Read & Explore 69: How to Make Pancakes

Pancakes are delicious, and they’re not that hard to make. Let’s find out how to make them in a few simple steps.

First, we should collect the ingredients and supplies we need. To mix the pancake batter, we want a bowl and a mixer. To cook the pancakes, we’ll need a frying pan and a spatula. We also want a measuring cup to measure ingredients. We need the ingredients: 3 cups of flour, ½ cup milk, 1 cup of sugar, water, 1 egg, butter

Next, we want to prepare the batter. Combine the flour, sugar, egg, and milk in the bowl. Mix them together until they form a smooth batter. Add water as necessary to make sure that the batter is not too thick. Stir through the batter carefully to make sure there are no lumps.

Now it’s time to cook our pancakes. Since a hot stove can be dangerous, be sure that there’s an adult present. Put the frying pan on a lit burner and add a pat of butter. Once the butter has melted, pour the batter into the pan in order to form a pancake. If your pan is big enough, you can make more than one pancake at a time.

Once the pancakes begin to form bubbles and become dry on top, use the spatula to flip them over. Let the other side cook for two or three minutes. Then you can slide the pancakes out of the pan and onto your plate. Add some butter and syrup, and enjoy your breakfast!

Activities:

1. According to this passage, what supplies and ingredients do you need to make pancakes? Explain to your pals in plain English.

2. Suppose you will share your only cupcake with your four best friends. How will you divide this cupcake equally? How much of this cupcake can each of you get?

3. Cupcake is a very popular food. Why do many people like it? Do you like it? There are many different ways to make cupcakes. Did you make cupcakes before? How did you make them? If you have never made cupcakes before, you might be interested in trying one day. The video below introduces you a way to make vanilla cupcakes.

Read & Explore 68: Northern Mockingbird

The Northern Mockingbird is known for its unusual voice. Mockingbirds can imitate the songs of many kinds of birds, as well as other common sounds. Both male and female mockingbirds sing, although the males, especially males that are looking for a mate, sing most often. Unmated males may even sing at night.

Male and female mockingbirds look alike. Both are gray on top and white underneath. Both have white patches on their wings and tails that can be seen when the bird is flying. Mockingbirds eat fruits and vegetables, but they also eat harmful insects.

These birds are plentiful and are commonly found in a variety of habitats all over North America. The mockingbird is a popular bird that has been chosen as official state bird by Texas, Florida, and other states.

Activities:

1. What does this selection tell you about the Northern mockingbird? Use simple words to describe the Northern mockingbird to your pals.

2. Why do the Northern mockingbirds imitate other birds, and even reproduce some common sounds, such as fire alarms, dripping water? Discuss with a learning partner. 

3. A typical mockingbird has 250 to 350 songs in its repertoire. Have you ever heard it sing before? Draw a singing mockingbird according to this selection. Then watch the video to learn more about the mockingbirds and enjoy their singing.

Read & Sing 17: Rain, rain, go away

Read and sing the nursery rhyme loudly. Circle the rhyming words. Answer the questions.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again some other day.

Little Johnny wants to play,

Rain, rain, go away

Questions:

1. Write down all words that rhyme. Find 10 more words with the same ending sound.

2. Who is this nursery rhyme about? On a blank sheet, illustrate a part of the rhyme and write a caption below it. Explain your illustration to your pals.

3. Compare and contrast this nursery rhyme with the video songs below. Find the differences and similarities between them. Then make a new song based on this nursery rhyme.