.
- Give warnings with imperatives: Never…, Always…, Don’t…, Be careful!
- Plurals: consonant + y ➡️ ies (babies); vowel + y ➡️ ys (keys).
Quick quiz اختبار سريع
4 questions · instant feedback1. Choose the sentence that expresses contrast.
2. Which word can replace whereas in “Covered plugs are safe, whereas open plugs are dangerous”?
3. According to the article, why are cat bites serious?
4. What is the plural of “puppy”?
✍️ Write: Project step 3: a safety leaflet for families أكتب
Write a short leaflet (80–100 words) for our booklet “Happy and Safe at Home”. Choose two or three places (kitchen, bathroom, garden…) and give warnings and advice. Use while or whereas at least once. Then present the whole booklet to the class.
Steps
- Write a catchy title.
- Say why safety at home is important.
- Give one or two hazards and pieces of advice for each place.
- Use while / whereas to contrast a safe and a dangerous habit.
- End with a short slogan.
A model text to compare with (after writing mine)
Stay safe at home! Many families think home is the safest place, whereas most accidents with children occur there. In the kitchen, turn pan handles to the back and keep flammable products away from the cooker. In the bathroom, never leave babies alone in the bath and keep medicines in a locked cupboard. In the garden, supervise children when they play with pets. A dog that plays with its owners is usually calm, while a chained dog can bite. Finally, keep a first aid kit in an easy place. Remember our slogan: Think first, stay safe!
One good example among many: compare, don’t copy.
😊 The lighter side استراحة
Better safe than sorry.
What has teeth but can’t bite?
Answer
A comb.
“Why did the dog sit in the shade?” — “Because it didn’t want to be a hot dog!”
✅ Exercises تمارين
All exercises →6 exercises on three levels, with new questions every time.
- Choose the right answerTo do
- ClassifyTo do
- Situation 1To do
- Situation 2To do
Practise: Safety at Home
True or false, complete, choose, classify and situations: instant correction with explanations.
Got the lesson? Try it yourself
6 exercises · instant correction · new questions every time
Start the exercisesPictures: Twemoji (CC-BY 4.0). Texts, explanations and exercises: Scolaire.tn.