We can’t play together
African Storybook
Simon Mokoena
English
First paragraphs
Teacher Tshezi and her class are talking about the Covid-19 pandemic.
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She says, “I want to hear about your time at home. Did everyone manage to work at home while school was closed?”
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Dudu answers first, “Studying at home was hard for me, because my parents work and I was home alone.”
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“I also had to do schoolwork on my own,” says Msizi.
2
He continues, “I had nobody to help me, no one to explain the questions and instructions.” Many learners agree.
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“Using the internet was difficult because data was costly,” says Dudu. The learners agree again.
3
Ayanda says, “At my place it was too noisy to study.”
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“I was very happy when we were told we can go back to school,” says Faiza.
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“Everyone was happy!” laughs Msizi.
4
“I did not want schools to re-open,” moans Ayanda.
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“I thought that school would be the way it was before the pandemic. But everything was different!” continues Amahle.
5
“We practice social distancing, we have to wear masks, and use hand sanitiser,” complains Isaac.
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“Teachers are always asking us, do you have a cough, do you have a sore throat?” says Ayanda.
6
Kagiso rubs his hands and says, “Every time you answer something on the board they will give you hand sanitiser.”
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“We always have to carry a small bottle of sanitiser,” he sighs.
7
“At school during break, it’s not like before. We would all be together and play one game,” says Msizi.
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Ayanda adds, “It is difficult. We want to play together.”
8
Amahle says, “We as children, we like friends and we like being with our friends.”
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“But now, we can’t play with our friends,” says Dudu.
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“Now, it’s social distancing,” says Isaac.
9
Teacher Tshezi says, “There are many changes.”
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But no one is alone.
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“Even though we can’t play together right now, we can always share our thoughts and feelings,” she adds.
10

——Questions


  1. How did you feel about staying home during lockdown? Please explain.
  2. Find words in the story that mean the opposite to: quiet, sad, answers, easy.
  3. Find words in the story that mean the same as: expensive, pupils, joyful, mates.
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This storybook is based on reports for RX Radio. RX Radio is a children’s internet radio station, by and for children.
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RX Radio operates from the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
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RX Radio helps children to tell stories about issues important to them.
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Visit RX Radio
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Attribution CC BY
Your attribution should include the following:
Title: We can’t play together
Author/s: African Storybook
Illustrator/s: Simon Mokoena
Assurer/s: African Storybook
Language: English

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CC BY includes the following elements:
 BY   – Credit must be given to the creator