Just This Once

SUNSHINE CLASSICS – LEVEL 14

Crossing
Just the Road
This Once

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
A Fire at the
Crossing theZoo
Road
Scary Spiders!
A Fire at the Zoo
Ratty-tatty
Scary Spiders!
The Zoo Olympics
Ratty-tatty
Same
The
Same
ButOlympics
Zoo
The Apple Tree
Teaching Notes Level 14
Different
But Different
Space
The Apple Tree
I Wonder
Space
I Wonder

Just This Once

Just This Once
The Story
A The girlStory
bullies her parents into letting her involve her hippopotamus in the family activities.
ve her hippopotamus A ingirl
the bullies
family her activities.
parents into letting her involve her hippopotamus in the family activities.
High-frequency Words
be, come, get, have,Words
High-frequency just, made, once, that, this, went
s, went be, come, get, have, just, made, once, that, this, went
Reading the Text
•Reading Students the lookTextat the cover and predict the main characters. They read the title to make
ain characters. They •furtherread
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predictions.
look at make
theAsk: What
cover andcould
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the title mean?TheyHave readyouthe ever said
title to anything
make
s in the title mean? Have
like that?
further you ever
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said
predictions. Ask: What could the words in the title mean? Have you ever said anything
• Students
like that? Why? tell what is happening on the title page and suggest other places a girl might take
age and suggest other•her places
Students a girltellmight
pet hippopotamus. what is take They talk on
happening through
the titlethepage
illustrations.
and suggest Ask:other
Whoplaces
are thea girl
other characters
might take
illustrations. Ask: Who in are
her petthe
this other characters
story?
hippopotamus. They talk through the illustrations. Ask: Who are the other characters
•inRead page 2 together, taking time to study some words and then rereading the sentences
this story?
ome words and then rereading
smoothly.
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help, students
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xt to hear it read. • Use the pen
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to hear can we work out this word? Will
it read.
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demonstrate theirotherpartner
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•demonstrate
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think apply
it should bethe same strategy to the word trampoline.
read.
me strategy to the word trampoline.
• Students read the story with
Go to page 8 and have students apply the same a partner. Ask: What made to
strategy thethe
story
wordeasy to read? Were there
trampoline.
What made the story •any easy
Studentsto read?
difficultread Were
parts? there
theWhat did you
story with do to make
a partner. Ask: those
Whatparts madeeasier to read?
the story easy How canWere
to read? you teach
there
hose parts easier to read? any How
whatdifficultyou have can you
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lass? What are some what things
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are somelike things
that? How
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yourabout
u done something likethe that?
parents How
events react?
anddidtheyourcharacters? When have you done something like that? How did your
parents react?
Returning to the Text
•Returning
Students read to find
to the Textpatterns in the text – the way the characters are presented, the
e way the characters •language,
are presented,
Students what the
read the people
to find do and
patterns say.text
in the They reread,
– the way using their voices
the characters areinpresented,
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eread, using their voices bring in out
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the people moodandof theThey
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• Say the
bring out word get and have
the meaning students
and mood identify
of the story.the sounds in the word. They name the letters
he sounds in the word. •usedThey
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and have Ask themidentify
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the textin and read itThey
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name (page 10) Ask
the letters
t in the text and readthem it in context.
to find (page
the other10) Ask
word on page 10 that begins and ends
used to show those sounds. Ask them to find get in the text and read it in context. (page 10) with the same letters as get. They
Ask
egins and ends with the read samegot inletters
context as get.
and They
say what they notice about the word.
them to find the other word on page 10 that begins and ends with the same letters as get. They
bout the word. • Students
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got in context wordsay Butwhat
in thetheytext. Theyabout
notice listentheto word.
the sounds in the word.
listen to the sounds in•Ask: the word.find
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change phonemes
the u to and a, i ornaming letters play
e? Students to make
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nd naming letters to make bet, bed,
replacing newbat, words.
initial, (bit, sit,and final phonemes and naming letters to make new words. (bit, sit,
cat)medial
bet, bed, bat, cat)

© Wendy Pye Publishing

© Wendy Pye Publishing
SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Teaching Notes Level 14

Sunshine Classics Level 14 2

• Work with students to divide the word hippopotamus into sections that contain a vowel or a
vowel sound. Students find more words with lots of syllables. They say and write them.

Writing
• Work together to rewrite the story with new characters, taking care with punctuation.
Students make a picture glossary for the content words.
• Give students sentences from the story. They combine information in the illustrations to
explore the chunks of meaning within the sentences. Beginning with the sentences on page 2,
they take turns to add their sentences to a floor chart to complete the story. They reread the
text to check.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match high-frequency words
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. How did Liz and the hippopotamus get what they wanted?
A. They asked.
B. They howled. √
C. They shouted.
2. How did the family and the hippopotamus travel on their holiday?
train
3. What activity was the hippopotamus not allowed to do?
A. go in the boat
B. go skating √
C. go in the swimming pool
4. Select the word that means one time.
once
5. Why did Mum and Dad put their fingers in their ears?
A. to stop water getting in
B. to stop flies getting in
C. so they couldn’t hear the howling √
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Crossing the Road

The Story
When Mrs Maggie Mox crosses the road without her glasses, she causes accidents.

High-frequency Words
blue, have, just, other, put, then, were, what, with, yellow

Reading the Text

• Students look at the cover and title page and predict the main characters. They read the title
to make further predictions. Ask: How do the words in the title give you a clue? Look at the
 A.go
B. goskating
in the boat
√
B. go
go in
skating √

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
C. the swimming pool
C.Select
4. go in the word
swimming pool one time.
that means
4.
onceSelect the word that means one time.
once
5. Why did Mum and Dad put their fingers in their ears?
ers in their ears? 5. to
A.
B.
Why
A.to
stopdid
tostop
B. so
Mum
water
stopflies
to they
water
stop flies
Teaching Notes Level 14
and Dad
getting
getting
getting
getting
in put their fingers in their ears?
in in
in the howling √
C. couldn’t hear
C. so they
Record: Theycouldn’t hearthe
can read thestory
howling √
by themselves and save it for you to listen to.
mselves and save it forRecord:
you to listen
Theyto. can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Crossing the Road

Crossing the Road
The Story
The Story
When Mrs Maggie Mox crosses the road without her glasses, she causes accidents.
without her glasses, sheWhen causes
Mrsaccidents.
Maggie Mox crosses the road without her glasses, she causes accidents.
High-frequency Words
High-frequency
blue, have, just, other, Words put, then, were, what, with, yellow
hat, with, yellow blue, have, just, other, put, then, were, what, with, yellow
Reading the Text
•Reading the Text
Students look at the cover and title page and predict the main characters. They read the title
e and predict the main to characters.
• Students
make lookThey
further at read
the cover
predictions. theAsk:
titletitle
and Howpage andwords
do the predict in the
the main characters.
title give you a clue? They readatthe
Look thetitle
o the words in the title togive
dog on you
make the a clue?
further
cover? Look the
predictions.
Does at the Ask: How give
illustration do the
youwords in the
a further title give you a clue? Look at the
clue?
ive you a further clue? dog on
Talk the cover?
through Does the illustration
the illustrations give you confirm
and have students a furthertheir
clue?predictions.
tudents confirm their•Talkpredictions.
through
Listen to the thestoryillustrations
together. Talk and have students
to students confirm
about theirinpredictions.
the way which the story and the
dents about the way illustrations
in whichto
• Listen thethestory
run storyand
parallel the
together.
to each Talk to students
other. They can about
also the way inwhat
consider which
it isthe storythe
about and the
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hey can also considerstructure
what it isthat
illustrations about
run
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parallel to each
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to read. Ask:They
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you linkwhat
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is about
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the story?
How soon did you link into the
•structure
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that are aoffeature
makes itthe
easystory?
to
of read. Ask: How in
the illustrations soonthisdid youAsk:
story. link How
into the pattern
should theyofbethe story?
read?
ations in this story. Ask:
What How
•Sunshine
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doClassics
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are a
Level 14 be
about read?
feature theof the illustrations
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presentation
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of Ask:
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words? should they be read?
nd presentation of those
•What words?
do you
Students readnotice about
the story onthe lettering
their own. For andhelp,
presentation
they canof tap those words?
on the text to hear it read.
or help, they can tap •on the textread
Students to hearthe itstory
read. on their own. For help, they can tap on the text to hear it read.
• Have students note the words in illustrations: ZOOM! BANG! SCREECH! They can shape
the words themselves to make a display.
©• Wendy
Ask: What are your favourite words and phrases in the story? Have students read the story
Pye Publishing
with
© Wendya friend and explore the sounds of those words with their voices, using different volume,
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tone, pitch and varying the dynamics.
• Students find an example in the story where several words beginning with the same letter are
strung together. (Mrs Maggie Mox) Ask: Do you like the sound of language like this in
writing? This is called alliteration.

Returning to the Text

• Students tell the sort of person they think Mrs Maggie Mox is. They can wonder and ask
and respond to a wide range of questions about her life, her work, her friends and family.
• Exclamation marks are very important to the story. Have students find all the language that
is punctuated with an exclamation mark and read those parts in ways that explore the
intonation of the language.
• On page 16, Mrs Maggie Mox “put on her glasses”. Ask: What do you notice about them?
What do the sort of glasses she wears tell you about the character of Mrs Maggie Mox? Have
you met or seen anyone that you think may be a bit like her?

Writing
• Talk about signs and what they tell us – some have words, others have pictures or colours.
Students design a sign for Mrs Maggie Mox to ensure she doesn’t cross the road until the
vehicles have stopped.
• Have students brainstorm the sort of character Mrs Maggie Mox is. In speech bubbles or
using the white text box on the pages of the story, write what each person in the traffic
accident might have said to Mrs Maggie Mox.
• Support students to write a newspaper report about the accident. Add an illustration to
enhance the report.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Letter blend cr-
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Who caused the accident?
Returning to the Text
• Students tell the sort of person they think Mrs Maggie Mox is. They can wonder and ask

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
and respond to a wide range of questions about her life, her work, her friends and family.
• Exclamation marks are very important to the story. Have students find all the language that
is punctuated with an exclamation mark and read those parts in ways that explore the
intonation of the language.
Teaching Notes Level 14
• On page 16, Mrs Maggie Mox “put on her glasses”. Ask: What do you notice about them?
What do the sort of glasses she wears tell you about the character of Mrs Maggie Mox? Have
you met or seen anyone that you think may be a bit like her?

Writing
• Talk about signs and what they tell us – some have words, others have pictures or colours.
Students design a sign for Mrs Maggie Mox to ensure she doesn’t cross the road until the
vehicles have stopped.
• Have students brainstorm the sort of character Mrs Maggie Mox is. In speech bubbles or
using the white text box on the pages of the story, write what each person in the traffic
accident might have said to Mrs Maggie Mox.
• Support students to write a newspaper report about the accident. Add an illustration to
enhance the report.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Letter blend cr-
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Who caused the accident?
A. the chickens
B. the dog
C. Mrs Maggie Mox √
2. Why did Mrs Maggie Mox not see the red light at the crossing?
A. She was too busy with her animals.
B. She didn’t have her glasses on. √
C. The chickens made a noise.
3. Why did the yellow taxi run into the blue car?
A. The orange fire engine pushed it.
B. The blue car stopped suddenly. √
C. The white van went toot-toot-toot.
4. Select the word that is the opposite of whispered?
shouted
5. How did Mrs Maggie Mox feel when she put on her glasses?
A. surprised √
B. worried
C. happy
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

© Wendy Pye Publishing

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Teaching Notes Level 14
Sunshine Classics Level 14 4

A Fire at the Zoo

The Story
Some zoo animals attempt to put out a fire but do not succeed.

High-frequency Words
coming, do, everyone, gave, her, know, one, out, put, what

Reading the Text

• Have students look at the cover. Ask: What can you see in the picture? Can anyone tell me
the name of the book? Read the title together. Listen to the author’s and illustrator’s names.
Turn to the title page and talk about the picture. Have students reread the title.
• Ask students to tell how fires start. Ask: What should you do if you discover a fire? Students
think of all the animals in the zoo. Ask: Which animal do you think can put out a fire?
• Talk through the illustrations. Ask: What is happening? Do you think the lions could put out
the fire, or the penguins, hippos, seals, or peacocks?
• Students read the text independently. For help, they can tap the text to hear it read.
• On page 3 focus on the word tremendous. Discuss its meaning and brainstorm a list of
substitute words.
• Reread the story together, encouraging students to use different voices for each animal.

Returning to the Text

• On page 2 circle there’s with the pen tool. Focus on the apostrophe and why it is used. (The
letter i is missing in this contraction.) Have students find more contractions and suggest what
letters are taken out (we’re/we are – a is taken out.)
• Have students go through the story and find the words that tell us what the animals did to
try to put out the fire. List and discuss how many have only one letter changed in the word
pairs. Ask: What did you notice about the initial letters of these words – flipped/flapped (page
5), stamped/stomped (page 7), slipped/slopped (page 9), splished/sploshed (page 11). Ask:
How many sounds do they hear in these words? Have students list words beginning with fl-,
st-, sl-, spl-.
• Encourage students to use tone and volume when reading dramatically. A fire is a dramatic
event so they need to respond to the dialogue and punctuation in their reading.
• Students read the text independently or to each other. They can use the pen tool to circle
the sound words in the story.

Writing
• Focus on the rhyming words in the story, e.g. zoo/do, out/shout. Have blank made-up
books for students to write and illustrate their own rhymes.
• Work with students to develop rhymes focusing on the letter blends in the story.
Butterflies flutter
Butterflies fly
From flower to flower.
I wonder why?

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match contractions to the words that make them
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. What was the problem in the story?
A. noisy animals at the zoo
B. animals didn’t know what to do
C. a fire at the zoo √
2. How was the problem solved?
• On page 3 focus on the word tremendous. Discuss its meaning and brainstorm a list of
substitute words.

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
• Reread the story together, encouraging students to use different voices for each animal.

Returning to the Text

Teaching Notes Level 14

• On page 2 circle there’s with the pen tool. Focus on the apostrophe and why it is used. (The
letter i is missing in this contraction.) Have students find more contractions and suggest what
letters are taken out (we’re/we are – a is taken out.)
• Have students go through the story and find the words that tell us what the animals did to
try to put out the fire. List and discuss how many have only one letter changed in the word
pairs. Ask: What did you notice about the initial letters of these words – flipped/flapped (page
5), stamped/stomped (page 7), slipped/slopped (page 9), splished/sploshed (page 11). Ask:
How many sounds do they hear in these words? Have students list words beginning with fl-,
st-, sl-, spl-.
• Encourage students to use tone and volume when reading dramatically. A fire is a dramatic
event so they need to respond to the dialogue and punctuation in their reading.
• Students read the text independently or to each other. They can use the pen tool to circle
the sound words in the story.

Writing
• Focus on the rhyming words in the story, e.g. zoo/do, out/shout. Have blank made-up
books for students to write and illustrate their own rhymes.
• Work with students to develop rhymes focusing on the letter blends in the story.
Butterflies flutter
Butterflies fly
From flower to flower.
I wonder why?

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match contractions to the words that make them
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. What was the problem in the story?
A. noisy animals at the zoo
B. animals
Sunshine didn’t
Classics know
Level 14 what to do 5
C. a fire at the zoo √
2. How was the problem solved?
A. The animals shouted.
B. An elephant squirted water from his trunk. √
C.Wendy
© The Pye
seals slipped and slopped.
Publishing
3. What did the penguins do to try and put the fire out?
flapped
4. What did the hippos do to try and put the fire out?
stomped
5. How did the animals and the keeper feel at the end of the story?
A. angry
B. sad
C. happy √
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Scary Spiders!

The Story
A cheeky girl light-heartedly teases her grandmother about her fear of spiders.

High-frequency Words
around, from, here, just, quite, some, there, when, you, your

Reading the Text

• Look at the cover and read the title with students. Have them share their spider experiences.
Discuss how some people are frightened of spiders. Ask: How do you think the character on
the cover feels about spiders?
• Go to the title page. Read the title together. Ask: What can you see in the picture? What do
you think the book is going to be about?
• Talk through the illustrations with students. On pages 2 and 3, ask: What is happening in
C. The seals slipped and slopped.
3. What did the penguins do to try and put the fire out?

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
flapped
4. What did the hippos do to try and put the fire out?
stomped

Teaching Notes Level 14

5. How did the animals and the keeper feel at the end of the story?
A. angry
B. sad
C. happy √
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Scary Spiders!

The Story
A cheeky girl light-heartedly teases her grandmother about her fear of spiders.

High-frequency Words
around, from, here, just, quite, some, there, when, you, your

Reading the Text

• Look at the cover and read the title with students. Have them share their spider experiences.
Discuss how some people are frightened of spiders. Ask: How do you think the character on
the cover feels about spiders?
• Go to the title page. Read the title together. Ask: What can you see in the picture? What do
you think the book is going to be about?
• Talk through the illustrations with students. On pages 2 and 3, ask: What is happening in
the picture? Who do you think the woman is? How do you know? How does the girl feel
about spiders? Point to the part of the text that tells us what the girl says. What might the girl
ask her Nana? Can you find any words at the end of lines that rhyme? (understand/hand)
Circle them with the pen tool.
• Look at pages 14 and 15. Ask: What is happening in this picture? Where is Nana? Point to
the word that you think will be one of the rhyming words. (fantastic) Make a guess about what
the line on page 16 will be.
• Go to page 16. Ask: What is this spider made of? Point to the word. Were you right about
the rhyming word? (fantastic/plastic)
• Students read the text independently. For help, they can tap on the text to hear it read.

Returning to the Text

• Model a close reading of the story, for example, descriptive language, questions and direct or
indirect speech, pointing slowly along each line.
• Circle the word frightened on page 2 with the pen tool. Draw students’ attention to the letter
blend fr-. Read through the story, having students circle the word frightened.
• Make a list of the rhyming words in the text and discuss the spelling of them. Ask: Are
rhyming words always spelt the same way?
• Focus on the use of dialogue, questions, ellipses and bold text. Reread the text as a group.

Writing
• Have students use the white text box to write speech bubbles for Nana on the pages saying
that she is frightened of spiders.
• Write some “I may be scared of…” stories. Students talk about their fears and relate them to
the character’s experiences. Emphasise respect for each other’s fears. They write a story based
on personal experience using the pattern:

© Wendy Pye Publishing

about spiders? Point to the part of the text that tells us what the girl says. What might the girl

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
ask her Nana? Can you find any words at the end of lines that rhyme? (understand/hand)
Circle them with the pen tool.
• Look at pages 14 and 15. Ask: What is happening in this picture? Where is Nana? Point to
the word that you think will be one of the rhyming words. (fantastic) Make a guess about what

Teaching Notes Level 14

the line on page 16 will be.
• Go to page 16. Ask: What is this spider made of? Point to the word. Were you right about
the rhyming word? (fantastic/plastic)
• Students read the text independently. For help, they can tap on the text to hear it read.

Returning to the Text

• Model a close reading of the story, for example, descriptive language, questions and direct or
indirect speech, pointing slowly along each line.
• Circle the word frightened on page 2 with the pen tool. Draw students’ attention to the letter
blend fr-. Read through the story, having students circle the word frightened.
• Make a list of the rhyming words in the text and discuss the spelling of them. Ask: Are
rhyming words always spelt the same way?
• Focus on the use of dialogue, questions, ellipses and bold text. Reread the text as a group.

Writing
• Have students use the white text box to write speech bubbles for Nana on the pages saying
that she is frightened of spiders.
• Write some “I may be scared of…” stories. Students talk about their fears and relate them to
Sunshine
the Classics Level
character’s 14
experiences. Emphasise respect for6 each other’s fears. They write a story based
on personal experience using the pattern:
“I may be scared of ______________!”
“But I am not scared of _____________!”
© Wendy Pye Publishing
• Model the use of bold type on a whiteboard, discussing its function and encouraging
students to use it in their writing.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match rhyming words
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. What is another word for hurt?
harm
2. Why did the girl say she didn’t understand why her Nana was frightened of spiders?
A. She had never seen a spider’s web.
B. She had never been bitten by a spider.
C. She was not frightened of spiders. √
3. What were the girl’s spiders made from?
plastic
4. Why did the girl think her Nana’s screams were fantastic?
A. She liked to make her Nana scream.
B. Her trick worked. √
C. She liked the screaming noise.
5. Select the word that means loud yells.
screams
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Ratty-tatty

The Story
A clever rat always manages to escape, no matter what the other characters do.

High-frequency Words
catch, could, couldn’t, cried, didn’t, good, like, looked, no one, would

Reading the Text

• Students look at the cover and title page illustrations. Ask: What do you know about rats and
rat stories that will help you make guesses about what will happen in this story? How do these
illustrations give you a better idea of what might happen?
• Read the title and the author’s name. Ask: What do you notice about the words in the title?
What do you think the language will be like in this book? Will it have rhyme and rhythm?
C. She was not frightened of spiders. √
3. What were the girl’s spiders made from?

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
plastic
4. Why did the girl think her Nana’s screams were fantastic?
A. She liked to make her Nana scream.
B. Her trick worked. √
Teaching Notes Level 14
C. She liked the screaming noise.
5. Select the word that means loud yells.
screams
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Ratty-tatty

The Story
A clever rat always manages to escape, no matter what the other characters do.

High-frequency Words
catch, could, couldn’t, cried, didn’t, good, like, looked, no one, would

Reading the Text

• Students look at the cover and title page illustrations. Ask: What do you know about rats and
rat stories that will help you make guesses about what will happen in this story? How do these
illustrations give you a better idea of what might happen?
• Read the title and the author’s name. Ask: What do you notice about the words in the title?
What do you think the language will be like in this book? Will it have rhyme and rhythm?
Will it be repetitive?
• Listen to the story with students. They listen for and identify rhyme, rhythm and repetition.
• Students talk through the illustrations. They say what is happening, review what has gone
before and predict what will happen next. Ask: If the character on page 3 is a woman, who
will the next character be? What is the rat likely to take from that character? On pages 8 and
9, have students notice how the story pattern changes. They guess the following events and
the ending.
• Focus on the rhyme and rhythm in the repetitive parts of the story.
That Ratty-tatty is no good.
I would catch her if I could.
But she couldn’t, so she didn’t.
StudentsClassics
Sunshine listen Level
for words
14 that rhyme. (Ratty-tatty,7 good/would/could) Write good, would, could
on the board. Students suggest other words that rhyme. (should, hood, wood) They notice the
different spellings for the same sound.
• Students listen to the sounds in cat. Ask: How many sounds are there? What are they? What
letters show those sounds?
•© Students listen as you say snappy. Ask: What do you notice? Are there other words in the
Wendy Pye Publishing
story in which we can hear the short a sound? (Ratty-tatty, catch, that, and, had, man, plan,
at) Students read the words, isolate and listen to the short a sound and then read the words in
context.
• Students read the story independently. Provide support if needed.

Returning to the Text

• Students reread the story with a partner. Ask them to pause, think and talk as they read and
reread different parts. Students share what they have practised in a group sharing session.
Ask: What are some good ways you discovered to read the language in this book? What do
you like about the language in this story? Students read out loud to demonstrate and they say
how and why they decided to read different parts in this way.
• Have students think about the plot. Ask them to give you a point-by-point retelling of the
sequence of events focusing on what happened first, next and after that. Ask: What is the main
idea in this story? How do you think the author feels about rats? What about the illustrator?
• Give students clues about selected high-frequency words. They scan the text, find and write
the words.
• Have students scan the text for these words. Ask: Can you find the words that means the
same as could not, did not, do not? Can you find the words in which y is used at the end of the
word with an /e/ sound? (Ratty, tatty) Can you find words with -er at the end? (clever, her) Can
you find the word that has two letters and rhymes with no? (so)

Writing
• Students choose a favourite part of the story to illustrate. They write a sentence about it.
They think through the sentence and say it aloud before writing.
context.
• Students read the story independently. Provide support if needed.

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Returning to the Text
• Students reread the story with a partner. Ask them to pause, think and talk as they read and

Teaching Notes Level 14

reread different parts. Students share what they have practised in a group sharing session.
Ask: What are some good ways you discovered to read the language in this book? What do
you like about the language in this story? Students read out loud to demonstrate and they say
how and why they decided to read different parts in this way.
• Have students think about the plot. Ask them to give you a point-by-point retelling of the
sequence of events focusing on what happened first, next and after that. Ask: What is the main
idea in this story? How do you think the author feels about rats? What about the illustrator?
• Give students clues about selected high-frequency words. They scan the text, find and write
the words.
• Have students scan the text for these words. Ask: Can you find the words that means the
same as could not, did not, do not? Can you find the words in which y is used at the end of the
word with an /e/ sound? (Ratty, tatty) Can you find words with -er at the end? (clever, her) Can
you find the word that has two letters and rhymes with no? (so)

Writing
• Students choose a favourite part of the story to illustrate. They write a sentence about it.
They think through the sentence and say it aloud before writing.
• Students paint pictures of the characters. They write the words the characters say in speech
bubbles.
• Write an innovation together. Think of other characters that Ratty-tatty might steal from.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match opposites
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. How do you know Ratty-tatty was clever?
A. She got a fork and touched the trap. √
B. She stole the man’s bread.
C. She stole the woman’s egg.
2. Type a word that tells about the trap.
snappy
3. Find the word that is the opposite of bad.
good
4. What did Ratty-tatty steal from the cat?
A. bread
B. cheese
C. fish √
5. What has the illustrator done to show that Ratty-tatty likes the cheese?
A. Ratty-tatty’s eyes are open.
B. Ratty-tatty’s whiskers are twitching. √
C. Ratty-tatty has red lips.
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

© Wendy Pye Publishing

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Teaching Notes Level 14
Sunshine Classics Level 14 8

The Zoo Olympics

The Story
The reporter who sends his story to the newspaper gets it all wrong.

High-frequency Words
came, good, got, people, see, very, when, will, won, wrong

Reading the Text

• Talk with students about the Olympic Games. Ask: What happens at the Olympic Games?
Who goes to the games? Can you remember some of the events?
• Look at the cover illustration. Read the title with students. Ask: What do you think is
happening here? Who do you think has come first? What do you notice about the people?
• Walk through the illustrations and have students name the animal that wins the medal. Ask:
What changes on page 9? Who is the man on the telephone? What does the thought bubble
show? What kind of telephone is he using? Explain that journalists used to write stories down
and then phone them in to the newspaper office. Today they write them on their mobile
device and email them in to the sub-editors who prepare the story for print.
• Have students describe what is happening in the thought bubbles on pages 10–14.
• Listen to the story together. Then have students read the story independently. As they read,
ask them to think about any reading difficulties they encounter and to pinpoint the type of
difficulty. Have them consider ways to solve problems and self-correct.

Returning to the Text

• Discuss the illustrations by Val Biro. Ask: Do the illustrations tell a story of their own? How
does the illustrator show action? emotion? sound? How much detail has he included? How
has he managed to create humour in the illustrations?
• Reread the story and ask questions to ascertain comprehension. Ask: Why couldn’t a gazelle
win a swimming race? Why wouldn’t a sea lion be very good at weight lifting? Do you think a
hippo could run faster than a gazelle? Why is the woman typing wearing headphones? Why
have the people put the newspaper in the bin on page 16?
• Talk about nouns that mean more than one (plurals). Students find the singular and plural
forms in the story. (gazelle/gazelles)

Writing
• Students use the pattern of the story to rewrite it using other animals. For instance, they
brainstorm or research what a crocodile is good at. What about a giraffe? A monkey might get
a gold medal for climbing or gymnastics, but how would that be reported in a newspaper?
• Using the daily newspaper, have students find headlines and discuss which ones made them
want to read the story.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match nouns to their plural form
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Who won the high jump?
A. elephant
B. kangaroo √
C. gazelle
2. Type a word that is the opposite of right.
wrong
3. Why couldn’t the elephant wn the high jump?
A. The elephant is too slow.
B. The elephant is too heavy. √
What changes on page 9? Who is the man on the telephone? What does the thought bubble
show? What kind of telephone is he using? Explain that journalists used to write stories down

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
and then phone them in to the newspaper office. Today they write them on their mobile
device and email them in to the sub-editors who prepare the story for print.
• Have students describe what is happening in the thought bubbles on pages 10–14.

Teaching Notes Level 14

• Listen to the story together. Then have students read the story independently. As they read,
ask them to think about any reading difficulties they encounter and to pinpoint the type of
difficulty. Have them consider ways to solve problems and self-correct.

Returning to the Text

• Discuss the illustrations by Val Biro. Ask: Do the illustrations tell a story of their own? How
does the illustrator show action? emotion? sound? How much detail has he included? How
has he managed to create humour in the illustrations?
• Reread the story and ask questions to ascertain comprehension. Ask: Why couldn’t a gazelle
win a swimming race? Why wouldn’t a sea lion be very good at weight lifting? Do you think a
hippo could run faster than a gazelle? Why is the woman typing wearing headphones? Why
have the people put the newspaper in the bin on page 16?
• Talk about nouns that mean more than one (plurals). Students find the singular and plural
forms in the story. (gazelle/gazelles)

Writing
• Students use the pattern of the story to rewrite it using other animals. For instance, they
brainstorm or research what a crocodile is good at. What about a giraffe? A monkey might get
a gold medal for climbing or gymnastics, but how would that be reported in a newspaper?
• Using the daily newspaper, have students find headlines and discuss which ones made them
want to read the story.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match nouns to their plural form
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Who won the high jump?
A. elephant
B. kangaroo √
C. gazelle
2. Type a word that is the opposite of right.
wrong
Sunshine Classics Level 14 9
3. Why couldn’t the elephant wn the high jump?
A. The elephant is too slow.
B. The elephant is too heavy. √
C. The elephant is too clever.
4. Who gets a gold medal?
A.Wendy
© the winner √
Pye Publishing
B. everyone
C. the runner-up
5, Find the word that shows the people were happy.
clapped
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Same But Different

The Story
Two children draw the same things, but their pictures look quite different.

High-frequency Words
came, different, just, like, one, open, our, same, some, with

Reading the Text

• Ask students if they like drawing pictures. Discuss the types of things they like to draw and
comment on any that are familiar.
• Look at the cover and title page. Ask: What might this story be about? What are the children
doing? Read the title and chart responses as a brainstorm for checking later. Does the title
page give any more information? Add further responses to the chart.
• Listen to the story with students and invite their reactions and interpretations. Check if those
predictions were correct. Ask: What did the weather shown on pages 2–3 have to do with the
SUNSHINE CLASSICS
C. The elephant is too clever.
4. Who gets a gold medal?
A. the winner √
B. everyone
Teaching Notes Level 14
C. the runner-up
5, Find the word that shows the people were happy.
clapped
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Same But Different

The Story
Two children draw the same things, but their pictures look quite different.

High-frequency Words
came, different, just, like, one, open, our, same, some, with

Reading the Text

• Ask students if they like drawing pictures. Discuss the types of things they like to draw and
comment on any that are familiar.
• Look at the cover and title page. Ask: What might this story be about? What are the children
doing? Read the title and chart responses as a brainstorm for checking later. Does the title
page give any more information? Add further responses to the chart.
• Listen to the story with students and invite their reactions and interpretations. Check if those
predictions were correct. Ask: What did the weather shown on pages 2–3 have to do with the
story?
• During a second reading, students make a list of the differences between the two pictures.
• Go to page 5 and focus on the word Joel’s. Ask: Why is the apostrophe s there? Discuss the
concept of possession/ownership. Provide one or two more examples.
• Have students read the story independently or to a partner.

Returning to the Text

• Students read the title again. Have them brainstorm words from the word family -ame and
make a word web of the words.
• Write drew on the whiteboard. Have students get their mouths ready to say dr- drew. Ask
them to suggest other words beginning with dr-. Revise the letter formations for d and r and
have students draw dr in an all-over design. Encourage them to say words beginning with the
dr sound.
• On page 2 have them find the word that tells what sort of day it is. Ask students to think of
other words that end in -et.
• Reread the story. Have students volunteer to use the pen tool to mark the differences
between the two pictures on pages 14 and 15.

Writing
• Students draw pictures that are the same but different following a set of instructions. Reread
the story to establish the model for the drawings. Decide co-operatively what to include in the
pictures. Encourage students to sequence the instructions in a logical fashion and write these
instructions on a clear chart. They then compare their picture with a friend’s to identify the
similarities and differences.
• Together write some “What I like to do on a rainy day” stories. Spend 5-10 minutes on a
class/group brainstorm session and then work with the students as they write. Have them
include a cover, title page and illustrations.

© Wendy Pye Publishing

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Teaching Notes Level 14

Sunshine Classics Level 14 10

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Make five words with the -ame word family
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. What colour was Jill’s roof?
A. grey
B. red √
C. yellow
2. Type a word that tells about the sun.
shining
3. Find the word that is the opposite of back.
front
4. What was different about the windows?
A. Joel’s were open.
B. There was a bird on the windowsill.
C. Jill’s were open. √
5. How many differences can you see in the pictures?
A. 12
B. 8 √
C. 5
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

The Apple Tree

The Story
The apple tree changes through the seasons.

High-frequency Words
again, just, open, outside, their, them, then, when, white, will

Reading the Text

• Show students an apple and ask them where it came from. Ask: Do any of you grow apples
or other fruit at home? What does your family do with the fruit? Discuss how the trees change
over the year and when they provide fruit.
• Look at the cover. Ask: What is the girl doing? What do you think the title is? Read it
together. Ask them to predict what the story will be about.
• Look at the title page. Discuss the picture and what has been made from the apples. Read
the title together.
• Talk through the illustrations. On pages 2-3, ask: What time of year is it? How do you
know? Is the tree dead? When will it get leaves again? On pages 4–5, discuss the evidence of
spring. Ask students to find the word that means a flower before it opens. (buds)
• Repeat this procedure ensuring that students understand key words such as petals.
• On pages 12-13, discuss what the people are doing and why. Ask: How do they know the
apples are ready to pick? What do you think the apples taste like? Find a word that tells you
what they taste like.
front
4. What was different about the windows?

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
A. Joel’s were open.
B. There was a bird on the windowsill.
C. Jill’s were open. √
5. How many differences can you see in the pictures?
A. 12
B. 8 √
Teaching Notes Level 14
C. 5
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

The Apple Tree

The Story
The apple tree changes through the seasons.

High-frequency Words
again, just, open, outside, their, them, then, when, white, will

Reading the Text

• Show students an apple and ask them where it came from. Ask: Do any of you grow apples
or other fruit at home? What does your family do with the fruit? Discuss how the trees change
over the year and when they provide fruit.
• Look at the cover. Ask: What is the girl doing? What do you think the title is? Read it
together. Ask them to predict what the story will be about.
• Look at the title page. Discuss the picture and what has been made from the apples. Read
the title together.
• Talk through the illustrations. On pages 2-3, ask: What time of year is it? How do you
know? Is the tree dead? When will it get leaves again? On pages 4–5, discuss the evidence of
spring. Ask students to find the word that means a flower before it opens. (buds)
• Repeat this procedure ensuring that students understand key words such as petals.
• On pages 12-13, discuss what the people are doing and why. Ask: How do they know the
apples are ready to pick? What do you think the apples taste like? Find a word that tells you
what they taste like.
• Students read the text independently. Provide support where needed.
• On pages 2–3, highlight the first sentence, It is winter. Discuss the purpose of this sentence
with students. Have them read the remainder of the text on pages 2 and 3 and invite them to
offer ideas about how it relates to the first sentence. Draw attention to the fact that it gives
more information about the first statement (qualification).
Sunshine Classics Level 14 11
• Use this strategy on pages 4–9. Have students identify the pattern of statement followed by
qualification. Continue through the text to see if the pattern continues.
• After reading the story, ask students to retell it. Were their earlier predictions correct?
Returning to the Text
• Students find words where the sound imitates the noise or action they describe. (buzzing,
flutter)
© WendyChart their responses. Ask them to demonstrate the meaning of the words with their
Pye Publishing
voices or hands. Introduce the term onomatopoeia for this type of language, and have them
brainstorm other examples.
• Go to page 10 and find the word shade. Ask: What sound does it start with? Find another
word on page 11 that starts with sh-. Students suggest other words that start with sh-. Make a
list.
• Write the word tree in the class alphabet book. Students say tree and suggest other words that
start the same way. Chart their responses.
• Students find contractions in the story (isn’t, we’ll) and write the two words that make up the
contraction. They think of other contractions and list the words.

Writing
• Students make a series of pencil drawings showing the changes in an apple as it is eaten.
They can use real apples to draw as they eat. Have them display their drawings in an
interesting way. They can write labels with their name for each drawing.
• Students create a poem about the changes to the apple tree during the four seasons. They
brainstorm useful descriptive vocabulary, make several drafts and agree on the best version to
publish.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
• Students find words where the sound imitates the noise or action they describe. (buzzing,
flutter) Chart their responses. Ask them to demonstrate the meaning of the words with their

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
voices or hands. Introduce the term onomatopoeia for this type of language, and have them
brainstorm other examples.
• Go to page 10 and find the word shade. Ask: What sound does it start with? Find another

Teaching Notes Level 14

word on page 11 that starts with sh-. Students suggest other words that start with sh-. Make a
list.
• Write the word tree in the class alphabet book. Students say tree and suggest other words that
start the same way. Chart their responses.
• Students find contractions in the story (isn’t, we’ll) and write the two words that make up the
contraction. They think of other contractions and list the words.

Writing
• Students make a series of pencil drawings showing the changes in an apple as it is eaten.
They can use real apples to draw as they eat. Have them display their drawings in an
interesting way. They can write labels with their name for each drawing.
• Students create a poem about the changes to the apple tree during the four seasons. They
brainstorm useful descriptive vocabulary, make several drafts and agree on the best version to
publish.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Match contractions to the two words
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. When does the apple tree look dead?
A. in spring
B. in summer
C. in winter √
2. What season is this?
spring
3. Find the word that means the apples are ready to eat.
ripe
4. What order do the apples grow in?
A. flowers, buds, apples
B. buds, flowers, apples √
C. leaves, apples, flowers
5. Who helps the flowers turn into apples?
A. the dog
B. the girl
C. the bees √
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Space

The Story
Two children look at the sky and think about what is in space.

High-frequency Words
could, day, every, find, night, no one, sometimes, there, will, wonder

© Wendy Pye Publishing

3. Find the word that means the apples are ready to eat.
ripe

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
4. What order do the apples grow in?
A. flowers, buds, apples
B. buds, flowers, apples √
C. leaves, apples, flowers
Teaching Notes Level 14
5. Who helps the flowers turn into apples?
A. the dog
B. the girl
C. the bees √
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

Space

The Story
Two children look at the sky and think about what is in space.
Sunshine Classics Level 14 12
High-frequency Words
could, day, every, find, night, no one, sometimes, there, will, wonder
Reading the Text
• Ask students what they can see if they look at the sky at night. Ask: What do you know about
space? What do people use to look at the stars more closely?
• Look at the cover and have students suggest what the title is. They use their knowledge of
the sp- letter
© Wendy blend to help them read it. Ask: Do you think this text will be fact or fiction?
Pye Publishing
Have students predict what the text will be about.
• Talk through the illustrations. Have students note the time of day on each page. Ask: On
page 3, what time of day is it? Can you see the stars in the daytime? Why not? Can you see
the moon in the daytime? On pages 4–5, why is the sun so important for us? On page 10, has
anyone seen a shooting star?
• Establish that this is a non-fiction text. Have students note the features of a non-fiction text
and how they help to navigate the text and find information. (labels, index) Discuss how
information is presented on the cover and title page and through explanations in the text.
• Read the text together. Ask students to recall facts about space from the reading. Were their
earlier predictions about the text correct?

Returning to the Text

• Go to page 16 and have students demonstrate how to use some of the entries in the index.
• Students scan the text to find the word night. They suggest other words that rhyme with night
and list them. (sight, white, kite, might) Write the words on the board and have students note
how the sound can be spelt in different ways.
• Students reread the text independently or with a partner.
• Students read the title and brainstorm more words that begin with the letter blend sp-. They
make a sp- word web together.

Writing
• Students make a question-and-answer book. They reread the text and write a question for
each page. For example, on page 6: What can we see at night? We can see the moon at night.
Remind them to write questions that will help the learner to read the text.
• Have students write a timeline, following the sequence of the text. They can illustrate their
timeline.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Make four words beginning with the letter blend sp-
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Which is a planet?
A. Moon
B. Sun
C. Venus √
2. Type the word that is the opposite of day.
night
3. When does the sun set?
A. every morning
B. every evening √
C. every week
• Read the text together. Ask students to recall facts about space from the reading. Were their
earlier predictions about the text correct?

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Returning to the Text
• Go to page 16 and have students demonstrate how to use some of the entries in the index.

Teaching Notes Level 14

• Students scan the text to find the word night. They suggest other words that rhyme with night
and list them. (sight, white, kite, might) Write the words on the board and have students note
how the sound can be spelt in different ways.
• Students reread the text independently or with a partner.
• Students read the title and brainstorm more words that begin with the letter blend sp-. They
make a sp- word web together.

Writing
• Students make a question-and-answer book. They reread the text and write a question for
each page. For example, on page 6: What can we see at night? We can see the moon at night.
Remind them to write questions that will help the learner to read the text.
• Have students write a timeline, following the sequence of the text. They can illustrate their
timeline.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Make four words beginning with the letter blend sp-
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. Which is a planet?
A. Moon
B. Sun
C. Venus √
2. Type the word that is the opposite of day.
night
3. When does the sun set?
A. every morning
B. every evening √
C. every week
4. Where have people landed in space?
A. on the sun
B. on the moon √
C. on Venus
5. Type the name of the planet in the illustration.
Saturn
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.

© Wendy Pye Publishing

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
Teaching Notes Level 14
Sunshine Classics Level 14 13

I Wonder

The Story
A boy uses his imagination as he looks around him.

High-frequency Words
behind, brown, green, lives, new, over, there, this, what, wonder

Reading the Text

• Discuss imagination with students. Ask: What is the imagination? What does it mean to
imagine something?
• Look at the cover and have students read the title is and predict what the story might be
about.
• On page 2, establish the pattern of the story and have students suggest what they imagine
might live in the cave. They go to pages 4 and 5 to see what the boy in the story imagined.
• Continue in this way through the story, with students giving their own imaginings before
going to see what they boy’s were.
• Read the story together. Ask: Were your predictions correct about the story? What do you
notice about the imagined worlds? What clue has the illustrator given to show these are in the
boy’s thoughts? (The illustrations are enclosed in a thought bubble.) What sort of world is on
page 16? How do you know?
• Students read the story independently.

Returning to the Text

• Students reread the story and focus on the question mark. They note that every sentence is a
question. Ask: Why do you think the authors have written this story in questions? What
happens to our voices when we ask a question? Try reading page 6 without a question mark
and notice the difference.
• Discuss prepositions and how they show where something is. Have students scan the story
for prepositions. Write them on a chart and ask students to think of other words that are
prepositions. (in, behind, over)
• Have students read pages 2 and 5 and list any words starting with blends. (green, brown) They
brainstorm other words starting with gr- and br-.
• Talk about syllables. Clap the syllable in won/der as you say the word. Together find other
words in the story with two syllables. Clap and say them. (dra/gon, be/hind, rain/bow,
ma/gic)

Writing
• Go to page 16 and have students note how the illustration gives information that is not in the
text. Talk about futuristic ideas. They discuss what they think the world might look like in the
future and list things to include in a futuristic new world. They then draw their own new
world and write a sentence about it.
• Make a letter blend booklet with words starting with br- and gr-. Illustrate it.
• Students make a two-column chart listing words from the story with the number of syllables
in each.
• Students find a word beginning with dr- (dragon). They think of more words beginning with
the dr- letter blend and make a word web with them.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Make four words with the letter blend dr-
Thinking: Answer five comprehension questions
1. What do you think lives in the cave?
• Discuss prepositions and how they show where something is. Have students scan the story
for prepositions. Write them on a chart and ask students to think of other words that are

SUNSHINE CLASSICS
prepositions. (in, behind, over)
• Have students read pages 2 and 5 and list any words starting with blends. (green, brown) They
brainstorm other words starting with gr- and br-.
• Talk about syllables. Clap the syllable in won/der as you say the word. Together find other
Teaching Notes Level 14
words in the story with two syllables. Clap and say them. (dra/gon, be/hind, rain/bow,
ma/gic)

Writing
• Go to page 16 and have students note how the illustration gives information that is not in the
text. Talk about futuristic ideas. They discuss what they think the world might look like in the
future and list things to include in a futuristic new world. They then draw their own new
world and write a sentence about it.
• Make a letter blend booklet with words starting with br- and gr-. Illustrate it.
• Students make a two-column chart listing words from the story with the number of syllables
in each.
• Students find a word beginning with dr- (dragon). They think of more words beginning with
the dr- letter blend and make a word web with them.

Home/School Link
Have students access the story at home and re-read it. They can then complete the interactive
activities:
Words: Make four words with the letter blend dr-
Sunshine Classics
Thinking: AnswerLevelfive
14 comprehension questions 14
1. What do you think lives in the cave?
bear
2. What is a rainbow?
© Wendy Pye Publishing
A. colours in the sky √
B. a rainy day
C. a hat
3. What colour is the bear?
A. black
B. brown √
C. green
4. What does wonder mean?
A. walk slowly
B. think about things √
C. laugh
5. Find the word that tells about the machines.
wonderful
Record: They can read the story by themselves and save it for you to listen to.