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Protecting the eagles
A homeowner in French Creek wanted to cut down an old tree. Workers came to check the tree. They saw bald eagles making a nest. Don’t cut it down! People were worried about the birds. The eagles needed the tree for their nest. The Ministry of Forests and Lands put a sign around the tree….
Continue ReadingDonny’s Wax
Erik Levings and Taro Milligan are Grade 8 students from Abbotsford, BC. They like to skateboard. Their friend Donnie saw them skateboarding. He wanted to try, too. Making wax Levings and Milligan decided to buy Donnie his own skateboard. They made and sold their own skateboard wax to make money. Levings and Milligan went to…
Continue ReadingHaida Gwaii
Haida Gwaii is a group of islands. It is off the west coast of British Columbia. Haida Gwaii means “islands of the Haida people.” It used to be called the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida art is famous. Many people have seen Haida totem poles. Haida Gwaii is beautiful. It is a good place to travel….
Continue ReadingWanuskewin’s baby bison
A baby bison was born on Wanuskewin lands. She was born on Earth Day. She is the first baby bison to be born at Wanuskewin in over 150 years. Bison are special Bison are important to the local Indigenous peoples. The elders wanted to bring the bison back to their land. They wanted their children…
Continue ReadingMaking hearts
The Level 2 LINC class at Windsor Neighbourhood Learning Centre is learning online. The students are staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19. Hearts in the windows The students saw hearts in their neighbours’ windows. They wondered why. Their teachers gave them a story about the hearts. The class learned that the hearts were…
Continue ReadingHearts in windows
Some houses in BC have hearts in the windows. Why are the hearts in the windows? Many people are worried about COVID-19. Most people stay at home. They want to stop the virus. Some people still need to go to work. Doctors, nurses, policemen, and grocery store workers go to work every day. Thank you!…
Continue ReadingMental Health Week
Mental Health Week is from May 4 to May 10. Mental health is the way we think and feel about ourselves. It is the way we think and feel about the world around us. Good mental health makes it easier to handle stress and other problems. Here are some ways to practise good mental health:…
Continue ReadingHow to make compost at home
What is compost? Compost is made when small organisms called microbes break down household and garden waste. Waste can include things like food scraps, grass clippings, leaves and plants. Waste will break down, or decompose, over time. Composting speeds up the process. It gives the microbes a chance to break down the waste faster. Why…
Continue ReadingNunavut’s new greenhouse
Nunavut is a large territory in northern Canada. It is very cold and dark. The weather makes it hard for fruit and vegetables to grow. So, groceries are expensive. A greenhouse was built The Arctic Research Foundation wanted to help people in Nunavut. It made a greenhouse near Gjoa Haven from shipping containers called “sea…
Continue ReadingSingle-use item bylaw
A new Vancouver bylaw will start in April. This bylaw will ban food vendors from giving customers disposable straws, forks, knives, chopsticks and spoons. People with disabilities can still get a straw if they need one. No more foam In January, Vancouver banned foam cups and foam take-out containers. Soon, the city hopes to stop…
Continue ReadingPlant a herb garden
Do you like to use fresh herbs in your cooking? Plant a herb garden in a container. You can put it in a sunny window. Or, you can put it on your deck or patio. Enjoy fresh herbs all summer! What you need: pot with holes in the bottom potting soil herbs trowel water What…
Continue ReadingLize wins an award
Norma Lize is a refugee from Lebanon. In February, she was recognized as a leader in Vancouver’s LGBT community. She won the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award. Something was missing Lize grew up feeling that something was missing from her gender identity. At 18, she met a transgender woman. It made her think that…
Continue ReadingCOVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on March 11. The announcement was made by the World Health Organization (WHO). What is a pandemic? A pandemic is the “worldwide spread of a new disease,” said the WHO. COVID-19 is a new virus and disease. It spread to many countries around the world at the same time. After…
Continue ReadingPat builds a boat
Pat Calihou is a Métis carver. The Métis are Indigenous Canadians. York boats were used by Métis fur traders during the 1700s. Pat’s ancestors used York boats. Pat started to build a York boat in December 2019. A blacksmith made special nails to build the boat. The wood for the keel is the roof beam of an old house. Pat shares his history The boat will help Pat share his family history. “My family were…
Continue ReadingVancouver’s first Indigenous poet laureate
Christie Charles is a spoken word artist. Spoken word poetry is read aloud. Poets use their voices and sometimes music to perform their poems. Charles dances and sings her poems. Sometimes she sings in the Salish language. She plays the drums. Sometimes she raps. Her poetry performances are lively. One of her poems says: Charles…
Continue ReadingCOVID-19
COVID-19 is a new virus. It is also known as novel coronavirus. The virus appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. It has infected over 110,000 people in countries around the world. Close to 4,000 people have died worldwide. What are the risks? Most people can recover at home. The risk is greater for older people…
Continue ReadingGet out in the community
What can you do with your family during spring break? Here are some ideas. Visit a museum Some museums have free entry for children or families during spring break. They might also have special activities for young children. Go to the library Many public libraries have free programs for children or families during spring break. Visit…
Continue ReadingFrost flowers
Special flowers are growing on lakes in the Cariboo and Central Interior. The flowers are made of ice. They are called “frost flowers.” Frost flowers are rare. Frost flowers only grow when the air is very cold and calm. The ice on the lakes must be thin. How do frost flowers grow? The air is…
Continue ReadingPreparing for a job interview
Job interviews can be stressful. If you prepare for your job interview, you will be more confident and relaxed. There are many ways to prepare for a job interview. Practise your answers before going to the interview Many interviewers ask the same questions. They will ask about your work experience. They might ask you about…
Continue ReadingWreck Beach
Wreck Beach was named for shipwrecks in the water. What is Wreck Beach? Wreck Beach is the largest nude beach in Canada. It is 7.8 km long. People started swimming naked at Wreck Beach in the 1920s. Wreck Beach became an official nude beach in 1991. It was the first nude beach in Canada. How…
Continue Reading2020 Calendar
Which holidays do you celebrate? What about your family and friends? What do you do on your favourite holiday? Do you spend time with your friends or family? Do you prepare special food or give special gifts? Here is a calendar with some of Canada’s holidays. What is a statutory holiday? On a statutory holiday,…
Continue ReadingPink Shirt Day
Pink Shirt Day is on the last Wednesday in February. On this day, people from around the world wear pink clothing to school and work. Why do we wear pink? In 2007, a boy wore a pink shirt on his first day of school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The other students made fun of him….
Continue ReadingLandlord rights
Mei is a landlord. She rents out her parents’ old house. One day, Mei does a routine inspection of the house. It is very dirty. There is a hole in the wall. The cabinets are broken. There is water leaking on the floor. Her tenant has a cat. The lease says “no pets allowed.” Mei…
Continue ReadingTenant rights
Amare and Stephanie rent an apartment. The rent is affordable. They are happy. One day, their landlord visits. He tells them he will raise their rent by $200 per month. Amare and Stephanie are worried. They check their bank accounts. They look at their bills. They cannot afford the rent increase. The landlord says that…
Continue ReadingFinn and Traveller
Finn and Traveller are sniffer puppies. They work at Vancouver General Hospital. They started work on October 25, 2019. Sniffer puppies are trained to smell bacteria that makes people sick. They sniff for bacteria in hospital washrooms, hallways and waiting rooms. What is a sniffer puppy’s job? Sniffer puppies and dogs can smell the bacteria…
Continue ReadingScam messages
Have you ever received an email saying you won some money? If so, you might have received a scam message. What is a scam message? In a scam message, someone asks you for personal information, like your name, credit card number, passwords, or address. They use that information to take money from your bank accounts…
Continue ReadingPolar bear on field
People saw a polar bear. They saw the bear in Churchill, Manitoba. They called for help. Two officers tried to catch the bear. The bear ran across a baseball field. Everyone is safe The bear was caught. Everyone is safe. The bear was let go. It was let go away from town. Watch…
Continue ReadingVaping
Vaping is similar to smoking. When someone vapes, they use a small device to breathe in a liquid. The device is called an e-cigarette. The e-cigarette heats up the liquid and turns it into vapour. What is the liquid made of? The liquid inside an e-cigarette is called e-liquid or vaping juice. Often, vaping juice…
Continue ReadingCold remedies
You can catch a cold at any time of the year. Some people try to fight the cold before it starts. If they can’t, people want to get rid of the illness as quickly as possible. Remedies to fight a cold before it starts Some people try to fight a cold as soon as they…
Continue ReadingSophie had a money problem
Sophie is a new Canadian. Her husband handled all their banking. He paid the bills. He gave Sophie cash to buy groceries. Then, Sophie’s husband died. Sophie was frightened Sophie didn’t know how much money was in the bank. Everything was in her husband’s name. Sophie worked part-time. She didn’t know how she would…
Continue ReadingBackpack the right way
Choose the right fit of backpack for your child. Do not make the backpack too heavy. The wrong fit and a heavy backpack can give your child “back pain, neck pain and headaches,” says Julia Brooks. Brooks is a physiotherapist at Alberta Children’s Hospital. The right fit The right backpack for your child should: be a size that is…
Continue ReadingFriendly Winston
Winston is a friendly dog. He is a mix of Labrador and golden retriever. He is two-and-a-half years old. Winston’s job Winston works at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. What does Winston do? Winston greets guests at the hotel. He goes for walks with hotel guests. Too friendly to be a guide dog…
Continue ReadingBC Day is the first Monday in August
BC Day is the first Monday in August. On this public holiday, British Columbians relax with family and friends. Many people travel on this long weekend or camp and enjoy nature. According to the United Nations, “BC is the best place in the world to learn, live and play.” A few facts about B.C. 1. Aboriginal people have lived in the…
Continue ReadingWildfires in BC every summer
Level 3 We have about 2000 forest fires every summer in BC. Forest fires are also called “wildfires”.Many hectares of forest are lost every year. Sometimes homes are lost, too. The wildfire season starts when the forest gets dry in the spring.The fire season ends when the forests get wet from rain and snow in…
Continue ReadingSummer outdoor markets are open in BC
This summer visit a farmers’ market. Some markets are night markets. Some are only open during the day. For a list of farmers’ markets in BC, visit the BC Farmers Market website.
Continue ReadingWhat do you know about Canada?
July 1 is Canada Day. July 1, 2017, is Canada’s 150th birthday! Look for parades, fireworks and events in your community. Monday, July 3 is a national holiday. Happy Canada Day!!!! Try our Canada Day quiz. Canada Day Quiz Photo: PixabayClick here for 150 things to do to celebrate Canada’s 150 birthday.
Continue ReadingSummer sun safety
Summer sun safety Story adapted from HealthLink BC by Patti-Lea Ryan Edited by Nila Gopaul Level 2 It is fun to sit or play in the sun. But, too much sun can be harmful. We can get sunburned on cloudy days, too. Too much heat can lead to health problems. People can get stroke, heat exhaustion, skin…
Continue ReadingSummer jobs for youth 2017
Level 3 The Summer Jobs Program helps students get summer jobs. The Summer Jobs Program is part of the Youth Employment Strategy. Read on to find out: What the program does Who can participate How students and youth can get help finding a job What does the program do? The Summer Jobs Program helps youth:…
Continue ReadingB.C. Votes 2017
Resources for BC Votes 2017. Visit these links Find out more about elections in B.C. Digital and printable maps of B.C. Electoral Districts Interactive Electoral Districts Map Register to vote on-line Learn more about identification and vouching
Continue ReadingHappy St. Patrick’s Day
Level 2 Written by Nila Gopaul. Originally posted to The Westcoast Reader, March 2015 St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish holiday. On this day, people celebrate the life of St. Patrick. St. Patrick was born in the year 387. He brought Christianity to Ireland. Experts believe St. Patrick died on March 17, 461. So this is the day…
Continue ReadingHappy Lunar New Year!
Adapted from article written by Nila Gopaul, originally posted to The Westcoast Reader, February 2015 Every year, during Lunar New Year, many cities and towns in B.C. are filled with red banners. Sometimes there are lion dances, parades and crowds. Restaurants are filled with many people. Around the world Lunar New Year celebrations last for 15 days. Vietnamese, Chinese…
Continue ReadingRecipe for French toast
LEVEL 1 This recipe feeds four people. Visit the links: How to make French Toast Recipe reprinted from The Westcoast Reader newspaper, September/October 2016
Continue ReadingZen helps Hoshi get around
LEVEL 1 Hoshi is blind. He is 12 years old. Hoshi is a big dog. He is an American Eskimo dog. Hoshi has a friend. Find out more. Read the whole story. Try the exercise Zen helps Hoshi get around Listen to the story Zen helps Hoshi, Reading by: Patty Bossort The two dogs have accounts…
Continue ReadingPopular baby names
Level 2 What did parents in British Columbia name their babies in 2015? Find out more. Read the whole story. Try the exercise Popular baby names Listen and read with Global News: The world’s most popular baby names for 2016 Story reprinted from The Westcoast Reader newspaper, November 2016
Continue ReadingFun activities to help children learn
Level 2 Literacy begins at home Are you a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, older brother or sister? Here are fun activities to do with young children. These activities can help them become successful learners. You can find more activities to do with young children in the Learning Together Every Day series of booklets. Get started…
Continue ReadingRemembrance Day
Lest we forget November 11 Remembrance Day Level 3 November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada. On this day we honour Canadians who fought and died in wars. Many communities have special events and parades on Remembrance Day. Watch this Remembrance Day ad from the Government of Canada Red poppies Sixty thousand Canadians died…
Continue ReadingProtect yourself from colds and the flu
Level 3 In Canada, many people get colds and the flu (influenza) in the winter. Viruses cause colds and the flu. These viruses pass easily from person to person. Learn more about colds and the flu: How to protect yourself How to protect others What to do if you have a cold or the flu…
Continue ReadingCan we save the ocean?
Level 3 Boyan Slat says, ”Yes, we can!” Who is Boyan Slat? Boyan Slat is 21 years old. He lives in the Netherlands. Boyan started thinking about how to clean up the ocean when he was 16 years old. His family was on vacation near Greece. He liked to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. He…
Continue ReadingLINC students help the people of Fort McMurray
LEVEL 2 Carolyn Moi was sad. She watched the news. In May, a huge wildfire burned Fort McMurray. People lost their homes. Carolyn had an idea Carolyn is a teacher for the Burnaby School District. She teaches an adult LINC 1 class. Carolyn’s class wanted to help the people from Fort McMurray. At the same…
Continue ReadingWriter lives at a lighthouse
Level 3 Caroline Woodward lives at a light station near Tofino, B.C. The lighthouse is on Lennard Island. The lighthouse is very important. It has lights that guide ships along the rocky shores of the Pacific coast. Caroline and her husband, Jeff, have lived and worked at more than 12 lighthouses along the B.C. coast….
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