Read & Explore 27: The Nose Knows

Dogs are much more sensitive to smell than you and I. They can do many things that you and I can’t do. READ the story about a dog’s achievement.

I’m a dog named Inspector. My owner, Emma, is a parker ranger. Today a park visitor needed our help. He’s an inventor, so he creates things. But his newest invention was missing! It was in a container shaped like a box.

I’m a great sniffer and follower of smells. They’re the clues I follow. I sniffed the inventor and used my nose to follow his trail.

Soon I found the container under a bench. I always say, “The nose knows.” The inventor rewarded me with his invention, stretchy dog treats.

Activities:

1. What does the underlined word “clue” mean? Make a sentence of it.

2. What did the dog do in this article? How does the article describe the dog? Discuss with your partners in simple English.

3. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, researchers all over the world have been studying how to accurately test Coronavirus. Scientists in Finland train dogs to sniff out Covid-19 infections in humans via a non-invasive test. They found some encouraging results that a dog’s nose may even be the world’s most accurate Covid-19 test. Isn’t the dog’s sense of smell amazing?! The nose knows! watch the video to learn how a dog’s nose knows so much.

Read & Explore 26: The American Southwest

The American Southwest is amazing. This region of the nation has vast deserts. Hundreds of miles of canyons span some sections. Big rivers cross portions of the region as well. Humans have lived in this region for thousands of years. We can still see the ruins of dwellings and missions. Some are in canyons. Some are carved into stone cliffs.    

Amazing parks are in the Southwest. These places are kept safe. If you visit, stop first at the ranger station. Ask questions. Rangers can tell the best things to see.

Activities:

1. What does the underlined word “vast” mean? Find its synonym.

2. What do you learn about the American Southwest from this text? Tell your partners about it in simple English.

3. Watch the following video to explore the American Southwest:

Read & Explore 25: Poisons That Heal

Do you know some poisonous animals that can also be helpful? Read and find out.

Many animals are poisonous. But some poisons are usable. They can be used to help people.

Gila monsters have poisonous spit. That poisonous spit is valuable. It is used in medicine to help sick people.

Cone snails can be poisonous. They use a poison called venom to catch food. Scientists studied that venom. They learned how it worked. That helped them make a medicine. It stops sick people from feeling pain.

Only scientists must make medicines from poisonous animals. Why? Poisons are very, very dangerous. And so are poisonous creatures!

Activities:

1. Does the text tell us what animals are poisonous but helpful? How do the poisons help people? Discuss with your partners in simple English.

2. Are you interested in the medical benefits of poisonous animals? You might like to watch the following videos:

Read & Explore 24: How to Make Slime

Do you know how to make slime by yourself? Read and find out.

Here’s how you can make sticky, nonsolid slime. You’ll need: Nontoxic glue, Baking soda, Food coloring, and Contact lens solution.

1. Set one cup of nontoxic glue in a mixing bowl.
2. Add one tablespoon of baking soda. Mix it with the nontoxic glue.
3. Add food coloring. Mix well until all glue streaks disappear.
4. Add two squirts of contact lens solution. Don’t miscount! Mix well.
5. You might dislike how sticky the slime gets. Add a squirt of contact lens solution.

Now it’s time for nonstop fun!

Activities:

1. Use simple words to describe how to make slime. Try making slime with your partners.

2. Are you interested in different ways to make slime? You might want to watch the following videos.

Read & Explore 23: Making Pot Stickers

Do you know pot stickers? Do you know how to make pot stickers? Read and find out.

Pot stickers are Chinese dumplings. Meat and vegetables are in them. You can make pot stickers!

First, make the filling. Mix it with a wooden spoon. Then, loosen bits of dough. Flatten one bit of dough. Flatten the dough and widen it. Put filling on the flattened dough. Fold the dough over it. Pinch and tighten the edge of the dough. It is a dumpling! Fry the dumplings in oil. The dumplings will darken. They will be golden pot stickers. Yum!

Activities:

1. Use simple words to explain how to make pot stickers. Try making pot stickers with your family.

2. Are you interested in the pot sticker? Watch the videos to learn more about it.

Read & Explore 22: A Penguin Robot

Do you wonder how scientists study wild animals? Read and find out.

Scientists learn by studying animals. They make the studies harmless. Studies can rely on closeness. But wild animals do not like humans to get close. So how can scientists study animals like penguins? One harmless way is use robots.     

Scientists dressed a robot to look like a baby penguin. The penguins got fooled by the likeness. The birds did not change how they acted. The robot had a spy cam. It took photos and films. The scientists learned a lot. And the robot did not mind the icy coldness!

Activities:

1. Discuss with your partners about how scientists study animals by robots.

2. Are you interested in robots? Watch the video to learn more about them.

Read & Explore 21: How Dolphins Sleep

What happens inside a dolphin’s head when it sleeps? Half its brain goes to sleep! That means the dolphin is half asleep and half awake. The dolphin is not fully asleep. Its sleep is incomplete.

The kind of sleep is not perfect for people. It is imperfect. But incomplete sleep is perfect for dolphins. When dolphins are still, or immobile, incomplete sleep lets them know when to breathe. Incomplete sleep also lets dolphins sleep with one eye open. Then dolphins can escape from danger!

Activities:

1. How do dolphins sleep? Why is incomplete sleep perfect for dolphins? Discuss with your partners in simple English.

2. To learn more about dolphins’ sleep, watch the video:

Read & Explore 20: Lion and Beetle

Have you ever faced a powerful but arrogant person? How do you handle that kind of situation? READ the story of the lion and the beetle.

“I am the might king of the jungle!” thought Lion. “I will have a parade and wear my crown. All the animals will bow when I pass near them.”

As he marched, he saw Beetle. “Beetle, bow to me!” he commanded.

Tiny Beetle did not fear Lion. “I am bowing!” Beetle said. “You must bend down to see.”

When Lion bent down, his heavy crown made him fall into some mud. The muddy king wished he could hide. He was not so might now. He could only rush back to his den.

Activities:

1. What do you learn from this story? Discuss the story with your partners in simple English.

2. Are you interested in this story? Are you interested in acting as the might king or the tiny beetle? Then invite a partner to play this story.