x Biff, Chip ana Kipper Stories Doing a nature project is fun when Gran helps.Written by David Hunt and illustrated by Alex Brychta, based on the original characters created by Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta | BEFORE READING DURING READING | | Talk together Enjoy the story together. * Look at the cover and read the title Tf your child needs ‘together. Ask: What do you think they support to read the story: are all looking at? = Remind your child to | © Has your child ever worked on a nature blend unfamitiar project? Talk about it. words from left | * Look through the book and talk about to right. | the pictures. + Ifa word is still too tricky, simply say the whole word for your child. © Re-read sentences to focus on their meaning where necessary. About the words in this book * Your child should be able to sound cout and blend some words, which ‘may include: don’t time your day made here put paper badger different project write know birds special * Some words may be more challenging. Encourage or model blending, then a read the words below to your child 1 Everyone was excited. It was half-term. if necessary. | B oh looked called asked “For homework,” said Mrs May, “I’d autumn worry ; like you to keep an autumn diary.” early diary “Oh no!” said Biff. “Homework!” laboratoryChip phoned Gran. “We can’t stay with you all week,” he said. “We've got to keep a nature diary. It’s homework.” “Don’t worry,” Gran replied. “We can get the homework done and have some fun.”The next day, Dad took Biff and Chip to Gran’s. They picked up Nadim on the way. | “I know,” said Nadim. “But when will He was going too. | we get time to write our nature diary?” “Tt will be fun at Gran’s,” said Biff.They got to Gran’s, but she didn’t , There were lots of things in the garden. come to the door. “How odd!” said Biff. “Why has Gran “How odd!” said Dad. “She knows we put sunbeds out? It’s not summer.” are coming. Let’s look in the garden.”any 6 WG Suddenly, Gran opened the door of the shed. “Surprise!” she said. The children looked inside. They all gasped. “T’ve made a nature laboratory,” said Gran. “We can do the nature project in here. It will be fun.”Gran took the children into the woods. Gran gave Nadim paper and crayons. “Let’s start with the trees,” she said. “Put the paper against the tree. Then They collected lots of different leaves. rub the crayon over it,” she said. “It’s called a bark rubbing.”Back in the laboratory, they looked at the bark rubbings. “Each type of tree has a different “We'll plant these in pots,” she said. bark,” said Nadim. “One day they will grow into trees.” They stuck the leaves in their diaries. Gran had seeds from the trees.The next morning Gran got up early. She mixed seeds and nuts with melted fat and poured it into little pots. “What is that smell?” asked Chip. “Breakfast!” said Gran. “T don’t want to eat that!” said Biff. “Tr’s not for you!” said Gran. “It’s for the birds!”When the fat had set in the pots, In the afternoon, Gran took them Gran hung them in the garden. to a special place in the woods. “We can watch the birds,” she said. “Now for a secret,” said Gran. “Look!”The children looked around. There On the way home Chip found some were coloured mushrooms everywhere. marks in the mud. “It’s amazing!” gasped Nadim. “Are they animal tracks?” he asked. “Look, but don’t touch,” said Gran.Gran got some powder out of her bag. “This is plaster,” said Gran. “It will She mixed it with water and made a dry in the shape of the animal track. It’s paste. Then she poured the paste on to called a cast.” the animal track. 20 2They took the cast back to the “Tonight I have another surprise,” said laboratory. Biff looked up the animal Gran. “We need to wrap up warm and track in a book. we'll need the sunbeds.” “It’s from a badger,” she said. “Sunbeds?” asked Biff.2h They lay on the sunbeds and looked up. The sky was full of shooting stars. “This is amazing!” said Chip. “And it’s your homework!” said Gran. AFTER READING Turn to pages 4-5 and ask: How do you think the children feel about going to Gran's house? Look for clues in the picture as well as the words. Re-read page I8. Ask: Why did Gran say, Look, but don't touch”? (Wild mushrooms and toadstools can be poisonous.) Turn to page 24. Ask: Why did Gran get the sunbeds out at night? est © Reese ant and Dai nt 20 ‘nights reserve, Photocopying of this took prone isTouturd rect oduct mae om f meng pec contre oth ! “Sreoamental pos ft cty i Oxford OWL www.oxfordowl.co.uk